After their improved victory against the Lobos (Wolves), in Saint-Etienne, there is still a tiny chance for the Wallabies to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France and especially avoid elimination in the group stage for the first time in their history.

But they no longer have their destiny in their hands: they must hope for a defeat of Fiji, without bonus points, offensive or defensive in a week in Toulouse. This seems highly unlikely.

The Portuguese, however, amazing despite their inaugural defeat against Wales (28-8) and in their draw against Georgia (18-18), reiterated, on the lawn of Geoffroy-Guichard, the formidable impression they will leave anyway at the end of this World Cup.

Portuguese audacity

In the first ten minutes of the game, they monopolized the ball, sweeping the field from left to right, making Australians back completely elsewhere, to score the first try of the game, concluded by the center Pedro Bettencourt (13th).

Portugal hooker Mike Tadjer before a scrum during the defeat to Australia at the World Rugby, at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, in Saint-Etienne, France, October 1, 2023 © Francis BOMPARD / AFP

This same Bettencourt, author of a high tackle, sanctioned with a yellow card (16th) allowed, despite himself, the Australians to wake up.

At 15 against 14, against a team from the third world level, they scored in less than ten minutes three tries thanks to Richie Arnold (19th), David Porecki (21st) and Angus Bell (26th).

The fate of the match folded, it was still necessary for the Wallabies to score a fourth try to pocket the offensive bonus, and win an extra week of holiday in Saint-Galmier, in the Loire, their luxurious base camp.

At 15 against 15, the game became much more difficult for Australia, so little shiny, whose only merit was its obvious desire to restore its image.

It became much harder also because of the Portuguese, with masterful desire, pushed by a stadium acquired to their cause, tearing themselves away on every defensive action, twirling when they were in possession of the ball, who will finally have experienced an empty passage only when they were outnumbered.

They even punctuated their performance with a well-deserved second try, by their replacement N.8, Rafael Simoes (70th).

Australia got its bonus point in the 47th minute after Fraser McReight's try (29-7). Prop James Slipper, 34, had just come off his 22nd World Cup game and broke the record for the most matches played in the competition by an Australian, surpassing legend George Gregan.

Portugal hooker Duarte Diniz (right) after losing to Australia at the World Rugby Championship, at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, in Saint-Etienne, France, October 1, 2023 © Olivier CHASSIGNOLE / AFP

Gregan, Australia's playmaker when it ruled world rugby in 1999.

That's all the Wallabies are looking to become again before the next global meeting, at home, in four years' time. They start from very far. And the work is huge.

© 2023 AFP