French rugby has ‘painful moment’ as national coach Noves fired in favour of Brunel

France rugby coach Guy Noves has been fired after two years and replaced by Jacques Brunel.

French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte told reporters yesterday: “These are painful moments. It’s difficult for me, too. Guy Noves was no longer the right man for the situation.”

Brunel coached Italy from 2012-16 and coached the France forwards as an assistant coach from 2001-07. In that period, France won the Six Nations four times, including the Grand Slam in 2004.

As a club coach, Brunel guided Perpignan to the French title in 2009.

“I’ve known him for a long time. I know his professionalism, his commitment, his passion,” Laporte said. “He understands the international level. He has experience, he has broad shoulders.”

Last month, Laporte gave

0 Guy Noves: ‘No longer right’ Noves a tough challenge to win three of the four November Tests. France lost twice to New Zealand and once to South Africa. It almost became four defeats as Japan were a missed conversion from beating France for the first time in a game that ended 23-23.

“We sensed that he was on the downward slope. We want to get back to the France team that wins,” Laporte said.

“The decision was taken recently. I didn’t take it alone, we consulted everyone.”

Under Noves, France had also lost three Tests heavily away to South Africa in June.

He was France’s most suc- cessful club coach, leading Toulouse to four European Cup and ten French league titles, but his magic failed in the international arena.

He won only seven of 21 matches during his tenure, drawing one and losing 13.

There were some mitigating circumstances, however.

He took over with France at one of their lowest ebbs after being humiliated by the All Blacks 62-13 in the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Inordertoregainconfidence, France needed to bounce back at the Six Nations Championship of 2016. But they finished second bottom in the 2016 Six Nations and third in 2017, digging out only gritty victories and failing to show their trademark flair.

Noves’ constant tinkering with the side was highly confusing, particularly the way he introduced young and talented players, such as promising scrum-half Baptiste Serin, only to take them out again.

France open their 2018 campaign at home to Ireland on 3 February.