Key events
41st min: Marques, my pick for player of the half, nails a clearance kick. That’s gone miles. Wales set a maul from the line-out. Dyer at first receiver cuts back infield and makes some good ground. He knocks-on though.
And we’re back. Wales need an improved show. Portugal just need to get some more points on the board.
“Love the World Cup Dan but there are some issues.” Alrighty, Adam Thomas. What’s eating you?
“Too many one sided games. Too little for the minnows to play for. Loses momentum in the later rounds when the games space out.
”The solution? A cup, plate, bowl format. Top 2 in the group in the cup. Next 2 plate. Bottom teams bowl. Plate/bowl knock outs midweek in 2nd tier cities/stadium with cup on the weekend.
”Format is familiar to even a passing rugby fan from the 7s circuit. Everyone has something to play for. Excitement maintained throughout.
”I’d pay to see Namibia v Portugal in a bowl final…or Scotland v England in a plate semi (ha! Ha!)
”Enjoy the match! Thanks for the great coverage.”
It’s not a bad idea. We’ve seen the sucess of this sort of thing in other competitions, including the sevens circuit. I’m all for it!
Half-time: Wales 14-3 Portugal
Portugal did all the running. They stole the highlights and they played the better rugby. They’re still trailing by a large deficit. That’s rugby for you. If you don’t put points on the board all your fancy stuff counts for nothing.
Wales were disjointed and lacked a clear plan. One good move from Rees-Zammit and a crunching run from captain Lake from short range means they have two tries. Gatland will be spitting venom at half-time.
TRY! Wales 14-3 Portugal (Lake, 40)
Well this time they do score. A tap and go from the penalty, Lake bashes over from close range and gets it down. It was route one stuff but it worked. Halfpenny clots the extras. I might have mistakingly given Anscombe the two points earlier.
NO TRY!
Scratch that. J Williams knocks on over the line. Wales still have the penalty advantage but how on earth has the Welsh centre spilled that? Excellent defence but surely he had to score.
TRY! Wales 12-3 Portugal (J Williams, 40)
They’re going to check it but I think it’s good. Sustained pressure and J Williams from close range powers over.
40th min: A penalty to Wales in the scrum. Faletau isn’t hanging about and taps and goes. Tshuinza over the gainline again. He’s been their best player. T Williams finds Smith on the charge. His strong carry sets them up and there’s an overlap. Penalty advantage. Wales criss-cross so they come back. Smith then Lake almost at the line. They have to score….
38th min: Anscombe launches a bomb for Halfpenny to chase. The full-back can’t gather. Portugal kick. Then Wales kick. Then Portugal kick. Anscombe breaks the cycle and feeds J Williams who is back from the sin-bin. Lewis then Smith make ground around the fringe. Morgan is clattered. Anscombe short to J Williams again. Tshiunza on a great angle gets over the gainline. Another strong carry keeps the move heading in the right direction. Lewis throws a dummy. J Williams for Grady on the wraparound. A speculative pass out to Dyer is wayward. Better from Wales but still not good enough.
Penalty! Wales 7-3 Portugal (Marques, 37)
This time he gets it over. From right in front he registers Portugal’s first three points of the competition.
37th min: The maul from the line-out doesn’t move so Marques shifts it on. Appleton canters. He’s hit by Grady but the shot is high over the shoulder. Not dangerous but it is a penalty. Portello (I think) attempts a drop goal with the advantage but doesn’t nail it. So they’ll come back for a shot off the tee.
35th min: Wales kick it high. No one gathers. Portugal recycle down the left and they find another 50:22. This time from the No. 13 Lima. They have to do better with this opportunity. Another line-out. Can they break Wales open while they’re still a man down?
34th min: Jenkins is safe from the middle of the line-out. The maul goes nowhere and T Williams snipes down the blindside. Short runners are met with resistance so T Williams hoists a high box. It’s well placed but Portello reads it well. T Williams then fields a kick over his shoulder and kicks himself. Anscombe now fields and kicks. Marques picks it up and searches for touch. Instead he finds Dyer who doesn’t kick but runs. He’s hammered in the tackle and it slows down.
31st min: Wales don’t contest but Portugal don’t maul off the top. They wrap around and attack down the right. It gets loose. So they pick and go but their runner is isolated and Halfpenny gets over the ball and steals it.
30th min: A scrappy line-out for Portugal ends with a big kick. Halfpenny is then asked to field a high kick and does so brilliantly. Grady in the left tram runs over a tackler but he’s eventually bundled out of touch. Portugal play it quickly. Sousa Guedes kicks. Halfpenny reads it well. He feeds Dyer who cuts back in field. Breathless passage this. Faletau shows lovely hands and then wriggles through a gap. He has it stolen off him though and Marques rakes a 50:22. Outstanding from the scrummie in white.
