Portugal traveled to the Mikheil Meskhi stadium in Tiblisi, for the first round of the Rugby Europe Championship 2022.
Article by: Nuno Madeira do O
The best part:
How consistent Portugal was in the first half, beating Georgia several times on the line-outs and scrums.
A great score for the national team but that, at the end, feels a bit short.
The not-so-good part:
Portugal’s attack was a bit sloppy (first 20 minutes of the match).
Portela’s injury. Let’s hope it’s not something serious and that he can be back next weekend.
Player of the match: Tomas Appleton. The captain reached his 50th cap (all in the starting XV) and was amazing, both in attack and defense. He was involved in two of the tries and still had the capacity, towards the end of the match, to made a crucial tackle and avoid Georgia’s fourth try. A giant.
The “Lobos” went to this match, knowing that their two direct competitors for the coveted 2nd place (the ones that qualifies the team automatically for the World Cup 2023), Spain and Romania, had won their matches. Against them, Georgia, leaders of the Rugby Europe Championship and currently 12th in the World Rugby ranking.
Portugal had four injuries in what had been their “starting XV” in 2021: Anthony Alves (tighthead prop), Raffaeli Stori (wing), Nuno Sousa Guedes (full-back) and Mike Tadjer (hooker), the latter injured throughout the whole campaign. However, due to the new World Rugby rules that allow players with two nationalities to play for a second country (as long as their last cap was more than three years ago), Portugal saw their ranks bolstered by Steevy Cerqueira and Vincent Pinto. The head coach, Patrice Lagisquet, gifted them with the jerseys number 7 and 14, respectively.
The match began with some pressure from the home team with Portugal standing their ground against the heavier Georgians. Samuel Marques – another excellent match by the Portuguese number 9 – was playing fast off the ruck, trying to increase the tempo of the match. This strategy paid off and forced Georgia to concede a penalty. 0-3 for Portugal, 8 minutes in.
Georgia made several unusual mistakes (line-outs, mauls and handling), which helped the Portuguese team. From the 25th minute onwards, the game entered a more chaotic phase with Georgia equalizing (3-3) but with Samuel Marques putting Portugal ahead again: 3-6, at the 27th minute mark.
At the 30th minute, the first try. Tabutsadze took advantage of the fact that Portugal never managed to form a defensive line and crossed the try line unopposed. Try not converted, 10-6 for the home team.
This match showed great progress form the national team, regarding line-outs and scrums. In the past, especially against eastern European teams, Portugal struggled on these set pieces, which cost the team several points. However, in the first half, the team was very solid (especially on the line-outs), with Steevy Cerqueira (6ft9in) stealing several Georgian line-outs, acting also as a reference point for the hooker Lionel Campergue.
It was from a scrum that Manuel Cardoso Pinto scored Portugal’s first try: quick ball and the Portuguese full-back, with an amazing line, crossed the Georgian defense. Try not converted and the scoreboard showing 10-11.
The first half ended with Georgia’s second try. With the clock on red, after insisting and gaining yard by yard, Kerdikishvili scored, putting the scoreboard on 15-11 for the home team.
The second half started with a penalty for Georgia which moved things to 18-11. However, at the 48th minute, Tabutsadze was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and Portugal took control of the game. Immediately after, Jeronimo Portela, with an amazing cross-kick finds Rodrigo Marta that manages to catch the ball up in the air against a Georgian defender, and dives to the corner, scoring Portugal’s second try. Samuel Marques adds the extra two points, equalizing things at 18.
At the 57th minute, Portugal managed to turn things around completely: Vincent Pinto beats two defenders, gaining several meters. Appleton continues the carry and after a quick ruck, José Lima, crosses the try line. 18-25 for Portugal.
In the second half, with a new front row and without Steevy Cerqueira, Portugal started showing signs of fatigue and became more inconsistent on the line-outs and scrums, losing several ball possessions for Georgia. It was from a scrum on the 5m line that Georgia scored their third try, putting the scoreboard on 25-25.
The match ended with Portugal on top, almost scoring a fourth try. When Samuel Marques kicked the ball out at the 81st minute, Portugal ended the 20-victory long streak in the Rugby Europe Championship of the Georgian team and gave renewed strength to Portugal’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in 2023.
