Wales 28-8 Portugal: Tries from Louis Rees-Zammit, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau secure bonus-point win
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Updated 16/09/2023 at 19:09 GMT
Taulupe Faletau went over in the dying seconds of Wales' 28-8 win over a spirited Portugal to secure a much-needed bonus point at the Rugby World Cup. The Welsh were made to work had for the win and although victory was already in the bag, a valuable fourth try eluded them. The was until Faletau powered through with 80 minutes having elapsed on the clock.
Taulupe Faletau scores for Wales against Portugal
Image credit: Getty Images
Wales claimed their second win of the Rugby World Cup with a 28-8 victory over Portugal, but they were pushed hard by the entertaining underdogs and only secured a bonus point with the clock in the red.
Louis Rees-Zammit scored a superb solo try to put the Welsh in front early on, but the Portuguese gained confidence and then a numerical advantage when Jonny Williams was sin-binned.
The deficit was reduced to four points with a penalty as half-time approached, but Wales captain Dewi Lake powered over the line to send his side in at the break with a more generous lead than they deserved.
Overwhelming power was the Welsh weapon of choice again when Jac Morgan’s pick and go extended the Welsh lead and settled a few nerves. But Portugal would not go down without a fight and a well-executed move from a five-metre line-out allowed Nicolas Martins to dive over the whitewash for his country’s first World Cup try since their last tournament appearance in 2007.
Wales thought their search for a bonus-point try was over when Gareth Davies dived over late on, but the TMO spotted obstruction and the score was disallowed.
It eventually arrived at the last moment when Taulupe Faletau powered over the line with the clock in the red, after Portugese wing Vincent Pinto had been sent to the bin for a yellow card that was later upgraded to a red.
TALKING POINT – Not a brilliant audition from the Welsh fringe players
Warren Gatland said before kick-off that the 13 changes he made from the win over Fiji gave “a chance for players to put their hands up for the next game against Australia.”
Considering the importance of that match – it may well decide who wins Pool C – it’s hard to imagine he saw much from his fringe players against Portugal to convince him they deserve a starting shirt.
Portugal deserve immense credit for their performance, but this was nevertheless a big chance for these Welsh players to give Gatland big decisions to make.
In the end, it was largely men he already knew he could count on – Rees-Zammit, Faletau, Morgan and captain for the day Lake - who stood up most notably, leaving the coach almost back where he started.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Nicolas Martins
Unorthodox though it may be to give the award to someone on the losing side, the Portugal flanker deserves no less for an outstanding display both sides of the ball.
He was ferocious in defence, making a match-high 19 tackles, and lively in attack, coming agonisingly close with a break in the first half before diving through to score his country’s first World Cup try since 2007 after the break. A wonderful display.
PLAYER RATINGS
Wales: Halfpenny 7, Rees-Zammit 8, Grady 6, J . Williams 6, Dyer 6, Anscombe 5, T. Williams 6; Smith 6, Lake 7, Lewis 6, Tshiunza 7, Jenkins 6, Lydiate 6, Morgan 8, Faletau 7
Subs: Elias 6, Domachowski 6, Francis 6, Beard 6, Basham 6, Costelow 6, Adams 6
Portugal: Sousa Guedes 7, Pinto 6, Lima 8, Appleton 7, Marta 7, Portela 8, Marques 8; Fernandes 7, Tadjer 7, Alves 7, Belo 7, Cerqueira 7, Granate 7, Martins 9, Simoes 7
Subs: Campergue 6, Hasse Ferreira 6, De Freitas 6, Wallis 6, Storti 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
10’ TRY! WALES 7-0 PORTUGAL Wales just need one chance and Rees-Zammit finishes superbly, gathering the ball on the wing, kicking through and gathering to dot down.
26’ J. WILLIAMS SIN BINNED Dickson is clear here: "On the ground, played the ball," he says as he shows a yellow card to J. Williams.
38’ PENALTY - WALES 7-3 PORTUGAL Portugal are on the board - and it's the least they deserve for a terrific performance so far.
40’ TRY! WALES 14-3 PORTUGAL Well, they made that look simple. Wales take the quick tap and captain Lake charges through to dot down a nerve-settling score.
57’ TRY! WALES 21-3 PORTUGAL Wales seek to overwhelm Portugal with their power through the phases again - and it's effective! Morgan is the man who barges over from close range this time around, giving his side some real breathing space.
65’ TRY! WALES 21-8 PORTUGAL They've done it! A huge roar from the crowd as Martins dives over the line to score Portugal's first try at a World Cup since 2007!
80’ TRY - WALES 28-8 PORTUGAL They've done it! And guess who? Faletau comes off the back off the scrum and you're not stopping him from that range. The No. 8 unearths the bonus point for Wales at the last possible opportunity.
KEY STATS
- Portugal were the 17th different nation Wales have faced at the Rugby World Cup – they have won 12 of their 17 matches when facing a side for the first time, losing only to Fiji, France, New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa.
- Wales have won 12 of their last 13 pool stage matches at the World Cup (L1)
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