World Cup: Jacques Brunel, the man who has long frightened the XV of France

EXPATRIATE - Former Deputy Bernard Laporte for France and Perpignan coach before taking the reins of the Italian selection, Gers, who faces the Blues on Saturday night knows the tricolor rugby. So there is still some time, the XV of France believed that because of Jacques Brunel, the Azzurri had become his nemesis.

Deep down, Jacques Brunel has yet hope to play a trick on the Blues.

 Brilliant debut. In his first game against the Blues after taking office at the head of the Italian XV, in May 2011, Jacques Brunel (61) marked the spirits: under his command, the Azzurri defeated for the first time in its history the XV of France in the Six Nations tournament (22-21 in Rome). And even if the Transalpine had already disposed of the French in 1997, in a final somewhat anecdotal for fleeting and obscure FIRA European Trophy is a real earthquake in the very rigid hierarchy of European rugby. Which will also shaken again in 2013 with a new tricolor defeat (23-18, also in Rome).
Former Deputy Bernard Laporte selection (2001-2007) and former coach of the USAP (2007-2011), with whom he was champion of France in 2009, then seemed to have found the recipe for "betraying" them his. "His trademark is his system of blocks distributed in the field, operating at 3-4 players on some areas to try to occupy the entire field, analyzes the French hooker Guilhem Guirado, which evolved under the orders Brunel in Perpignan. It is everywhere at the moment but when it was used in 2007, it was quite innovative and it allowed us to move quickly. "

Brunel: "We can overcome almost all teams"
 Paste the Gersois knew then export to the other side of the Alps. "Brunel is a coach who loves the game of forwards, abounds Frederic Michalak. With him, the Italians began to rely much more on their pack, scratch more balloons. They became painful to play." And for his last lap, the former back of Carcassonne and Auch leave his position coach at the end of the World Cup, Brunel intends to continue making misery to his opponents. And especially contradict the predictions of ousting his men mano a mano announced between France and Ireland in this group D.
"We can overcome almost all teams," even dropped a little brash technician Thursday press conference. But facing the XV of France, yet it remains on two consecutive setbacks, including a vexing defeat in Rome last March (29-0). Not enough to allow Blue bragging provided before Saturday night. Thus, Rabah Slimani feared "the spirit of revenge" of the Italians, while Fabien Chouly is convinced that his former coach at USAP "has targeted this match" against France Twinckenham. Proof that Brunel is still a small effect.