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France's new coaching ticket has now pretty much emerged
By Peter Hanson
Julien Bonnaire is among three former France internationals to have been named as assistants to new Les Bleus head coach Jacques Brunel.
The ex-Clermont Auvergne forward chalked up 75 appearances for France and started in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final defeat to New Zealand.
Bonnaire will be in charge of France's lineout, while Sebastien Bruno and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will oversee the scrum and backs respectively.
All three players represented the national team under Bernard Laporte, who is now head of the French Rugby Federation (FFR).
A statement on the FFR's website read: "This innovative backroom staff mixes skills present at the hearts of our clubs and those coming from the federal set-up.
"It will be kept in place and boosted through to the 2019 World Cup. It is the first step for French rugby to rally around the French team."
Brunel was appointed as head coach last week following the dismissal of Guy Noves, who oversaw just seven wins in 21 Tests.
France start life under Brunel in their Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 3.
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Latest Comments
It’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.
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.
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