Wales have a second consecutive victory in Pool C (28-8). This Saturday in Nice, the Leek XV beat Portugal without convincing but with the offensive bonus, a week after beating Fiji at the end of a crazy match (32-26). The “Os Lobos”, nickname of the Portuguese team meaning “the Wolves”, entered the competition. After an interesting first period thanks to an attractive Portuguese team, Leigh Halfpenny’s teammates accelerated in the second half and won before facing Australia next Sunday.
Patrice Lagisquet’s men, however, showed a more than attractive face, especially in the first period. The rockets Sousa Guedes and Marta, the experienced Marquès or the surprising Martins have often put the Welsh in difficulty. But realistically, the Leek XV planted the first banderilla thanks to Rees-Zammit, at the origin and conclusion of a small kick to follow (9th). The Lobos then had chances to score but faltered in the finish.
After a long action, flanker Ganarte was penalized a few meters from the goal after a scratch from Halfpenny (31st). Despite a failure against the poles earlier in the match, Samuel Marquès, the Portuguese scrum half from Béziers brought his team back to four points (37th). Before the Welsh power rages and Lake, in force, scores a final try at the siren.
In the second half, the power of the Welsh hurt the Lusitanian team. Tired, Patrice Lagisquet’s men collapsed on a charge from Jac Morgan (56th), last minute replacement for Tommy Reffell. Despite a new penalty missed by Marquès a few minutes before (52nd), the Portuguese nevertheless found the fault through Nicolas Martins (63rd). The third line of Soyaux-Angoulême in Pro D2 (French second division) was at the conclusion of a nice combination in touch between Tadjer and Simoes. The try was not converted by Marquès but the Lobos were back in the match.
At the end of the match, Davies, after a breakthrough from Rees-Zammit, thought of scoring the offensive bonus try but was ultimately refused for a screen. But Faletau, number 8 of the Leek XV, scored a power offensive bonus try at the very end of the match. Note that Vincent Pinto, the Portuguese winger, received a red card. See you next weekend for Wales, who will face Australia, while the Lobos will play Georgia.