28th min: Jenkins gets it down at the back of the line-out. T Williams bashes a brilliant box kick that travels almost 50 metres. He lands it right on the line. What a brilliant exit.
27th min: Portugal win the line-out at the front. They try to maul but get mauled out by Wales. Tshuinza getting the credit for leading that maul defence.
Yellow card! Wales (J Williams, 27)
No complaints. After making the tackle he interfered with the play, preventing the off load. If he didn’t Portugal had clear space down the left wing. That would have ended with a try. Cynical but necessary.
26th min: The scrum crumbles but Portugal still come away with it. Marques hacks an ugly kick. It’s scrappy. Rees-Zammit can’t haul down a high kick so Portugal attack. There’s a penalty and could be a card coming for Wales…
24th min: And again. Quick tap and J Williams is running up the guts. Anscombe is whacked by Lima. Jenkins with a charge but he loses it in the tackle. Knock-on. Wales look like a side that rarely plays together. No continuity at all.
23rd min: Portugal go early on the scrum and cough up a free-kick. Wales choose to go again.
22nd min: They trade kicks. Wales to Portugal and back again. It all ends with Portugal kicking it too long and it goes over the dead ball line. Harsh on them as they must now defend a scrum with their heels on their own 22. Great chance for Wales to do something with this. Loads of space on the open side.
21st min: Portugal win the line-out. Appleton cleans up. He’s having a good game in midfield. The forwards build it up before Marques kicks. Halfpenny does well under pressure to secure the ball.
Time for a water break.
20th min: Wales with another good line-out. Morgan on the angle then J Williams. Tshiunza through a hole and off-loads for J Williams. He’s crunched and the ball is out. Portugal go down the short side. Pinto’s off-load is to no one. But they get the penalty. J Williams pulled Portello back off the ball. If he hadn’t I think Portugal were away.
19th min: Tsiunza wins the line-out and Morgan makes some metres. But Wales lose it and Sousa Guedes hoofs a mighty kick. Wales are getting run ragged and their forwards aren’t bossing as we expected them to.
18th min: Williams’ kick doesn’t go out so Portugal run it up. Morgan is over the ball and wins a penalty. That will give us a chance to catch our breath.
17th min: Lake charges up. Anscombe kicks and chases. Portugal counter. This is a game of counter attacks. What a step! Oh see ya later. Sousa Guedes with some nifty feet. Martin has it with nothing but space in front of him but Faletau chases him down and makes a try saving tackle. Wales have it in their own 22 and T Williams box kicks.
16th min: The scrum can’t get set so Portugal get a fre-kick. They tap and go. Lovely off-loads and runs. Granate cuts a wonderful line and they’re up past the half-way line. Oh but they lose it. Now Dyer attacks the other way. Strong defence from Wales forced that spill.
14th min: Wales go to the middle of the line-out. The maul is set up and starts rumbling forward. Portugal resist so Wales splinter. T Williams snipes down the blind but can’t connect with an off-load. It’s spilled so they’ll pack down for a scrum.
13th min: Tshiunza makes a strong carry. That gets Wales on the front foot. Rees-Zammit kicks and asks a question of Portella. He has to kick off his wrong foot but still makes good ground. wales will get the line-out just out of Portugal’s 22.
11th min: Faletau gathers the restart. T Williams hoists it high and Portella does well to haul it down. Appleton has no options in midfield so takes it back into the maw. Marques kicks. Wales again with a counter. End to end so far.
TRY! Wales 7-0 Portugal (Rees-Zammit, 9)
Brilliant from the winger. Portugal had possession until their prop kicked it away. Wales launched a counter, kept it moving down the line. Morgan fed Rees-Zammit who grubbered ahead and gathered on the bounce to dive over. Anscombe makes no mistake from out wide and adds the extras.
9th min: A brilliant cute kick over the top of the ruck by Marques finds Appleton on the gallop. They recycle and keep it moving. Portella finds a half gap. Alves, the prop, kicks. It’s a waste and Wales launch a counter through Johnny Williams.
7th min: Portugal with the ball at the half-way. A nice floated pass over the top finds Marta. Wales pinch it but then Rees-Zammit loses it. Williams is snaffled after Portugal kick ahead. Lewis slows things down. Lake does likewise. They’re in their own 22 so Tomos Williams hoofs upfield.
5th min: He misses it! That’s a bad miss. He was slightly to the right of the poles but still couldn’t bring it round, just shaving the upright.
They point to the poles. Marques to line it up.
4th min: Slick off the top. Martins through a gap. Marques has time to pick out a runner. They snake down the line. Johnny Williams strays off-side so Portugal have an advantage. It gets messy before Appleton cleans up. No advantage so they come back for a penalty.
