Lamerat: "Those who know me know that I am quite a party animal"

Rémi Lamerat (28 years old, 19 caps) accepted for the daily L'Equipe to review his participation in the famous night trip to Edinburgh, which followed the defeat of the XV of France in Scotland (32-26) in the last 6 Nations Tournament and involved 8 French players, among whom was therefore the three-quarters international centre of Clermont.

Lamerat accepted the exclusion of the culprits by coach Jacques Brunel and his staff: "I understood this exclusion because we have a duty to represent, an image of the French team to respect. It was more what was said around me that I had trouble accepting, because it was something I couldn't control. In these cases, you make yourself very small and give everything on the field to try to reassure yourself. In fact, I used this story as an additional motivation to be good with Clermont. I took it as a boost," he says today, right in his boots. 

Brunel manager of the year, and this is no joke!

Despite a record of 3 unfortunate victories for 8 defeats conceded in 11 tests of the XV de France, Jacques Brunel was the winner of a manager of the year trophy last weekend at La Toussuire.

Perhaps it is simply to be seen as an encouragement in this World Cup year in Japan this autumn (20 September-2 November) as we approach the next 6 Nations Tournament, for which the coach of Les Bleus is due to unveil a list of 31 players on Wednesday... Nevertheless, we still pinch ourselves when we learn that we have found a way to designate Jacques Brunel as manager of the year 2018.

It may have only been the "Rencontres Toussuire Sport", but we are concerned, somewhere, by the opportunity of this award given in the Savoy station to a technician who led the XV de France in 2018 to a "brilliant" record of... three victories in eleven matches, in the Tournament (against Italy 34-16 and England 22-16), then during the last autumn tour against Argentina (28-13).

A rather meagre result that seriously tarnishes the final ranking in this same tournament (4th), without forgetting the new zero score recorded during the three tests of the summer tour in New Zealand, nor of course the historic defeat - a first - recorded on 24 November last against Fiji at the Stade de France (14-21). But since Guirado and his teammates are led by the manager of the year... 

5 pledges for the Tournament, Brunel dared!

Only 8 months before the World Cup in Japan (Sept. 20-Nov. 2), Jacques Brunel is still groping around calling 5 new players to the French team (Willemse, Ntamack, Ramos, Aldegheri, Alldritt) to prepare the first 2 matches of the 6 Nations Tournament.

Jacques Brunel had announced a list "close to the group that will play the World Cup". For this next 6 Nations Tournament, the last event before the 2019 World Cup in Japan (20 September-2 November), "there cannot be a total upheaval at that time", the French coach supported again last weekend, since La Toussuire, where he was awarded an unexpected manager of the year 2018 trophy. And yet....

    It's time to see if Willemse can bring us something.
    Jacques Brunel (coach of Les Bleus)

There is no shortage of novelties and surprises among the 31 names unveiled by the Gers technician this Wednesday, from the facilities of RC Massy Essonne, with no less than 5 players never called up to the national team. A good rejuvenation too.... The 2nd line of South African origin, naturalized French, Paul Willemse (26 years old), is the oldest of this quintet of pledge: the Montpelliérain, who today "meets the criteria demanded by the Federation and Bernard Laporte", just like the Clermont-Ferrand Alivereti Raka, forfeited, holds his chance in blue: "it is time to see if he can bring us something", says Brunel.   

Alongside Willemse are also the Toulouse team (*), which includes the fit men Romain Ntamack (19 years old), U20 world champion (like Demba Bamba, re-elected) whose 10-12 profile appeals to the French staff, and Thomas Ramos (23 years old), top scorer in the Champions Cup and preferred at the back for Benjmain Fall or Brice Dulin. New blood behind... But also, and this is more unusual, in front with the n°8 rochelais Grégroy Alldriit (21 years old), who shares the same Auscitan roots as Brunel. And above all, it offers an alternative to Louis Picamoles with "a remarkable ability to advance in the duel", which is also to "a position where there are essentially foreigners in the Top 14". The fifth newcomer to this list, Dorian Aldegheri (25 years old), who has already been called up with Barbarians, the antechamber of the Bleus, is benefiting from the absence of Cedate Gomes Sa, who is injured in the same way as Rabah Slimani, Yoann Maestri, Paul Gabrillagues, Mathieu Babillot, Kelian Galletier, Teddy Thomas and even Camille Chat.

