Tops
To discover
- World Cup 2023: Schedule and results
- World Cup 2023: rankings by Pools
Portuguese generosity symbolized by Costa Storti
Largely dominated in the first act, Portugal stayed alive thanks to an iron defence and the genius of its winger, Raffaele Costa Out. The number 14 of the Lobos scored the first five points of his team thanks to a nice solo raid (34th), before repeating after the break. Very lively and always on the attack, Storti escaped the vigilance of the Georgians a second time to score a magnificent double (57th). Led 0-13, the Lobos have never stopped believing, like the player of Béziers in all the good moves this afternoon.
A breathless end to the match
Before parting back to back, the two nations thought they would win in the last seconds. First Georgia, who equalized on the gong thanks to the try scored by Zamtaradze (78th) but Matkava missed his attempt - it is true difficult - of transformation. Same frustration for Portugal who could not hold their advantage in front of their goal line. After the siren, Patrice Lagisquet's players forced their fate by scratching a final penalty, not converted by Sousa Guedes. During a rich Saturday of rugby, this poster between the two little thumbs kept all its promises, offering licked play, reversals of situation and a thrilling end of the match.
Flops
The black hole of Georgia
Impeccable in the first half despite a lack of efficiency, the Lelos almost paid dearly for their start of the second half totally missed. Stunned by the Portuguese reaction, Georgia scored no points from the 33rd to the 78th minute. The initially sparkling duo Tabutsadze-Niniashvili, through whom all the balls passed, went out as the minutes went by. Fortunately for the 11th nation in the world, the pack of forwards saved the furniture at the very end of the game. To the chagrin of the Toulouse public acquired to the cause of the Portuguese ...
Portugal misses its rendezvous with history
The opportunity was so beautiful. At 30 meters off the right of the posts, Nuno Sousa Guedes had the ball of the win at the end of his right foot, synonymous with the first victory of the Portuguese XV in its history in the World Cup. Exhausted by 80 intense minutes, the Lobos full-back, who stumbled due to the exit of Marques, saw his shot slip away and pass to the left of the posts. All the Portuguese staff led by Patrice Lagisquet could take the head with both hands. Against Australia and Fiji, such an opportunity for success may not happen again... Sousa Guedes will no doubt have a hard time falling asleep tonight.
