The Lead In

Good Morning GAGRs, Reds and Wallabies Fan right here, serving to out as a visitor author for the World Cup.

There’s been rather a lot mentioned, and written in regards to the Wallabies and Australian Rugby since their thrashing by Wales final week, and with Fiji beating Georgia, this would be the final sport that the Wallabies play on this world cup.

In the event you missed any of the important thing articles this week then as a recap,

BLL kicked it off on Monday https://greenandgoldrugby.com/hamish-and-eddie-it-is-time-for-you-both-to-go-and-write-your-books-now/

Nutta took the decide and drive possibility on Tuesday https://greenandgoldrugby.com/the-chewsday-chew-wheres-my-magician/   

The adopted it up with the podcast https://greenandgoldrugby.com/the-dropped-kick-off-98-caretakers-of-a-jersey-w-nutta/  

Legendary GAGR Hugh Cavill had a crack https://greenandgoldrugby.com/dirty-deeds/

Happyman was something however on Thursday https://greenandgoldrugby.com/happys-thursday-rugby-news-we-reap-what-we-sow/

Hoss rounded out the week on Friday https://greenandgoldrugby.com/fridays-rugby-news-vote-1/ .

Heading into this match with Portugal immediately, as a Wallabies fan, I might like to see them play effectively, take the win, and hopefully restore some confidence for themselves and add their very own sew to the Wallabies Jersey as Nutta mentioned.

Portugal should see this as a chance to actually problem Australia and get that elusive first win in a world cup.

The Groups

Eddie Jones has made a couple of modifications to the staff that took on Wales final week. The centres from final week, Samu Kerevi, and Jordan Petaia make approach for Lalakai Foketi, and Izaia Perese, and Nick White provides up his bench spot to Issak Fines-Leleiwasa. A late change noticed Carter Gordon out and Kerevi on the bench.

Australia

(15-1): Andrew Kellaway; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete; Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper; Richie Arnold, Nick Frost; James Slipper, David Porecki (capt), Angus Bell

Replacements: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suli Vunivalu.

Portugal

(15-1): Nuno Sousa Guedes, Raffaele Storti, Pedro Bettencourt, Tomás Appleton (c), Rodrigo Marta, Jerónimo Portela, Samuel Marques, Thibault de Freitas, Nicolas Martins, David Wallis, Martim Belo, José Madeira, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Mike Tadjer, David Costa Replacements: Francisco Fernandes, Duarte Diniz, Francisco Bruno, Martim Belo, Steevy Cerqueira, Rafael Simões, João Belo, Joris Moura, Manuel Cardoso Pinto.

The Match

The primary half

Australia began effectively, with a maul from the kickoff that made 20 metres earlier than enjoying extensive, and profitable a scrum penalty after knocking the ball on. Donaldson transformed for a 3 nil lead. The group didn’t assist the choice to kick for contact,

Portugal seemed to place width into the sport at each alternative, and was working, with good passing and assist play placing the Wallabies defence underneath stress each time that they had the ball.

The stress led to territory, and with benefit from a 5 metre scrum, Portugal labored a fantastic attempt with the skin centre Bettencort, going over untouched within the nook. Credit score to the within centre Appleton who threw an absolute bullet cut-out move left to proper to create the house for Bettencort. Portugal led 7-3.

Bettencort then put his staff underneath stress with a excessive shot on Perese resulting in a yellow card and on assessment for pink. It remained a yellow card, however the harm was performed, with Australia scoring a very good attempt to Richie Arnold after a lineout, with fast ball from the massive runners Bell and Valetini getting over the benefit line for a very good offload to Arnold for the attempt. Donaldson transformed it for 10-7.

A defensive turnover penalty by Bell, and a very good contact discovering kick by Donaldson noticed the Wallabies rating their first driving maul attempt of the event. Transformed for a 17-7 lead. Australia scored once more from inside their very own half after a kick from Portugal. Lalakai Feketi confirmed nice tempo down the precise sideline earlier than they went to the left and Angus Bell drove over from shut vary, transformed by Donaldson for 24-7.  

There was some backwards and forwards earlier than Perese put Australia again on assault by bursting by way of the defensive position and making 50 metres to be dragged down 5 metres out. The Wallabies earned a penalty however poorly executed the lineout drive let Portugal off the hook.

