Australia v Portugal: Five takeaways as Eddie Jones’ charges overcome a superb Os Lobos display

James While
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Australia's Angus Bell, centre, is challenged by Portugal's Samuel Marques during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Portugal at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Etienne, France

Wallabies' prop Angus Bell is challenged by Samuel Marques during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Portugal.

Following Australia’s 34-14 victory over Portugal in the Rugby World Cup, here are our five takeaways from the Pool C match.

The top line

Australia overcame a superb display from Portugal to record a win in Saint-Etienne, but it was far from plain sailing as the Tier Two nation again impressed all that saw them.

Tries from Richie Arnold, Dave Porecki, the outstanding Angus Bell, Fraser McReight and Marika Koroibete showed the difference in finishing efficiency as the Wallabies came away with five tries from eight visits to the Portuguese 22.

By contrast, their opponents, brilliant with ball in hand in the middle third of the pitch, simply couldn’t find a way to break down a fine defensive set from the Australians, with one 10-minute period seeing nine visits into their 22 without a point being scored.

Nevertheless, it was a helter-skelter match; one played in deafening support from the 44,000 that witnessed it and brilliantly officiated by Nika Amashukeli, who remained calm and decisive despite having to wave three yellow cards for a variety of offences.

It was finally a win for Australia, but it was Portugal that won the hearts and minds of those who came to watch.

Yellow card cost

The impact of Pedro Bettencourt’s yellow card halfway through the first half cannot be underestimated. It took all of the pressure from Portugal’s early scores off the Wallabies, and they reacted brilliantly by taking the ball down route one and in the time he was off, Arnold, Porecki and finally Bell helped themselves to tries.

However, credit must go to the way the Wallabies maximised their opportunities; Ben Donaldson’s 55m penalty touch kick took his pack right into the corner for the Porecki maul try, execution of the highest order from the fly-half, whilst his carriers also reacted quickly to Portugal’s missing midfield defender by hitting up powerfully down the 12 and 13 channels.

It was 10 minutes of mayhem for Australia after Portugal had really asked them some tough questions, especially in the wide channels, but as we’ve seen so many times in this competition, discipline is so important and retaining 15 players on the pitch is absolutely essential in close matches if you want to keep that pressure on.

Conversely, whilst Australia lost two men to the bin almost concurrently, their management of that period of Portuguese attack on the Wallaby line was nothing short of miraculous at times, and Eddie Jones can take a lot of positives from the heart his charges showed.

Portuguese Attack

There’s something so reassuringly old school about the Portugal attack. Working with options on either side of the breakdown point, they use variety and great decision-making to open sides up.

In Jeronimo Portela and Samuel Marques, they have very capable half-backs, with Marques in particular a bundle of energy in play and leadership.

Bettencourt’s try was a beautiful piece of execution after some outstanding build-up play, with Tomas Appleton firing out a high-quality miss pass for the outside centre to slide in unopposed.

Raffaele Storti has impressed all that’s seen him in this tournament, and if anything defines him, it’s his workrate, always looking to come in on the switch-line between his centres. It was his run on the opposite left wing that almost led to a brilliant try for flanker Nicolas Martins after 35 minutes, and it was only the incredible cover tackle from Australia full-back Andrew Kellaway that managed to prevent the openside from sneaking over in the corner.

Portugal have a lot going for them in attack, and with careful improvement of their defence, and particularly their physicality around that gainline, they have the ability to trouble a lot of Tier One Test nations, as they’ve already proven at this year’s World Cup.

Wallaby positives

Jones has spoken about a long-term approach to coaching Australia and the need to give youngsters their opportunity.

In this match, Bell proved the potential of his all-round game. His scrummaging on the loosehead side just about kept the Aussies in the match, whilst both of his tightheads came under huge pressure. Add in two turnovers, a try and nearly another one, and it’s clear to see that the Wallabies have a mobile prop of immense potential.

McReight also shone yet again, a perpetual nuisance at the breakdown in slowing ball and supporting well enough to score Australia’s fourth try. He and Tom Hooper, the top tackler in the match with 19, both showed the future of their country’s rugby, and the defensive shift on the Wallaby line was very much down to the commitment of these two players.

With Porecki showing passionate leadership and putting in an excellent shift in both set-piece and loose play, Jones has the foundations of a new-look side and, provided he remains in post; the future looks a tad brighter for Australia than it did a few weeks ago.

The week ahead

While Portugal is officially out of the tournament, many of their players will be admired for their valence in this competition.

The craggy Mike Tadjer has almost become their heartbeat and their face, and his passionate shifts in the red of his country will be remembered as a feature of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Alongside a superb back-row and pacy wingers, and with great control from their half-back pairing, only a lack of experience and perhaps efficiency in the red zone has held them back from achieving even more. In short, they’ve been outstanding, and it’s now incumbent on World Rugby to continue their development.

Australia still have a mathematical chance of qualifying if Fiji fail to get a point of any sort next week against the Portuguese. That’s almost unthinkable, so they are placed in the rather difficult situation of hanging around France in the slimmest of hopes that today’s opponents do them a favour.

If it happens, it will be a minor miracle, not least because Fiji are a much more complete side than Australia. But if it doesn’t, the spotlight once more will be on the enigmatic Jones, and this time, the questions won’t be about how many croissants he brought back from France.

READ MORE: Wallabies keep slim hopes alive with hard-fought win over impressive Portugal

Australia Eddie Jones

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