Rugby Union: Disappointment against England in 2003, Exploitation against Blacks in 2007, Italian Experience… Jacques Brunel’s Four World Cups

Jacques Brunel has experienced four World Cups from within, in 2003 (Australia) and 2007 (France), where he was in charge of the French forwards. In 2015, he coached Italy in England. And in 2019 (Japan), he returned to the affairs of France’s XV, replacing Guy Noves, who had been sacked by the FFR. His memoirs are collected in series.

Australia 2003: “A big disappointment”

“In 2000, we won the European Challenge with Bau, and the juniors competed in the final against Villeurbanne in Serignan. I went there because I had some of them playing in the first team. Somme, Harinortoqui, Mela, Capdevielle… Just before the match ended, someone told me: “Bernard Laporte, the finalist, wants to see you…” I was surprised. We meet, he tells me: “You must come with us to prepare for the arrival of the blacks during the November trials.” There were people around us, so I answered: “We don’t know each other. What do you want to talk about? What game do you want to play? Listen, I’ll be on vacation in Biarritz this summer, and we’ll meet there if you want …“Banco! I ask permission from my president at Pau, André Lestourt, and he accepts, and we meet in Biarritz. He explained to me his idea of ​​expanding the staff of the XV of France and inviting other coaches. He also wants to. We cast a wide net at team level. With Guy Noves, we are in Toulouse. We lead the session in where thirty players were invited, Michel Koturas (Bourgoin) and Bernard Laporte work with thirty players in Paris. And we beat the All Blacks in Marseille ( 42-33). To thank us, the FFR invites us to follow the matches of the 2001 tournament, Bernard Laporte told me. : “I want you to come on tour with us.” We beat South Africa at Ellis Park in the rematch in Durban and then in the Test in New Zealand. I know Bernard’s sensitivity to the Australian game, with well-produced, well-executed scenes. The problem was, at that point, the whole team was grouped together on the thirty meter field. I tell him: “We’ve been playing the same way for 30 years. Let’s look for other options…”

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At Pa, I had fifteen meter long strips drawn and asked the players to occupy at least three of them at all times and provide more lateral play. We started introducing him to the French team. It took some time to readjust the thinking and mindset. But in 2002 we won the Grand Slam! Great win over Ireland (44-5). He was crying in frustration at the thought of going to put his hand on Okara’s shoulder. In Australia, for the World Cup, we were on cloud nine until the quarter-finals, where we outscored the Irish (43-21, 27-0 at half-time, 37-0 at 50).^e, author’s note). But before half-time against England, the arrival of rain cast doubt. We always played on dry pitches, at 30 degrees Celsius. We couldn’t manage the game of foot aggression. Wilkinson Yes! We have lost. It’s a big disappointment because we had incredible speed.”

France 2007: “A Record Against Blacks”

“President Labasse reappointed the staff. He had faith in Bernard Laporte. We knew we were going to put a lot of pressure on the first edition organized in France. In 2004, we reached the Grand Slam of the tournament and then we missed out. In 2005 the final against the Welsh team, in 2006 , we won the competition again, in 2007, it wasn’t great, and then as the competition approached, we felt the pressure. A train leaves from Le Havre. , is crossing France to promote the event. The president (Nicolas Sarkozy) is coming to dinner with us. Altitude training When, in Val-d’Isère, there are people everywhere, and even when we are the favourites… and then unfortunately, the Argentines played against us in the opening game, and we never thought of playing outside the quarter-finals. (At Cardiff against the All Blacks). Leaders have a decisive role. “Tommy” (Christophe Dominici, editor’s note) It was exciting. The players looked each other in the face. It all started with Joe Masso the week before the tournament (Team Manager, Editor’s Note) Went to draw for jerseys. He won the toss and chose to wear the blue jersey, not to play in black… Even when the pressure was on, Joe didn’t budge! During the haka, our players heard the opening and then advanced towards the blacks, challenging them as no one had done before them. At that time, we didn’t care about tradition! But then, the match had to be played… and we achieved the feat, something incredible. A forward pass on our second attempt between Michalak and Jauzion is definitely a suspect, but nothing scandalous. When he came to Perpignan two years later, Don Carter told us that we were very strong that day. Black lost his clarity at the end of the match. They did not dismiss or attempt to drop a ball. This victory gave us great satisfaction. A real achievement! The details of the half against England were decided. This spoon from Joe Worsley was trying on Vincent Clerk… In the third-place match, against Argentina, the team came out…”

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England 2015: “I had a blast! »

“In the summer of 2011, I was on vacation in Argentina. In Rosario, I met Francesco Accione, the technical director of the Italian youth teams. When I returned, the Italian federation told me “she wanted to take me over. Head of the Nazionale, I spoke to Paul Goes, my head of the USAP, about this: “You can’t stop me from going…” Except the information was leaked. I researched the problem. I thought two owners, a pyramid for youth teams, could create an interesting dynamic. Except that neither franchise was controlled by the confederation… Benetton was against the confederation and the other was bankrupt. With my friend Roberto Maggi, I managed to build a structure in Parma. I loved it! At all levels. The will of the players, their involvement. Rugby is a secondary sport in Italy, but something has been built around a real leader, Sergio Parisse, and talented players, Castrogiovanni, Ungaro, Bortolami, the Bergamasco brothers, Zani, Canel, Masi, Lo Cicero. Nazional’s enthusiasm was confirmed by the transfer of international matches from the Stadio Flaminio to the Olimpico in Rome. We had a great team in 2013 who finished third in the tournament after two wins against France and Ireland. In England, France beat us very easily, but managed to beat Romania (32-22) to qualify for the next World Cup and finish third.”

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Japan 2019: “It wasn’t the Welsh who won this tournament, we lost it”

“I would never have imagined returning to the France team in my life. For me it was over. I was at a wonderful club in Bordeaux, in the right environment. But fate wanted it to be that way… Bernard Laporte insisted. Rest, in retrospect, it would be foolish to accept this position. You It must be crazy! Half a squad, zero staff to prepare for the World Cup, what do you want to do? I contacted the club coaches who couldn’t release themselves. , others who were no longer active. I trained my staff with Julien Bonaire, Sebastien Bruno, Jean-Marc Bederet for defense. Jean -Baptiste Elizalde was already there. In Japan, something incredible happened. We were afraid of Argentina, we beat them. From that day (23-21), everything became clear. Because the game against England was canceled due to a storm, we played the Welsh team in the quarter-finals. They were a team within our borders. Our start to the match was perfect… until Wahamahina’s red card for an elbow to the face of a Welshman. An unnecessary gesture. That is not his character. Reduced to fourteen on the half-hour mark, we added Antoine Dupont’s try… denied! We lost by a small margin (20-19). The disappointment was terrible. It wasn’t the Welsh who won this match, but us. My World Cup career ended with this defeat. But I’m not complaining. I have been a top coach for thirty-two years, participated in four World Cups and over 150 internationals! I’m lucky, I’m well married to Fabian, an understanding woman. I was able to survive on my passion. What’s more?”