That’s got the crowd going. Let’s see what they can do with this line-out.
2 min: Grady with a good carry. Lydiate also involved. Anscombe is driven back but Grady gets some metres down the left tram. Grady again. He’s had a cracking start. But Portugal win a penalty on the ground. Appleton over the ball.
Kick-off. Wales in black and yellow, looking like La Rochell. Maybe that’ll help them. Portugal in white shirts and green shorts.
Late change for Wales
That’s not an ideal start for Gatland.
Reffell is out. Morgan slots in at 7.
Two minutes to go. The anthems are belting out. Great to hear the Portuguese send it large. It’s one of the joys of international sport. I know some people can find the whole nationalism thing a little distasteful but when your country has a serious number, and you’re surrounded by your mates in a packed stadium, few things are better. Time for Wales and then kick-off.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Portugal’s current crop are taking inspiration from the one and only side to have represented their country in this tournament. If they can cram these highlights into a single game they may have a sniff of upsetting the bookies in Nice.
“It’s Wales. The land of the dragon.”
“We want to be more than a presence here”
So says Portugal’s captain, Tomas Appleton. That’s the spirit. That fighting talk is exactly what you want from, forgive me, a minnow in this sport.
I don’t think it’ll help them. But you really never know. Uruguay gave as good as they got a couple of nights ago and upsets do happen occasionaly. ‘Miracle of Brighton’, anyone?
To get you fully on board with Portugal’s story, take a dive into Nick Ames’ chat with their skipper.
I’m especially keen to see how Wales’ midfield combo of Johnny Williams and Mason Grady get on.
Turns out, so is Michael Aylwin. That’s just one fresh pairing picked out in this preview:
Portugal join the party
It’s been 16 years since Portugal were part of the Rugby World Cup. Back in 2007 Scotland put 55 past them, the All Blacks notched up 108 points and Italy breezed to a comfortable 31-5 win. Even against Romania they went down 14-10.
No one is seriously expecting them to land too many blows this time round but their skipper, Tomas Appleton, has stated that his team will set out to “inspire a nation”. No matter the result today, a strong show against one of the game’s top nations would do just that.
Portugal: Sousa Guedes; Pinto, Lima, Appleton (cap), Marta; Portella, Madeira; Cerqueira, Granate, Martins, Simoes.
Replacements: Costa, Campergue, Hasse Ferreira, Belo, Wallis, Lucas, Moura, Storti.
Anscombe leads new-look Wales
There are only two players in the starting XV that kicked off against Fiji. They are winger Louis Rees-Zammit and No. 8 Taulupe Faletau. My guess is that if Warren Gatland had enough men in reserve, he’d have changed them as well. Still, there’s plenty of experience out there and fly-half Gareth Anscombe will want to show off his talent with plenty of front-foot ball expected.
Wales: Halfpenny; Rees-Zammi, Grady, J Williams, Dyer; Anscombe, T Williams; Smith, Lake (cap), Lewis, Tshiunza, Jenkins, Lydai, Reffell, Faletau.
Replacements: Elias, Domachowski, Francis, Beard, Basham, Davies, Costelow, Adams.
🏴 𝐗𝐕 𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐑𝐔 🏴
👊 Eich tîm i herio Portiwgal
❤️ Dros Gymru’n Gwlad#WelshRugby | #ViveLeCymru
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 13, 2023
Preamble
It’s a good thing squads are made up of 33 players. It’s also a good thing that we now have a week between World Cup games. If either of those things weren’t true then Warren Gatland might have had to put on a pair of boots himself after the heroic performance of his team in the opening round.
Gatland has made 13 changes to the side that stood firm against Fijian resistance in a 32-26 victory. Across 80 gruelling minutes the men in red repelled 63 Fijian carries in their own 22 and made an astonishing 252 tackles. We can quibble over the way the game was reffed but that is an extraordinary effort against one of the most fearsome teams in the competition.
They’ll expect to play more ball today against a Portugal side that will show plenty of spirit but shouldn’t pose too many challenges.
This is an opportunity for some of the Welsh players on the fringe to stand up and make a claim for a starting berth against Australia and Georgia down the road.
As for Portugal, they’ll be fresh after sitting out of the opening round. This is is their first World Cup match since September 2007. They took the scenic route to get here and just edged out the USA on points difference after drawing with the Eagles 16-16 thanks to an 82nd penalty from Samuel Marques.
If they can demonstrate the same gumption this afternoon, they may inflict a few more bruises on Gatland’s boys.
My name is Dan. Do drop a line either on X or email. I’d love to hear from you.
More updates to follow. Kick off at 5:45pm local time/4:45pm BST.
