Portugal scored their first win at the Rugby World Cup with a last-minute secured 24-23 win against Fiji. Despite the loss Fiji secured their place in the quarter-finals with the one log point they earned, sending Australia back home.
Portugal, as expected, started the match at a pace, harassing Fiji wherever and whenever they could. However, Frank Lomani converted a penalty for Fiji to open their account on the scoreboard. Fiji led 03-00 after ten minutes of play in the first half.
Despite both sides showing a willingness to attack at every opportunity, the number of mistakes made it a stop-start match that lacked precision and momentum with a lot of excitement.
With three minutes of play left in the first half, Portugal's Samuel Marques levelled the score with a converted penalty, which was also the halftime score.
After four minutes of play in the second half, Portugal attacked from within their own half with winger Raffaele Storti scoring the try brilliantly in the corner. This woke Fiji as they struck back immediately with a long-distance try by Levani Botia to level the scores at 10-10 after eight minutes played in the second half.
Two minutes later prop Francisco Fernandes scored Portugal's second try after a failed 5m lineout maul. Portugal led 17-10, seemingly on their way to the biggest upset of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
I took twenty minutes of hard running and defence from both sides in an exciting match before Fiji's Mesake Doge bulldozed his way over Portugal's tryline to level the scores once again.
Two Frank Lomani converted penalties put Fiji in the lead for the first time since the first ten minutes of the match. Fiji led 23-17 with seven minutes still to play in the match.
However, Portugal was not done yet and Rodrigo Marta scored Portugal's third try to retake the lead and secure their first-ever win at a Rugby Word Cup with 24-23.
Scorers:
Fiji: Tries: Levani Botia, Mesake Doge. Conversions: Frank Lomani (2). Penalties: Frank Lomani (3).
Portugal: Tries: Raffaele Storti, Francisco Fernandes, Rodrigo Marta. Conversions: Samuel Marques (3). Penalty: Samuel Marques.
Teams:
Fiji: 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 3 Luke Tagi, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 7 Levani Botia, 8 Viliame Mata, 9 Frank Lomani, 10 Vilimoni Botitu, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 12 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 15 Sireli Maqala. Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Teti Tela, 23 Iosefo Masi.
Portugal: 1 Francisco Fernandes, 2 Mike Tadjer, 3 Diogo Hasse Ferreira, 4 José Madeira, 5 Steevy Cerqueira, 6 David Wallis, 7 Nicolas Martins, 8 Rafael Simões, 9 Samuel Marques, 10 Jerónimo Portela, 11 Rodrigo Marta, 12 José Lima (c), 13 Pedro Bettencourt, 14 Raffaele Storti, 15 Manuel Cardoso Pinto. Replacements: 16 David Costa, 17 Duarte Diniz, 18 Anthony Alves, 19 Duarte Torgal, 20 João Granate, 21 João Belo, 22 Tomás Appleton, 23 Vincent Pinto.
