Australia 34
Portugal 14
Even this bonus-point win felt like a mixed blessing, technically keeping the team alive in the tournament but also serving to extend their qualification agony for another week.
Unless Fiji contrive to lose against Portugal in their final Pool C match this weekend it will be game over for the Wallabies regardless.
At least they avoided the ultimate indignity of defeat by a spirited Portuguese side who asked enough attacking questions to delight both their travelling fans and their growing band of neutral admirers. Despite being temporarily reduced to 13 men in the second half, however, Eddie Jones's side had a sufficiently big lead to avoid the unthinkable.
It is a sign of the times, nevertheless, when beating the world's 16th-ranked side represents a relative high point. On another day Portugal might have scored at least a couple more tries, with the Australia defence under frequent pressure, but a costly first-half yellow card significantly undermined their cause and tries from Richie Arnold, Dave Porecki, Angus Bell, Fraser McReight and Marika Koroibete proved decisive.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 02, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 02, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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