RWC2023 | Portugal's impressive pool stage performance

#rwc2023 #portugal #rugby
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[@philynuku914]

Messaging to show support for the channel 👍

[@mornevanderberg7456]

World Rugby must force the major Rugby Nations to play the minnows in away games at least twice between world cups. It helped Argentina.

[@frontierlandfrank5314]

Nah they need to separate the tier 1 and 2 sides and give them their own tourneys.

[@KJV-Flat-Earth]

Nicolas Martins is a beast

[@frontierlandfrank5314]

Embarrassing where the US team is, comparatively speaking where Portugal is now.

[@appstratum9747]

I agree with your analysis. Portugal played very well and have a lot of raw talent.
As a Welshman born in Pontypool but spending much of my life around Cardiff, having played much of my rugby in England but having coached rugby in Portugal, I was very impressed by the commitment, intelligence and fitness of the Portuguese players. They played "total rugby" very well and were super quick (and for the most part very disciplined) at the breakdown. I thought that they played to their strengths very well, causing both Wales and Australia (in particular) a lot of problems. And they played beautiful rugby, too! It was lovely stuff to watch. Rugby like that is attractive to kids learning to play the game and develop a passion for the sport. Whereas - let's be honest - smothering blitz defences, constant crash balls and aerial ping-pong isn't exactly the most attractive (or sometimes even vaguely interesting) game to watch. Even if it does help in tight games at the highest level.
It's telling that Portugal conceded a lot of scores (and effectively lost both games - Wales and Australia) when down to 14 men. This is to be expected when the team hasn't had years in which to develop defensive patterns to cope with a man (from the forwards, centres, back three, half backs, or whatever) being sin binned. Or the nous to wind down the clock instead of continuing to play open, attacking rugby while gifting possession and extra space to the other team. They've had plenty of other things on their plate. With 15 men on the pitch, Portugal were very competitive with Wales and against Australia they were the better side for two thirds of the game.
Portugal's weakness - or key weakness - was critical decision making at moments when they had every opportunity to score. The odd aimless lateral run, for example. Or chipping the ball forward when it really wasn't appropriate. Three quarters standing deep but static and not taking the ball at pace and at an angle (or two!) working two on ones to break open defences that were otherwise already stretched to breaking point. But Portugal weren't far off doing any of these things. And even so they played some lovely rugby.
Other weaknesses were the more technical aspects of the game around the scrum. You could see this in some of the body positions and binding. And the occasional lack of organisation in defence. But even here they improved as the tournament went on. And they built confidence with every game.
To improve both decision making (and help them step up to the speed at which such decisions need to be made) at the international level with Tier 1 nations, they - and teams like them - they simply need more game time with Tier 1 teams. If rugby is to grow internationally as a sport then this must be accommodated within each hemisphere. Either with international leagues with multiple promotion/demotion slots and/or Tier 1 teams being required to win a number of fixtures with Tier 2 teams each year to continue to qualify for the World Cup.
I really hope Portugal (and Georgia and others) stick with it to break into Tier 1. Because the game will be far more interesting with such teams more fully on board and playing top level rugby several times a year.
Finally, if Fiji manage to beat England, Portugal can walk away knowing that they beat a World Cup semi-finalist in the same tournament. I'll be supporting Fiji against England, for sure!

[@hendo19742]

FIJI 🇫🇯 PLAYED SHITE, SHOULD HAVE EASILY WON PORTUGAL 🇵🇹 BY 10 POINTS!😡😡