Rugby Europe Trophy 2022/23
Portugal beat Germany 5-20 in the last round of the Rugby Europe Trophy 2022/23.
Written by: Mariana Honorio
The best part: Portugal started the match knowing they were the winners of the 2022/23’s edition of the Trophy but wanted to achieve the grand slam. In a match with a lot of action from both packs, Portugal’s was dominant, winning the majority of collisions. Besides that, it showed dominance on the scrum.
The not-so-good part: With Germany playing a very consistent rugby, the Lobas conceded a lot of penalties and were 30 minutes down to 14 players due to yellow cards. However, the team only conceded 5 points (a try on the 80th minute) and showed that they were the better team overall.
Player of the match: There were several players that performed at a very high level, creating gaps and reading the match well. Regarding the backs, we would like to highlight Matilde Goes, Mariana Santos, and Daniela Correia. In the pack, Sara Moreira and Adelina da Costa were very consistent, both in defence and attack. A special mention to Ana Freire who unlocked the match with a try (the first of two) and allowed Portugal to breathe better. However, the player of the match was Leonor Amaral – excellent at reading the match, the scrum half was always in the right place at the right time, conducting Portugal’s attack and commanding operations with ease.
Portugal travelled to Hurth to face Germany in what would be the coronation match for the Lobas in this year’s edition of the Rugby Europe Trophy. Unbeaten until then and with only five points conceded until this match, Portugal were the clear favourites in this clash.
With some absences (Mariana Marques – player of the match against Finland) and Inês Spínola, the 23 players chosen by the coach João Moura fought hard to keep the high tempo that is Portugal’s staple. The match was also a chance to give first caps to Margarida Cunha and Jéssica Barros, a good sign for Portugal’s future.
In a very physical match, Portugal struggle to be in charge of operations with several missed tackles and handling mistakes. Neither team was playing good rugby during the first half and the packs were called to action several times. Portugal was dominant in this regard but couldn’t capitalise on that. Despite controlling the scrum and the line outs, Portugal was always a mistake short of being able to score.
As a consequence, and for the first time in this competition, Portugal hadn’t scored in the first half and teams headed to the changing rooms with 0-0 on the scoreboard.
The second half brought a renewed Portuguese squad that could finally play their fast rugby, rich in offloads and that allowed the team to gain metres.
As a consequence, Portugal scored at the 47th minute: penalty at the scrum quickly executed by Leonor Amaral that found Matilde Goes on the left. The winger assisted Ana Freire that fended off an opponent before scoring.
Germany kept trying to score but Portugal’s defence was very solid and the only way that the home team could gain meters was by kicking.
With 55 minutes played, and following yet another kick from the German fly half, Portugal started their best play of the match. Captain Daniela Correia with an outrageous dummy fooled everyone and opened a big gap in Germany’s defence. Following a sequence of offloads, the Lobas showed how deadly they are when their wingers have space: assist from number 14 Mariana Santos to number 11 Matilde Goes and another try for Portugal.
Ten points ahead, Portugal relaxed and set camp in Germany’s half. After several phases, and despite the home team’s good defensive line, Ana Freire found a gap in a badly covered ruck and ran to Portugal’s third try (her second of the day). Portugal’s fourth and last try was scored by Sara Moreira following a well-executed line-out.
With 20 points scored, Portugal conceded their second try of the whole competition in a good offensive play by Germany that started inside their own 22 and only stopped once they crossed the try line. Try not converted and 5-20 as the final score.
This was Portugal’s last chapter in 2022/23’s Rugby Europe Trophy, deserved grand slam winners of the competition with 181 points scored and only 10 conceded. A great introduction to the Championship teams that will face them next year.
