2023-09-25 14:19:37
Portugal’s participation in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which takes place in France, is the best ever, as the ‘Wolves’ drew 18-18 against Georgia and achieved the first ‘positive’ result, that is, for the first time they didn’t lose in the World Championship.
The Portuguese team was defeated four times in 2007in his first participation in a World Cup, and once in 2023 in the debut against Wales, 28-8.
Against Georgia, the scenario was breathtaking. In the first phase, in the first half, the Georgians destroyed the ‘Wolves’ and ended up winning 13-0. A complicated start for the Portuguese.
However, the Portuguese reaction was also devastating. Between the end of the first half and the last minutes of the second, theLobos‘ scored 18 points, took the lead and were two minutes away from victory.
In the last moments, the fans’ emotions were running high, Georgia scored a try, drawing 18-18, but failed to make the transformation that would have given the Georgians the victory.
On the opposite side, and in the last action of the match, Nuno Sousa Guedes missed the penalty, leaving everything the same, at a time when Portugal, in any case, made history.
For the first time the Portuguese team did not lose, and for the first time they collected two points.
Jerónimo Portela, Portuguese international. © AFP – LIONEL BONAVENTURE
In an interview with RFI, Jerónimo Portela, voted best player of the match, analyzed the draw against Georgia and admitted that he was proud to have received the prize at the end of the match.
Jerónimo Portela, Portuguese international 25-09-2023
Jerónimo Portela, Portuguese international, is the son of Miguel Portela, one of theLobos‘ who participated in the 2007 World Cup.
This World Championship in 2007 ended up influencing many children, as José Madeira, in an interview with RFI, admitted that it was this participation that made him fall in love with rugby.he started by talking about the ‘bitter taste’ of the draw against the Georgians.
José Madeira, Portuguese international 25-09-2023
José Madeira (N°4), Portuguese international. © AFP – CHARLY TRIBALLEAU
The second half was an offensive festival for the Portuguese with two essays highlighted by Raffaele Storti.
Portuguese international Rodrigo Marta admitted that there were spaces in the Georgian defense that were taken advantage of by theLobos’.
Rodrigo Marta, Portuguese international 25-09-2023
Rodrigo Marta (center), Portuguese international. © AFP – LIONEL BONAVENTURE
In front of around 32 thousand spectators in Toulouse, in the South of France, Portugal put on a show for the enthusiastic public. A large part of these fans were Portuguese and sang the national anthem during the game.
Despite this support from fans and the result, Tomás Appleton, captain of theLobos‘, I was frustrated with the draw because, for him, Portugal could have achieved an even better result… a triumph.
Tomás Appleton, Portuguese international 25-09-2023
Portugal and Georgia occupy the last two places in Group C with 2 points, while Wales, leader with 14 points, is already qualified for the quarters after the 40-6 victory over Australia.
The Australians and Fijians remain on six points, but Fiji have a game in handstarting with an advantage to move forward in the competition, as only the first two qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition.
Portugal still have two games left, against Australiaon October 1st, in Saint-Étienne, and opposite the Fiji Islandson October 8th, in Toulouse.
The Rugby World Cup takes place in France until October 28th.
We have reached the end of this Magazine Desporto.
Tomás Appleton (center), captain of the ‘Wolves’. © AFP – LIONEL BONAVENTURE
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