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Daniel Hourcade a été désigné sélectionneur par intérim du Portugal, a confirmé la fédération portugaise de rugby jeudi 4 janvier.
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« C’est avec une satisfaction et une confiance justifiées que la FPR vous informe que Daniel Hourcade, l’entraîneur qui a fait partie de l’équipe nationale lors de la Coupe du Monde 2007 et qui a ensuite été l’entraîneur principal de l’équipe nationale d’Argentine, accompagnera Os Lobos jusqu’à la fin du Rugby Europe Championship 2024 en tant que consultant pour World Rugby », a déclaré la fédération dans un communiqué.
En poste jusqu’à cet été
L’ancien sélectionneur de l’Argentine occupe donc le poste jusqu’en juillet. Ainsi, celui qui a mené l’Argentine jusqu’à la demi-finale de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2015 sera en charge du Portugal lors du Rugby Europe Championship et des rencontres internationales du mois de juillet.
Le Portugal entame sa campagne du Rugby Europe Championship le 3 février contre la Belgique à Mons avant d’affronter la Pologne et la Roumanie. En juillet, Os Lobos entreront dans l’histoire en affrontant les champions du monde, les Springboks, chez eux en Afrique du Sud le 20 juillet. Hourcade se voit donc proposer un défi de taille.
L’Argentin remplace Patrice Lagisquet qui s’est retiré après la Coupe du Monde. Le Français Sébastien Bertrank avait été désigné pour le remplacer mais a démissionné un mois plus tard.
Il était déjà dans le staff en 2007
La nomination de Hourcade donnera au Portugal le temps de trouver celui qu’il considère comme l’entraîneur idéal sur le long terme, alors que le Portugal se prépare à la qualification pour la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2027.
Il convient de noter que World Rugby l’avait déjà placé comme consultant auprès du Portugal et de l’Espagne en 2021. Avant cela, il était l’assistant de Tomáz Morais lorsque le Portugal a participé à sa toute première Coupe du Monde de Rugby en 2007.
Meneses dans le projet
Pour cette occasion, l’ancien sélectionneur de l’Uruguay Esteban Meneses s’associera à Daniel Hourcade. L’Argentin a entraîné Los Teros de 2016 à 2023 et c’est sous sa direction que l’Uruguay a décroché son Graal en battant les Fidji lors de la Coupe du monde au Japon en 2019.
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Sa deuxième Coupe du monde à la tête de l’Uruguay a vu une victoire contre la Namibie et un match prometteur contre la France.
Dans la hiérarchie, Daniel Hourcade fera office d’entraîneur principal tandis qu’Esteban Meneses sera l’entraîneur en charge des avants. Un autre Argentin de renom fera partie du staff, Rodolfo Ambrósio, qui sera en charge des mêlées.
Un tout nouveau staff
Ambrósio a été l’entraîneur principal du Brésil pendant la plus grande période des Tupis. Sous sa direction, le Brésil a enregistré des victoires sur le Canada et les États-Unis pendant les années du défunt Americas Rugby Championship (2016-2019).
Outre Hourcade, Meneses et Ambrósio, le staff d’entraîneurs comprendra également João Mirra en tant qu’entraîneur des trois-quarts et Luís Pissarra en tant qu’entraîneur de la défense.
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Olivier Reig et Lino Rebolo (préparateur physique), José Paixão (analyste vidéo) et Marcellin Ségaut (GPS) rejoindront également le staff, tandis que l’équipe médicale actuelle sera conservée.
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments