Prior to this campaign, it had been over a year since the 28-year-old Villière had worn his national colours. His last Test match was during the Rugby World Cup against Uruguay back in September 2023.
And then Fabien Galthié's staff launched Louis Bielle-Biarrey and he became the new darling in the wings opposite Damian Penaud, garnering caps at the same rate as he scored tries.
In the autumn of 2023, Gabin Villière had come back strongly after a season marked by injuries that had left him away from the field between the 2022 Guinness Men's Six Nations and the preparation for the World Cup. In 2023, he had only four matches under his belt.
Capturing past form
But on Friday at the Stade de France against Argentina, the 18-capped Toulon winger found his 2022 level - the one which helped his country clinch a long-awaited Grand Slam. The architect of a breakout try in the 33rd minute, his eighth in 18 appearances for his country, he was one of the key French threats against a tenacious Argentina. A second try escaped him, the ball having flirted with the touchline.
On the pitch at the Stade de France, Villière was omnipresent. This is the mark of great athletes: those who combine determination and the ability to seize every opportunity. He embodies this figure of the energetic, determined player, tireless in his efforts. Whether it was defensive tasks or offensive initiatives, he gave 100%, showing generosity and a combative temperament. Faced with an opportunity, he seized it without hesitation. Regardless of whether he was a starter or not, he never gave up.
Falling down the pecking order
Fourth in the French hierarchy, Villière benefited from the absences of Damian Penaud throughout the month of November due to a lung infection, and then from Théo Attissogbe's knee injury against Japan. Through his presence and performance, Villière demonstrated that he remained a major asset for the Tricolores, but much more than that for coach Fabien Galthié.
"A player in the French team must be able to get through difficult times like Gabin did," commented Galthié, clearly proud of Villière's performance against the Pumas. "When we asked him if he wanted to come back, he said yes, without hesitation. We want every player to have this mindset; players who are ready to go despite everything - in the good times, the difficult times - who are ready to answer when we call them. And Gabin is a very good example of that."
The example to follow
Reading between the lines, Galthié was suggesting there was a counterpoint to this player. In fact, the clues were obvious to go unnoticed. Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert declined the invitation to remain a reserve for the match against New Zealand by returning home. Galthié has left the door open, aware that Jalibert is at the top of his game this season at club level and that, even if there are thirty matches left before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, no one can be picky.
Gabin Villière is precisely the example that Galthié wants to promote. The coach is now turning to the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations with the same strategy in mind: to appeal to the players' pride to bring out the best in them.
"There has always been this [desire to succeed] and this competition. There has never been any comfort for anyone," insists the coach. "Wearing the French team jersey is sacred, and agreeing to wear it also means agreeing to experience the great moments as we share them today. It's a lot of fun, but it's also the difficult moments, sometimes personal and collective questioning.
"At the end of 2024, we are still at 80% victories, which has never happened in French rugby. It's true that we had this quarter-final against South Africa, but it is an experience that helps us move forward."