Portugal nearly scored a fantastic counter attacking attempt after 35 minutes however Kellaway made and glorious cowl defending deal with to power the Portugal flanker Martins into contact.

Portugal play with journey, however they had been additionally susceptible to poor kicking selections giving the ball again to Australia in the course of the sphere, when holding the ball may need been higher.

General it was an entertaining first half, Portugal did problem the Wallabies at instances, however had been hindered by the yellow card and Australia scored 3 tries whereas Bettencort was within the sin bin. Nick Frost performed for 20 minutes with a knee harm and made approach at half time for Rob Leota.

Half time noticed Australia with a very good lead at 24-7.

Second Half

The second half noticed the Wallabies instantly invite Portugal again into the sport with two early errors, a misplaced lineout on midway and a knock on by Kellaway giving possession to Portugal to assault.

Australia scored their fourth attempt for a bonus level, after 47 minutes, with McReight being the beneficiary of sturdy ball carries by Bell and Fa’amausili to attain.

McReight featured twice extra within the subsequent 5 minutes for the Wallabies, with consciousness on the lineout to intercept the free faucet down by Portugal after they had been on assault, after which with a turnover penalty to stifle one other assault.

Australia’s lineout was wobbling, with various losses persevering with to maintain Portugal within the contest. Then Portugal turned on the stress on the scrum with a good head that result in territory and possession for Portugal and a number of alternatives for five metre lineouts drives that at one stage noticed Matt Faessler see yellow for unlawful maul defence, and Australia managing to carry out Portugal on 4 or 5 events.

When Australia received the again and began to make progress up discipline, the TMO referred to as it again and Kerevi noticed yellow for a excessive fend (elbow to the pinnacle of the defender) whereas carrying the ball. Australia had been now enjoying with 13 gamers, and managed to repel one other driving maul, survive a scrum and clear the ball down discipline.

Portugal continued to search for methods to play shortly and the again three discovered house at will from fast lineout throws and kick returns. The Portuguese flyhalf has good imaginative and prescient, a very good passing sport and kicks effectively off each ft. He’d have a look at dwelling in any backline I feel.  

Portugal received some pay for the two man benefit with a attempt on 70 minutes good reward for a interval of dominance. Rating 29-14.

Eddie Jones rang the modifications and the sport drifted a bit earlier than Kerevi break up the Portugal line, and Australia went left for Koroibeti to drive over within the nook from a decide and drive. Rating 34-14.

The commentators had been calling for the Wallabies to place their stamp on the final 5 minutes, and I assume they did with knock-ons, and kicking away turnover ball. Fines-Leleiwasa kicked the ball away 3 instances in 2 minutes when passing to the person subsequent to him was the higher play.

Portugal continued to run the ball and problem the Wallabies into the 85^th minute, however dealing with let either side down and the sport completed at 34-14.

What’s my take away from the sport, Australia had been good in patches, and received the victory, however it feels a bit hole and the just like the Wallabies have extra questions than solutions in the intervening time.

There’s a number of discuss a younger staff, new technology of Wallabies and all of that, however FFS, that is our nationwide staff, enjoying a sport that we used to dominate, at a world cup. You don’t rebuild at a world cup.

The Sport Changer

The sport changer was actually the primary half sin-bin to Bettencourt with the Wallabies scoring 3 tries whereas he was off the sphere.

The Man of the Match/Standout Participant

Rob Valetini was awarded the person of the match, and he was large in assault and defence.

I assumed that the again for Portugal had been glorious, creating house and making floor each time they ran the ball. Additionally, the gang had been monumental of their assist for Portugal all through the sport.

The Particulars

Crew 1
Tries: 5 – Richard Arnold (19′), David Porecki (21′), Angus Bell (26′), Fraser McReight (47′), Marika Koroibete (74′)
Conversions: 3 – Ben Donaldson (20′, 21′, 27′)
Penalties:  1 – Ben Donaldson (4′)

Crew 2
Tries: 2 – Pedro Bettencourt (12′), Rafael Simões (70′)
Conversions: 1 – Samuel Marques (13′, 71′)
Penalties: