For their last group stage match, the Wallabies won with the offensive bonus this Sunday in Saint-Étienne against Portugal (34-14). But Australia must now count on a Portuguese exploit next week against Fiji to hope to qualify. If the Wallabies do not qualify, it would be a first in World Cup history. The “Lobos” showed a more than attractive face but broke down physically.
Touched and almost sunk in this World Cup, Eddie Jones’ players were jostled from the start by the dynamic and uninhibited Portuguese. Despite a first successful penalty by fly-half Donaldson (4th), Patrice Lagisquet’s charges made a successful start, putting the Australian defense to torture with feints and passes after contact. After a very long sequence in the 22 meters, Appleton found Bettencourt with a superb jump pass for the first try of the game (3-7, 12th). A short-lived euphoria for the “Lobos” and its number 13, punished in the wake of a yellow card for a tackle too high on Perese (15th). At 14, the Portuguese were going to go through hell for 10 minutes. Donaldson added three points (16th), before two tries scored in quick succession by Arnold (19th) then captain Porecki (17-7, 22nd). Strikes which made the Portuguese defense bend, diminished and overwhelmed a third time on good work from Nawaqanitawase, finally concluded by the pillar Bell (24-7, 26th).
Back at 15 and as spectacular as ever, Portugal moved forward, Martins missing the try by a hair – the fault of a foot in touch – after an escape from Marta (36th). Trailing by 17 points at the break, the Lusitanians never gave up, despite the offensive bonus found by Australia thanks to McReight, corner scorer (29-7, 47th). Effective but still fragile, the Wallabies then spent a quarter of an hour cowering in their camp, receiving two yellow cards for Faessler (60th) and Kerevi, very happy to finish the game (62nd). Initially frustrated by the attempt not given to Tadjer (60th), Portugal ended up being rewarded for their (long) highlight by finding the fault through Simoes (29-14, 70th). Before an unbridled end to the meeting on both sides. Korobeite scored the 5th Australian try (34-14, 74th) giving scale to the score which does not reflect the balance of power of the game. Supported by the Geoffroy-Guichard public, the Portuguese “Lobos” gave everything, until the end, by developing generous and pleasant rugby.
A rugby that we will find against Fiji, next Sunday (October 8, 9 p.m.), for a final last stand. In search of an exploit, the Portuguese, in the event of victory, could save… their Australian evening opponents, now condemned to sit in front of the television praying for an improbable Fijian misstep.
