Wales win over Portugal

Wales made it two wins from two at the 2023 Rugby World Cup as a much-changed team laboured to a 28-8 victory over a lively Portugal side in Saturday’s Pool ‘C’ clash in Nice, France

Tries from Louis Rees-Zammit and captain for the day Dewi Lake, both of which were converted by Leigh Halfpenny, helped Wales into a 14-3 lead at the break after a scratchy first half from Warren Gatland’s side which included Johnny Williams being sent to the sin-bin.

Portugal, beaten 102-11 by Wales in their only previous meeting 29 years ago, proved game opponents but only had a penalty from Samuel Marques to show for their first-half efforts. However, they did manage a deserved unconverted try in the second half through Nicolas Martins.

A third converted score from Jac Morgan after the break and Taulupe Faletau’s try on the stroke of full time saw Wales eventually seal a bonus-point win though, while Portugal’s day was marred by a late red card to Vincent Pinto for dangerous play.

Flanker Morgan played a key role in the opening try on nine minutes though, taking a superb pass from Tomos Williams and shifting play to Rees-Zammit on the right. The winger then kicked ahead and used his pace to chase down the ball down the touchline and finish.

That try had come on a counterattack after Portugal had made a promising start, including scrum half Marques missing an early penalty kick for the lead, and the nation making their first World Cup appearance since 2007 were denied what seemed a certain try for flanker Martins on the break by Faletau’s last-gasp tackle.

A yellow card to Wales inside centre Williams in the 26th minute for illegally playing the ball on the ground gave Portugal a one-player advantage for 10 minutes as well, with Os Lobos redoubling their attacking efforts and causing their opponents problems with two 50-22 kicks.

They eventually gained a reward for their attack endeavours just before Williams returned to the field as Marques knocked over a close-range penalty goal, but the three-time World Cup semi-finalists started to assert themselves after being restored to 15 players.

(C.D)

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