The famous "skeleton" claimed by Brunel is ultimately rather upset by these five new names, but also by the returns of some of the people absent from the November tour, such as Morgan Parra, Wesley Fofana, Yacouba Camara, Bernard Le Roux, but also another young rock star, Pierre Bourgarit. 

These 31 lucky elected officials will be invited to Marcoussis on 20 January to begin preparing for the first two matches of this 2019 Tournament against Wales on Friday 1 February at the Stade de France (9pm) and then on Sunday 10 February at Twickenham (4pm) for the traditional "crunch". Last rehearsal against the English rival that Guilhem Guirado's team-mates will meet during their group phase of the Japanese World Cup.

When Garcia's girlfriend plays it like Aurier

Francesca Brienza, Rudi Garcia's partner and Roma TV presenter, was suspended from her position for enjoying a derogatory reflection on Facebook about the giallorosso coach Luciano Spalletti.

His presence did not go unnoticed on Sunday in the stands of Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Sitting next to her companion Rudi Garcia, a row below Jean-Michel Aulas' headquarters, Francesca Brienza was able to watch Lille's victory over Lyon (1-0) on Matchday 27 of Ligue 1. Miss has time...

According to the Italian media this week, and in particular the website il Fatto Quotidiano, she has just been suspended from her duties as a journalist for Roma TV, the channel of the giallorosso club. The reason for this sidelining? The presenter (only) enjoyed the Facebook post of a friend inviting Luciano Spalletti, Garcia's replacement at the head of Roma, to"(jump) from Ponte Vecchio" (Florence's emblem), in full controversy between the transalpine coach and the living legend of Wolf Francesco Totti (see also: Spalletti spreads Totti).

In other words, she made us a little Serge Aurier! With hindsight, Brienza may have apologized for its "lightness", but it was already too late. At this time, his suspension has still not been lifted. In Rome, a city so passionate about football, you don't laugh about it.

Batshuayi in Monaco, it's imminent!

The ASM should finalize in the next few hours the arrival of Michy Batshuayi, on loan from Chelsea for six months.

Naldo, Fodé Ballo-Touré, Cesc Fabregas, William Vainqueur... and now Michy Batshuayi? It's as if it's done! The rumour of the Belgian striker's arrival in the Principality, which had been circulating for a few days and the end of his loan to FC Valencia, is confirmed from hour to hour. According to ESPN FC, the Red Devil (25 years old) would thus be expected during the day in Monaco to pass the medical examination, before an officialization scheduled for Monday.

A new coup for the ASM, whose leaders are keeping their word. "Things will happen in January," Vice-President Vadim Vasilyev announced before the truce, in the evening of another embarrassing defeat against the Guingampaise red lantern at Louis-II Stadium (0-2). Until then, I thought we only needed two players, but we're probably going to need more." With "Batsman", that makes five already.
Loaned without purchase option

The former Marseille native, who was also courted... by OM, will commit for six months, without any option to buy, in favour of the club du Rocher. He will meet a Thierry Henry with whom he collaborated in the national team when the 1998 world champion was one of Roberto Martinez's assistants. It remains to be seen what condition Michy Batshuayi, who remains Chelsea's property, will be in after a disappointing first half of the season in Spain.

With only one goal in 15 Liga matches (including 4 as a starter for a meagre 519 minutes played), he never won the confidence of Valencia coach Marcelino, who "ended up losing patience" with him, thus putting an early end to his loan. It is undoubtedly revengeful that the Belgian striker will find his way back into Ligue 1. Before returning to the Blues again next summer. And to pack again?