Australia 34-14 Portugal: Wallabies keep slim Rugby World Cup knockout hopes alive with win
| Australia: (24) 34 |
| Tries: Arnold, Porecki, Bell, McReight, Koroibete Con: Donaldson (3) Pens: Donaldson |
| Portugal: (7) 14 |
| Tries: Bettencourt, Simoes Con: Marques (2) |
Australia stored their slim hopes of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals alive with a bodily win over Portugal of their closing pool match.
The Wallabies beat a powerful Portugal 34-14 to go second in Pool C.
But third-placed Fiji want only one level from their very own match towards Portugal subsequent week to overhaul Australia and advance as an alternative.
Portugal had taken an early lead however Eddie Jones’ aspect ran in 5 tries to safe a bonus-point win in St Etienne.
Australia led 24-7 at half-time and secured a fourth bonus-point strive within the 47th minute.
Portugal, who missed a late penalty in an exciting 18-18 draw with Georgia final day trip, once more began quick as they hunted a primary World Cup win.
Pedro Bettencourt crossed over within the nook after some deft attacking to place the underdogs 7-3 up within the 11th minute.
But they have been briefly diminished to 14 males when Bettencourt was yellow carded for main with his shoulder on a excessive deal with on Izaia Perese.
He survived a bunker assessment however whereas he was within the sin bin Richie Arnold, Dave Porecki and Angus Bell all crossed to place Australia in management.
Portugal’s Nicolas Martins had a strive within the nook dominated out after going into contact simply earlier than the break which might have minimize the deficit to 10, and Fraser McReight added one other Australia strive after the restart to safe an important bonus-point.
Portugal had a second strive disallowed within the 58th minute when hooker Mike Tadjer misplaced management of the ball in his end, however they ended strongly as Australia’s Matt Faessler and Samu Kerevi have been each proven late yellow playing cards, permitting Rafael Simoes so as to add a second strive towards 13.
Once Australia returned to 15 although they wrestled again the momentum and Marika Koroibete went over for the ultimate rating with seven minutes remaining.
Aussies nonetheless more likely to limp out of World Cup
Australia began their World Cup with a convincing win over Georgia, however have been then crushed 22-15 by Fiji earlier than struggling a document 40-6 loss to Wales.
That victory for Fiji means they solely must match Australia’s factors tally to advance due to their superior head-to-head document.
That means Australia’s match with Portugal will in all chance be their final at this 12 months’s World Cup, having now performed all 4 of their pool matches.
They have by no means earlier than didn’t advance to the knockout phases of a World Cup.
The Wallabies are led by Jones, who took England to the World Cup closing in 2019 and in addition led Australia to a house closing in 2003.
Line-ups
Australia: Kellaway; Nawaqanitawase, Perese, Foketi, Koroibete; Donaldson, McDermott; Bell, Porecki (capt), Slipper; Frost, Arnold; Hooper, McReight, Valentini.
Replacements: Faessler, Schoupp, Fa’amausili, Leota, Kemeny, Fines-Leleiwasa, Kerevi, Vunivalu.
Portugal: Guedes; Storti, Bettencourt, Appleton (capt), Marta; Portela, Marques; Costa, Tadjer, Ferreira; Madeira; Belo, Wallis, Martins, De Freitas.
Replacements: Fernandes, Diniz, Bruno, Cerqueira, Simoes; Belo, Moura, Cardoso Pinto.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
