2023-10-08 23:59:20
Marta scored a try, Botia received a card. REUTERS / STEPHANIE LECOCQ / AFP / FRANCIS BOMPARD
Portugal won the first victory in its history in the World Cup (24-23) this Sunday, against the Fijians who will still play in the quarter-finals.
TOPS
Os Lobos in history
They had certainly given some clues: a draw against Georgia, tries scored against the Welsh and the Australians… But seeing them win this Sunday evening seemed difficult to imagine. However, the Lobos took great pleasure in making us lie. In a match that will be historic, they managed to win the first victory in their history in the World Cup (24-23), against an opponent who will play in the quarter-finals. This Sunday evening, Portuguese rugby went around the world, and it deserves that its people are interested in it.
Read alsoRugby World Cup: Fijians beaten by Portugal… but qualified, Australia eliminated
Kike Tadjer, a forward who plays like a three-quarter
At first glance, Mike Tadjer does not seem like what one might call a technical player. The heel with the bald head and full beard still weighs 118 kg, and seems more likely to charge his opponent than to attempt chisteras. But again, it was a surprise. If he provided the basics at his position, tackling with all his might and making his throws perfectly, that’s not why he got noticed. But rather, precisely, for its technical accuracy. Successful passes after contact, restarts with fire canes, and even a perfectly executed kick clearance: he now has enough to feed his social networks.
The Portuguese wingers, real wisps
The Portuguese scored three tries this evening, including two scored by those in charge: the wingers. This Sunday evening, Marta and Costa Sorti put on a major performance. On the first first, Costa proved he had the necessary canes by performing a superb low kick for himself which he managed to flatten. And in the 78th minute, they got along perfectly to manage the two against one which led to Marta’s try. They were generally a permanent danger for the Fijian defense, which was in dire straits this Sunday.
FLOPS
Fijians not “flying”
We still had this match against Australia, during which they made us admire their quality with the ball in hand and their tendency to restart from their side. But this Sunday, it was their opponents who impressed. While they had played little and saw this match, according to them, as “a final”, the Islanders missed out. Often penalized, sometimes in difficulty in scrums, making numerous mistakes forward, they were unrecognizable this evening. They were even thought to be in danger when, trailing by seven points, they were only a small unit away from losing the offensive bonus and being eliminated from the competition. Opposed to the experienced English next Sunday, the Fijians, who we hope to see become “flying” again, will have to perform at their best level to hope to glimpse the last four of the competition.
Read alsoRugby World Cup: the table for the final phase
Botia and the boxes, a true love story
Even with the experience of the biggest European and world competitions, we can still make mistakes. Levani Botia can attest to this. Perhaps even the 2021 European Cup final brought back (bad) memories. He then received a red card and left his team at 14 against 15 in the 28th minute, which led to the defeat of Rochelais. This evening, this scenario did not go so far when, in the 50th minute of play, he was guilty of a head-to-head tackle on Costa. The bunker ultimately left the color of the card unchanged, but these 10 minutes in numerical inferiority hurt his team who conceded a try in the process. We must not make the mistake again next Sunday, against the XV de la Rose.
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