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...