Australia v Portugal (Sun/Mon)

[Lizard]

I mean surely Aussie can't lose this one, right?

[Ross. S]

If Australia lose to Portugal that would probably be Eddies last game in charge of a professional team, so come on Portugal!

[Lizard]

https://x.com/paddypower/status/1706256 ... 10526?s=20

[Puja]

Wallabies lineup: 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.
Reserves: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu.

Kerevi and Petaia dropped, because the centre partnership was clearly where the problem lay against Wales.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Kerevi was rubbish though. Like a shadow of his former self.

[Lizard]

Ok. So Wales are 34 points better than Aussie, and 20 points better than Portugal, so Portugal are 14 points better than Aussie. Right?

Or, Fiji are 7 points better than Aussie, but only 5 points better than Georgia, and Georgia is exactly as good as Portugal so Portugal is 2 points better than the Wallabies.

No matter how you dice this, it’s Portugal’s to lose. Is it worth getting up at 4.45am for?

[Graigwen]

I expect a surprisingly easy win for the Aussies.

But I hope for a shock defeat - given that they are already out, it would be the best thing for Aussie rugby union in the medium and long term.
.

[p/d]

I see Donaldson has done enough to ensure incompetence is rewarded.

[Beasties]

That was a thing of beauty.

[Puja]

Gorgeous try. Australia gave away about four penalties in that attack. Scrum pen, offside, high tackle, cheating on the floor, and probably a couple of others thatI missed.

Oh, and the conversion too. Deserved the full 7.

Puja

[Beasties]

And that wasn’t. Damn.

[Puja]

This is the exact opposite of the Italy game. The underdogs have got an early lead and now, instead of their dreams being crushed early, they've started to get into the favourites' heads.

Ah shit. That's gonna be a card. That's torn it.

Puja

[switchskier]

Some of the Aussie basics are just poor. That high kick was well placed just outside of the 22 but the pressure from the chase was so limited.

Shame the try came from a Portuguese mistake

[Beasties]

He’s a lucky boy.

[Puja]

And there's the flip side. Couple of mistakes and suddenly Australia start feeling confident again and the hope fades away.

Just hope to the hells that the wheel of head-contact random decisions comes out with a yellow card for some reason.

Puja

[Puja]

He’s a lucky boy.

He is! Once again, Tom Curry is weeping somewhere. Very happy about that call for the sake of the game though.

Puja

[Puja]

Ugo Monye calls that "world-class" in commentary, but I'd call it damned lucky.

Puja

[Beasties]

Ugo’s funny.

[Puja]

Where are the high tackle calls against Australia? There were about four in that period - only minor ones, but still there.

Puja

[Beasties]

Jesus lads, at least TRY and make a tackle. That midfield bust looked like the Portuguese weren’t actually going to try and stop him in the corner.

[Puja]

This is the exact opposite of the Italy game. The underdogs have got an early lead and now, instead of their dreams being crushed early, they've started to get into the favourites' heads.

Ah shit. That's gonna be a card. That's torn it.

Yyyuup, that's what done it. The card, followed by the kick out on the full, and now the dreams are crushed, the belief is gone, and Australia are walking through at will.

Puja

[Beasties]

Oof, has Bettencourt not learned? That looked a bit dodgy too.

[pompey-zebra]

That yellow card was so costly for Portugal. Little between the teams when its been 15 v 15.

[p/d]

The Biggar chip has cost ‘em every time.

[Puja]

The Biggar chip has cost ‘em every time.

The one that led to the Australian try was a gorgeous bit of play though - if the bounce of the rugby ball hadn't hated them, then it could've been a try the other way.

Puja