Warren Gatland’s aspect nearly got here out on prime in an opening weekend thriller against Fiji in Bordeaux on Sunday evening, surviving a surprising late fightback courtesy of Semi Radradra’s harrowing last-gasp drop to by some means escape with a bonus-point 32-26 victory that owed a lot to their dogged defensive efforts all through a contemporary match traditional.
While little question energy-sapping within the excessive, such a hard-fought win - which noticed fly-half Dan Biggar deliver a rollocking to team-mate George North and criticism over the officiating - is more likely to be essential within the race to achieve the quarter-finals from a bunch that additionally incorporates Australia, who picked up their first win of Eddie Jones’ second tenure a day earlier towards Georgia.
With respect to Portugal, this must be a completely extra simple affair for Wales on the French Riviera than the acute problem posed by the Flying Fijians.
Coached since 2019 by former France wing Patrice Lagisquet, nicknamed the ‘Bayonne Express’, the Lobos - ranked sixteenth on the planet - had been the odd ones out in Pool C and didn't play on opening weekend so have had some time to organize for this opening contest, having secured their spot on the worldwide stage once more with a 16-all draw with the USA within the essential final recreation of the Final Qualification Tournament final November.
This is just Portugal’s second look on the World Cup and first since 2007, after they completed winless backside of a pool that contained the All Blacks, Scotland, Italy and Romania, transport 209 factors and scoring solely 38. Now they're again in France and desirous to make an impression after dispatching the USA throughout a warm-up marketing campaign that additionally included a defeat by a Wallabies ‘A’ workforce.
Wales vs Portugal takes place right now, Saturday September 16, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 4:45pm BST.
The Stade de Nice will host the Pool C encounter.
TV channel: In the UK, Saturday’s showdown is to be proven reside and free to air on ITV1, with protection beginning at 4pm.
Live stream: The ITV web site and ITVX app can even provide a free reside stream service for followers on-line.
With a possible pool decider arising towards Australia in Lyon on September 24, that is the sport during which to relaxation gamers for Wales and make sure that their prime stars are absolutely recuperated for the challenges that lie forward.
Indeed, Gatland has rotated all however two of his beginning lineup from final weekend, with Louis Rees-Zammit and Taulupe Faletau the one gamers remaining within the first XV. Hooker Dewi Lake captains the aspect on his World Cup debut.
Portugal, in the meantime, are boosted forward of their first World Cup match for 16 years by the return to health of 17-try Stade Francais wing Raffaele Storti after damage, however he’s solely on the bench.
Wales XV: Halfpenny; Rees-Zammit, Grady, Williams, Dyer; Anscombe, Williams; Smith, Lake (c) Lewis; Tshiunza, Jenkins; Lydiate, Reffell, Faletau
Replacements: Elias, Domachowski, Beard, Francis, Basham, G Davies, Costelow, Adams
Portugal XV: Guedes; Pinto, Lima, Appleton (c), Marta; Portela, Marques; Fernandes, Tadjer, Alves; Madeira, Cerqueira’ Granate, Martins, Simoes
Replacements: Costa, Campergue, Ferreira, Belo, Wallis, Lucas, Moura, Storti
Taking cost of Saturday’s recreation will likely be English referee Karl Dickson, assisted by Luke Pearce and Italy’s Andrea Piardi. The Television Match Official (TMO) is South Africa’s Marius Jonker.
Wales will likely be assured of a good-looking victory in Nice no matter their widespread personnel adjustments.
Hanging on to see off Fiji could have been an enormous confidence increase for Gatland and Co after such a tough 2023 to this point for Welsh rugby basically.
Portugal gained’t lack coronary heart and willpower, however there's an apparent gulf at school and it will likely be very robust happening their return to the largest stage.
Wales to win by not less than 40 factors.
The solely earlier assembly between these two nations occurred all the way in which again in May of 1994 in Lisbon, when Wales needed to play a World Cup qualifier for 1995 after not reaching the 1991 quarter-finals.
They went over the century mark in a 102-11 demolition, scoring 16 tries together with 4 from present Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) interim CEO Nigel Walker. Neil Jenkins offered 11 conversions on the day.
Wales wins: 1
Portugal wins: 0
Draws: 0
Wales to win: 1/80
Portugal to win: 35/1
Draw: 50/1
Odds through Betfair (topic to alter).
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