Assistant coach of the National Team and of the Lusitanos XV

Linha de Ensaio had the pleasure of talking with Luis Pissarra

How did you enter the world of Rugby?

My father was a player (Agronomia) and since I was a kid, he’d encourage me to give it a go with him. After trying different sports, I went to a rugby practice when I was 12 and I chose rugby as the sport I wanted to take forward.

What are the big differences between Portuguese rugby then and now?

There was a big evolution in several aspects but the most important one was the improvement regarding training facilities and methods. There was also an evolution at the club level, where things became better in general.

You were part of the Portuguese national team that went to the World Cup in 2007. How was that experience?

That World Cup is, so far, the peak of Portuguese rugby. We were a group of amateur players, with a great leader, that managed to shock the world of rugby. I think it’ll always be a case-study the way we did it. I think that the way we qualified is a good reflex of the Portuguese mentality and fighting spirit. We missed the direct qualification and ended up in the repechage playoff where our goal average put us in France.

From that moment, we started living a dream that culminated with the arrival at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Étienne for the first match against Scotland. We had thousands of people waiting for our bus, celebrating with us that moment. And in the stadium, a huge crowd, lead by our families that had come all the way from Portugal.

How was the transition from player to coach?

It wasn’t easy at the beginning but at some point, I had to accept that reality, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to pass the right message to the players. When I started coaching, I was still players and this carried on for 2 years which is good and bad. In one hand, I had the advantage of being on the pitch but on the other hand, it limited my ability to analyse the game and make decisions. Nowadays, I’m very happy with being a coach and I can honestly say that I don’t miss playing. I lived great moments (and some sad ones too), but they’re all neatly packed away now and I can focus 100% on being a coach.

How has the Lusitanos’ project been so far? What was the initial goal when you decided to enter the Rugby Europe SuperCup?

So far, it has been a huge success and we want it to carry on that way. Our goals were clear from the beginning: give players a more intense training and game plan than they’d have playing in Portugal’s first division only. That would then make them more ready for the national team where they’d arrive with a different mind set and with a different rhythm. I think that this was particularly clear during the Autumn Internationals where we played Canada with a team that was basically made of players from the Lusitanos’ team. Their performance was excellent and we managed to beat a team that had been present in all World Cups so far.

In the last couple of rounds of the group stage, we fielded a team with nearly ten u20 players, which gives us an excellent platform for the future.

Regarding the national team, there are three matches left in this World Cup qualification. What’s the balance so far and what do you expect for those matches?

After this weekend, we hoped we could be in a more comfortable position but, in good Portuguese tradition, it seems like we are going to suffer until the very end (like in 2007). In truth, we are playing better than ever, with a very dynamic style, based on unpredictable and fast backs and with a pack that is now capable of competing with teams that were traditionally stronger than us. This motivates and gives us confidence that we will be in France in 2023.

We are going to have a “final” in Madrid and we must get bonus points against the Netherlands and Russia (both at home). Patrice Lagisquet, the new Head Coach, raised the bar for us. We work like professionals and our training and preparation are the base for our success.

What do you think that it’s necessary for Portugal to reach the next level in rugby?

I think that, in the short term, we need more people playing rugby so that we can have more options when it comes to picking players. There aren’t enough people playing rugby in Portugal and we see a lot of players dropping out before they reach the adult game, which makes it harder to get a competitive environment.

Regarding the national team, most of out players have a day job and it would be great if their bosses would cooperate more with us, allowing them to train, travel and recover properly. Our players are heroes for doing what they do, always showing great willingness to play for our country.

Any advice for those people who are now starting their rugby careers?

In my opinion, rugby is the best sport. At the youth level, most clubs follow the same principles of respect and good values, that are very applicable to life outside the pitch. It is a tough sport but the whole process allows for the players to grow. For those who like contact sports, physical challenges and to always improve their ball skills, this is a great sport to take on.