Le nouvel entraîneur du Portugal démissionne au bout d’un mois
La Fédération Portugaise de Rugby ne pensait sans doute pas que la succession de Patrice Lagisquet allait être si compliquée. Et pourtant, un mois seulement après son entrée en fonction, le nouvel entraîneur principal du Portugal, le Français Sébastien Bertrank, a remis sa démission.
« La Fédération Portugaise de Rugby et M. Sébastien Bertrank, Entraîneur National de Rugby, annoncent par la présente que, pour des raisons strictement professionnelles et à sa demande, ils ont convenu de mettre fin à la relation contractuelle entre eux, avec effet immédiat », est-il indiqué dans un communiqué transmis par la fédération lundi 13 novembre.
Trop de sollicitations
« L’augmentation significative de la charge de travail et les nombreuses sollicitations que l’équipe nationale à XV a reçues suite à son excellente performance à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby, avec plusieurs matchs internationaux prévus et les semaines de préparation correspondantes, obligeraient M. Bertrank à voyager plus régulièrement et à rester plus longtemps au Portugal, ce qui conduirait à la rupture de sa relation professionnelle avec le Ministère des Sports français, une situation qu’il souhaite éviter.
« Consciente de cette situation, la Fédération Portugaise de Rugby, regrettant de ne plus pouvoir compter sur l’Entraîneur National, a accepté sa démission et souhaite à M. Sébastien Bertrank une pleine réussite personnelle et professionnelle. »
Pour sa deuxième participation à une Coupe du Monde de Rugby après 2007, le Portugal a conquis le public par son style de jeu proche du french flair de la grande époque.
L’équipe coup de cœur de France 2023
Ses résultats étaient au-delà de ses attentes et de celles de ses supporters : défaite logique 28-8 face au Pays de Galles, match nul 18-18 contre la Géorgie, défaite attendue 34-14 devant l’Australie, mais victoire surprise sur les Fidji 23-24 à Toulouse pour clore cette incroyable aventure.
« Le bilan, c’est qu’une équipe de ce niveau-là, en quatre matchs, elle a continué à progresser. Elle avait des lacunes sur les trois premiers matchs mais de moins en moins », avait alors commenté le sélectionneur Patrice Lagisquet.
« Le bilan est bien sûr très positif. Ce qui est le plus intéressant, c’est la progression. Les perspectives sont intéressantes, même s’il y a des joueurs clés qui vont arrêter.
« Il y a une très bonne génération U18. Si la fédération continue à placer des joueurs français dans des clubs français, si les Lusitanos deviennent semi pros, à l’image des [Fijian] Drua, le rugby portugais peut continuer à progresser car il y a beaucoup de passionnés investis. »
La majorité des joueurs évolue en France
Lors de la saison 2022-2023, 13 membres du groupe Portugal évoluaient comme joueurs professionnels dont 12 en Pro D2 et un seul en Top 14, le talonneur Mike Tadjer. La moitié du groupe de 33 mondialistes jouaient pour le Lusitanos XV dans le Rugby Europe Super Cup.
Formateur d’origine passé par l’ASM Clermont-Auvergne, Sébastien Bertrank, Auvergnat de 53 ans, avait entraîné l’équipe de France des U20, le XV de France féminin et la Réunion.
« L’Irlande et l’Angleterre viennent de nous solliciter pour qu’on se rencontre. On verra si ce sera sous la forme de matchs officiels ou d’entraînement à balles réelles. C’est marrant, le Portugal est soudainement devenu sexy », souriait-il lors de sa prise de fonction dans les colonnes de Midi Olympique en octobre.
Ces sollicitations et la charge de travail attendue ont finalement eu raison de sa motivation, lui qui est coordonnateur de formation au CREPS de Montpellier depuis cinq ans.
Comments on RugbyPass
Incorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
1 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
107 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
4 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
107 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
10 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
3 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
12 Go to comments*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
3 Go to comments“Hidden comments” all over the place😂 Turlough’s been a busy little boy ey🤭
107 Go to commentsit’ll all be released in an autobiography a few years from now….. “Razor shafted me” blah blah blah. thinking of making Scott Barrett captain might be a good move. Could calm down his brain fades & make him an even better player for them
4 Go to commentsSadly he played far too many games too young. England and France really do need to look after their younger players better.
1 Go to commentsHaving finally been able to watch the first Chasing the Sun (thanks RugbyPass!) - because I refuse to pay DSTV's extortionate monthly fee in SA - after four years, it was amazing to see Mapimpi's story as well as seeing my personal hero, Rassie, breaking down when telling it. There _is_ hope for the country, but only once we've got rid of the crooked and incompetent ANC (and others) who have set out to destroy it. Viva Rassie, viva Kolisi viva rugby!
1 Go to commentsWhether true or not, all the best to you Sam Cane. A warrior of a player and a loyal servant to the ABs! Go get you some yen and have some fun.
4 Go to comments