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SAINT ETIENNE – Don’t put your Wallabies jerseys and scarfs into storage just yet – just maybe there’s a World Cup lifeline coming next week in the shape of fiery Portugal.
Australia got the bonus point and win they needed to extend their woeful World Cup for another week but their 34-14 win will do little to convince fans that they’ve turned a corner, even though they had the game under control – on the scoreboard at least – for the last 15 minutes.
On the bright side, the performance of the losing team might just have raised some hope that the exciting Portuguese can spring the upset Australia crave against Fiji next week.
Nicolas Martins of Portugal (Photo by Julian Finney – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
A Fiji point is enough to give them a quarterfinal and send Australia home at the end of the pool stage.
“They’re brilliant to watch play, Portugal. Tough forward pack, great backs. Can’t wait to see the Portuguese team and program evolve,” said Morgan Turinui on the Stan Sport coverage.
The Portuguese were ahead and on top before suffering a yellow card that switched momentum Australia’s way – and the Europeans made it a stressful run down the home stretch as Australia spent eight minutes around the hour mark with two players in the sin bin.
One of those was Samu Kerevi – a late inclusion for Carter Gordon – who was binned for an incident similar to four years ago against Wales when he was penalised for an aggressive charge with the ball.
It was a period where the Wallabies needed great resolve to survive.
“The Wallabies needed to did deep. It’s great to see the physical nature of the Wallabies digging in but it must be paired with clear minds, ” said Turinui.
Izaia Perese of Australia breaks with the ball whilst under pressure from Samuel Marques of Portugal during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 01, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“I’m loving the fact they’re trying to survive and they’re doing it by digging in and whacking any red jersey they see. Brilliant to see from this Wallabies team. Loving the desperation.”
Man of the match Rob Valetini said: “I thought the boys dug deep knowing it could be our last game. But credit to Portugal – they’re a very solid team. I can’t believe this is their first World Cup. They’re going to be a power and it’s great for the game.”
Fiji’s win over Georgia 24 hours earlier – with a fair dash of controversy – left Australia needing a bonus point win. They got it but they now face seven days of kicking stones before the Fijians face Portugal needing a point to send the Australians home.
“It’s going to be hard for the Wallabies this week,” said former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles.
“They’ve got to train as normal and that’s going to be a challenge because they’re going to be sitting there thinking they’re 100-1 to be playing in that quarterfinal but having seen that performance by Portugal they’re a quality side. It wasn’t a fluke how they pushed the Wallabies all the way. Fiji didn’t play well against Georgia.”
Australia started slowly but they found some good inroads via the Waratahs centre pairing of Izzy Perese and Lalakai Foketi, who combined superbly.
“I really like that Foketi and Perese combination, they’re going well out there,” said Sonny Bill Williams, while Tim Horan added: “I love the way the centres are pairing up. Izzy Perese, the way he gets across the advantage line and gets off loads is superb.”
While the opposition wasn’t at the level of the 40-6 loss to Wales, former Wallaby skipper James Horwill noted a more composed performance from the Wallabiues.
“They’re not under as much pressure as they were last week against Wales in terms of a tactical point of view,”said Horwill.
“Talking to each other has built confidence and momentum. We’ve seen the team lack confidence, they’ve looked unsure, hopefully dumbing it down a bit playing basic rugby has allowed them more confidence in their game. You can see they’re growing into the game.”
The confidence seemed to ebb at times in the second half but the Wallabies did enough as the pro Portugal crowd roared and their exciting backline asked serous questions, especially with the Wallabies down to 13.
“What a great effort from the Wallaby team under all sorts of pressure in the middle part of the second half,” said Justin Harrison. “Down to 13 men, pride in the line. Weathered the storm.
Angus Bell of Australia celebrates with Robert Leota of Australia after scoring his team’s third try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 01, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“Angus Bell, Koriobete, put themselves around for this jersey. If that’s the last game they play in this campaign it’s a game worth remembering, but it’s absolutely a campaign that’s been disappointing.
“We are going to see more of that Portugal team – that is a great display.””
The big question is was Australia poor or Portugal really good.
“A bit of both,” said Hoiles on Stan Sport.
“Our first half was excellent, there was some really good go forward and attacking footy. They looked like they had control in the first half but the second half the kick chase wasn’t good enough, the scrum was pressured, the lineout struggled and they were ill-disciplined. A scrappy second half. They would have taken it but scrappy towards the end.”
Horwill added: “First half clean, much more clinical and organised but in the second half went back to some of the bad habits from this tournament so far – a lack of discipline, guys going one out. But we need to credit Portugal – they were very good, their counter attack and back three in particular and they gave us a hard time in scrum and maul.”