Back in 1999 the Super Bowl winning St. Louis Rams were dubbed “the greatest show on turf” for their aggressive free-flowing style of play in the NFL.

The allure of their all-out attack was widespread and created a deep level of envy amongst rival fans who secretly wished their team would play in a similarly outlandish way.

Flash forwards 24 years and the French national team have become the equivalent in the rugby world.

Les Bleus are a pure powerhouse from top to bottom, boasting one of the strongest and most dynamic packs around, paired with a rag-tag group of backs who prioritise flair over all else.

Streamlining this depth of creativity is no mean feat. It takes a degree of levelheadedness for a single player to shoulder this burden. Mistakes will be made but the priority is getting the team humming through all quarters.

For the St. Louis Rams the burden fell on their experienced quarterback Kurt Warner, an excellent player who wasn’t afraid to run himself.

For France, the leader in chief is not as clear cut. Having Antoine Dupont at scrum half and Thomas Ramos at fullback, both of whom are excellent distributors, makes life a lot easier for everyone else.

But in the end, regardless of the supporting cast, the pressure falls on the fly-half.

Romain Ntamack has been the favoured pick for much of Fabien Galthié’s reign as national team head coach, and has enjoyed plenty of success in that period.

The Toulouse talisman led his nation to a famous Grand Slam victory in 2022, and narrowly missed out on matching that achievement earlier this season, coming up just short against Ireland.

That win record speaks for itself, but of equal importance is the style and composure which Ntamack brings to the table.

He always looks unperturbed, whether in or out of possession and that level of calm will be a crucial asset when the World Cup rolls around and the pressure intensifies later in the year.

Knockout rugby is the greatest test for any player. Games and careers are defined by singular moments which can turn a game. The kick at goal, a late try, a monstrous phase of defending.

Obviously the aim is to dominate a game to such an extent that it’s not close when the final moments come around. With Ntamack, France have a strong chance of doing just that, pulling apart opponents throughout the full 80 minutes, giving them no shot at a comeback.

A central way in which this will be achieved is through the kicking talents of the fly-half. Of all national teams, few kicks as much as France and Ntamack is at the heart of that very battle.

His ability to spot space and subsequently deliver a bomb downfield is impressive enough, but it’s his targeted accuracy which makes the length of the kick all the more impressive. So often we see opposition fullbacks scampering back to collect a kick they’ve either misjudged or simply didn’t anticipate.

Pair this with Ntamack’s ability to glide through defenders with ball in hand and you have multifaceted player who’s almost impossible to strategise against.

The only man capable of dethroning Ntamack to claim the French ten jersey is Matthieu Jalibert, the supremely talented backup who most recently guided Bordeaux Bègles to the Top 14 playoffs.

The 24-year-old is not dissimilar from his contemporary, also possessing an eye for in-field kicking, though not on Ntamack’s level.

What sets Jalibert apart from the rest are his electric feet. If you want your fly-half to possess the ability to turn a tackler inside out before delivering a perfect pass, look no further than Jalibert.

He’s the ultimate flair player, though this has been offset but a slow rise in injury woes which has undermined his overall availability. That will be a concern for Galthié as he prepares for the World Cup. 

He will also want to rely heavily upon the fly-half that can manage a game with poise and accuracy. Ntamack is the man for that job.

That’s not to say Jalibert doesn’t possess those skills, but rather Ntamack holds them in greater reserve.

The Toulouse star has garnered more experience in those big game moments, not just in the Six Nations, but the Top 14 as well. Just a week ago in the latest league final, his side were trailing with a few minutes left on the clock.

Instead of panicking, he charged through a sea of La Rochelle players to run half the length of the pitch and score the winning try, definitively showing he’s the man for the big occasion.

It’s also important to remember, with France already winning matches, why change a winning formula?

Ntamack has proved himself countless times before and should be counted on again. Jalibert can then be used as joker card in the latter stages of games to unlock a defence when needed.

With that tandem at fly-half, France are in with a genuine shot of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time in their history.