Fiji v Portugal preview: Pacific Islanders to get the job done against Os Lobos and advance to quarter-finals

David Skippers
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Fiji back-row Levani Botia and Portugal flyer Raffaele Storti.

Fiji and Portugal will bring down the curtain on the Rugby World Cup’s pool stage when they meet in a key showdown in Toulouse on Sunday.

The match is a significant one for the Pacific Islanders as they merely need a bonus point from this fixture to secure their place in the quarter-finals as the pool’s second-placed team behind table-toppers Wales.

The Flying Fijians have lit up the global showpiece with their free-flowing and entertaining style of play, and although just one point from this game will see them advance to the knockout phase, they will be determined to maintain momentum ahead of a possible quarter-final with England by winning well against Os Lobos.

Fiji started their World Cup campaign with a narrow defeat to Wales but got their campaign on track with deserved victories over Australia and Georgia respectively.

Meanwhile, their opponents Portugal are yet to register a win in the tournament but they have certainly not disgraced themselves as they came to the fore with brave performances against Wales, Georgia and Australia.

Their campaign started with a gutsy showing against Wales, who had to dig deep before sealing a 28-8 win and they were unlucky to draw 18-18 with the Lelos in their second match, after Nuno Sousa Guedes was off target with a penalty attempt in the closing stages of that fixture.

That set up a clash with the Wallabies in which they gave a good account of themselves against the two-time world champions before suffering a hard-fought 34-14 loss.

Despite that defeat, they can be proud of their efforts and although they face another daunting task against Fiji, Simon Raiwalui’s charges will have to work hard to reach the global showpiece’s quarter-finals for the first time since 2007.

Last time they met

The previous match between these sides took place at Estadio Universitario in Lisbon in 2013 during Fiji’s end-of-year tour to Europe and the Pacific Islanders clinched a deserved 36-13 victory over their hosts. Although Os Lobos made a bright start and took an early 3-0 lead, courtesy of a Pedro Leal penalty midway through the opening half, that was their only points of the half as tries from Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Seremaia Bai, which were converted by Bai, gave Fiji a 14-3 lead at half-time.

The Islanders continued to dominate after the interval and further tries followed from Napolioni Nalaga and Nemani Nadolo, before Leal struck back with another penalty which meant the visitors were leading 22-6 by the 62nd minute. Nemia Kenatale extended Fiji’s lead with another five-pointer in the 66th minute before Frederico Oliveira scored a consolation try for Os Lobos five minutes later.

The Pacific Islanders would finish stronger, however, and were rewarded in the game’s dying moments when Test debutant Levani Botia – who is still representing his country 10 years later – came off the bench to score Fiji’s sixth try.

What they said

Although Fiji only need a bonus-point to book their quarter-final place, their head coach, Raiwalui, is preparing his troops for a tough battle against Os Lobos.

“Portugal is a very very good team,” he said. “They love to play rugby, which is not a surprise to us as we have been looking at them ever since we knew they were in our pool.

“They have a really nice brand of rugby, a very exciting back three and their forwards are coming into their own.

“The scrum put some pressure on the Wallabies (the Australians beat them 34-14 on Sunday) in the line-outs and other set pieces.”

Meanwhile, Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet said his troops have surprised him with the performances they’ve delivered at the World Cup but is wary of Fiji’s physicality.

“My fear is a bit the same as before the Australia game,” he told Reuters. “I’m afraid that the physical dimension of the Fijians will drain us, that we’ll end up cracking and that it will be difficult to hold out for 80 minutes.”

Players to watch

The big news from the Fiji camp in the build-up to this fixture was that Josua Tuisova took to the field against Georgia last weekend just hours after being told his seven-year-old son had passed away after a long-term illness. That Tuisova managed to get through that encounter in one piece is a testament to his character which will be tested again against Portugal. This, after the 29-year-old opted to remain in France to give his all for his country which meant he missed his son’s funeral earlier in the week. That must have been a tough decision to make and hopefully Tuisova will deliver a performance which his son would be proud of.

Star openside flanker Levani Botia was the undoubted star in Fiji’s victory over Georgia and showed in that game why he is fondly known as “The Demolition Man” as he put his body on the line for the cause and came out on top. Botia is a menace at the breakdowns, a powerful ball carrier and excellent defender who will be keen to build on that performance against the Lelos. He will have extra motivation to do well against Os Lobos after making his Test debut against them in 2013.

Joining him in the back-row is highly rated blindside flanker Meli Derenalagi, who will be keen to impress in his debut at the World Cup. Like Botia, the Fijian Drua skipper has a superb all-round skill-set and he will be determined to deliver the goods in this fixture.

Amongst Portugal’s forwards, keep an eye on Rafael Simões, who comes into the run-on side at number eight as a replacement for Thibault de Freitas after impressing during a 40-minute stint against the Wallabies. Simões was a willing ball carrier and finished with 27 metres gained from five carries. Although he has played most of his career in the second-row, Simões will be expected to give his side good momentum from the back-row while also putting in some big hits on defence.

For Portugal, one player who has really enhanced his reputation at this World Cup is Raffaele Storti, who announced himself with an outstanding attacking performance in his side’s draw with Georgia. The 22-year-old is the only Portuguese player to have scored multiple tries at a Rugby World Cup (two), after four players all scored one each in 2007. He leads the side for defenders beaten (20) and line breaks (five) from only the fifth-most carries (22) and third-most metres gained (276) for Os Lobos.

Joining Storti in the back three is Manuel Cardoso Pinto, who will make a first start at full-back in 18 months. The 25-year-old comes into the run-on side after impressing off the bench in last weekend’s defeat against Australia in Saint Etienne. He kept the Wallabies on their toes with some excellent attacking runs and finished that match with 51 metres gained, from five carries which included a clean break, two defenders beaten and an offload. He did all that during a 25-minute stint as a replacement for Storti and will look to build on that effort against Fiji.

Prediction

While Fiji have plenty at stake in this fixture and Portugal are set to depart the tournament after this clash, the Islanders will have to dig deep to seal a victory as Os Lobos will continue to punch above their weight. It will be tightly contested affair but the Islanders will pull away in the final quarter. Fiji to win by 10 points.

Previous results

2013: Fiji won 36-13 in Lisbon
2005: Fiji won 26-17 in Lisbon

The teams

Fiji: 15 Sireli Maqala, 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 10 Vilimoni Botitu, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Teti Tela, 23 Iosefo Masi

Portugal: 15 Manuel Cardoso Pinto, 14 Raffaele Storti, 13 Pedro Bettencourt, 12 José Lima (c), 11 Rodrigo Marta, 10 Jerónimo Portela, 9 Samuel Marques, 8 Rafael Simões, 7 Nicolas Martins, 6 David Wallis, 5 Steevy Cerqueira, 4 José Madeira, 3 Diogo Hasse Ferreira, 2 Mike Tadjer, 1 Francisco Fernandes
Replacements: 16 David Costa, 17 Duarte Diniz, 18 Anthony Alves, 19 Duarte Torgal, 20 João Granate, 21 João Belo, 22 Tomás Appleton, 23 Vincent Pinto

Date: Sunday, October 8
Venue: Stadium de Toulouse
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

READ MORE: Josua Tuisova told seven-year-old son had died hours before Georgia game

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