Portugal win again to claim series win over Brazil

Portugal won 33-13 today against Brazil. The result gives the Europeans a 2-0 series win over the South Americans. Portugal won game one 30-10 last Saturday and today they were 33-13 winners. Both Portugal and Brazil are preparing for RWC 2023 qualifiers. They will each face stiff opposition in regional qualifiers in 2021.

Portugal’s series win will give Os Lobos confidence. It comes at an ideal time; Portugal will be up against Belgium, Georgia, Romania, Russia and Spain in the Rugby Europe competition. All but Belgium have previously qualified for a RWC. They are competing for two direct spots and a repechage opportunity for RWC 2023.

Brazil will take-on Colombia, Chile and Paraguay in June 2021. The top two will join Uruguay in the final round. The winner will advance to face Canada or the USA and stand an excellent chance of qualifying for RWC 2023. It is a tough pathway for Brazil, mores now that Portugal got the better of them.

Against Portugal, Brazil fell short in a variety of areas. Portugal scored multiple tries from mauls, and had a more effective game plan overall. Brazil’s scrum did impress, but it was unable to produce adequate scoring opportunities.

Moisés Duque opened the scoring. The Brazilian center landed a 10th minute penalty. It was an encouraging start for a match played in wet conditions.

Portugal responded through their forwards. João Belo went over for a try. Jorge Abecassis added the conversion to give Portugal the lead. Os Lobos would retain the lead for the duration of the contest.

Brazil did fight back. Duque made it a one point game. His 32nd minute dropgoal ended the scoring in the opening half.

Portugal took controlling the second half. Os Lobos rapidly extended their lead to seal the result with 14 minutes remaining. Wingers Manuel Cardoso Pinto and Rodrigo Marta scored as did replacement hooker Hugo Mendes and center Tomás Appleton. The tries came from kicking, a maul and general play.

Brazil hit back through Caique Silva. The replacement front-rowers try was converted by Duque. Brazil looked to score again but were unable to capitalize on possession or field territory.

The game concluded with Portugal going over. Not seeing the try line, the maul went several meters too far before being held up.

 

SCORING

PORTUGAL 33
Tries – J. Belo (13’), R. Marta (45’), M. Cardoso Pinto (48’), D. Diniz (58’), T. Appleton (64’)
Cons – J. Abecasis 3/4 (14’, 46’, 49’), J. Freudenthal 1/1 (65’)
Pens – J. Abecasis 0/1
Yellow cards – D. Diniz (76’)

BRAZIL 13
Tries – C. Silva (68’)
Cons – M. Duque 1/1 (69’)
Pens – M. Duque 1/1 (11’)
Drop goals – M. Duque 1/1 (31’)
Yellow cards – G. Paganini (78’)

 

TEAMS

PORTUGAL
1 David Costa (16 Hugo Mendes 54’), 2 Nuno Mascarenhas (17 Duarte Diniz 56’), 3 Bruno Rocha (18 Diogo Ferreira 56’), 4 José Madeira, 5 Rafael Simões (19 Duarte Torgal 61’), 6 Frederico Couto (20 Francisco Sousa 60’), 7 David Carvalho, 8 Thibault Freitas, 9 João Belo (21 Duarte Azevedo 65’), 10 Jorge Abecasis (22 Jerónimo Portela 60’), 11 Manuel Cardoso Pinto (2 Nuno Mascarenhas 77’), 12 Tomás Appleton, 13 José Lima (23 Antônio Cortes 70’), 14 Rodrigo Marta, 15 João Freudenthal

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud (16 Caique Silva 60’), 2 Endy Willian (17 Yan Rosetti HT), 3 Wilton Rebolo (18 Matheus Rocha 65’), 4 Gabriel Paganini, 5 Cléber Dias (19 Gabriel Oliveira 60’), 6 Michael Moraes (20 Adrio de Melo 50’), 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda, 9 Felipe Gonçalves, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Lorenzo Massari (22 Daniel Lima 61’), 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery (capt.), 14 Lucas Tranquez (23 Laurent Bourda-Couhet 69’), 15 Daniel Sancery

Not used: 21 Douglas Rauth

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Frederico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistants: Luca Trentin (Italy) & Filippo Russo (Italy)