Portugal loses in Romania and is late in the Rugby World Cup race
The Portuguese team went into halftime winning 2-13, but physically 2 minutes in the last 20 minutes
Portugal lost today in Romania by 37-27 and was delayed in the qualifying race for the Rugby World Cup France ‘2023, leaving Bucharest without a point conquered, despite adding four trials, as many as the rival.
The Portuguese Portuguese went to the break to win by 2-13, but 20 minutes after the encounter physically, and allowed the revolt in the score, playing 10 minutes in numerical inferiority, even ending up by “wasting a point of defensiveness in the end” allowing a rehearsal on the “game ball”.
After a “nervous” entry and some mistakes, Portugal managed to take control of the game and shoot the scoreboard, with the trials of José Lima (25 minutes), Rodrigo Marta (33) and Vincent Pinto (38) rewarding the greatest discipline and ability to play with the Portuguese team.
Portugal’s advantage at half-time (22-13) was not greater only because a drop goal attempt by Jorge Abecasis (12) and a transformation by Samuel Marques (26) bumped into the Romanian post and because, at the end of the first half , the selection didn’t know how to “freeze” the ball possession in the final seconds and analyzed the first try, by Dragos Ser (40+2).
The reaction at the start of the second half could not have been better, with Vincent Pinto (49) recognizing his second attempt from the front a yellow card later, Samuel Marques (51 intentional) saw the card and Portugal was outnumbered for 10 minutes.
From the penalties that resulted from that throw, Romania crossed the goal line again, in a maul finished by Ovidiu Cojocaru (52), and then, with Marque back, equalized the score (27-27) with a try of Alexandruuin (63), from a midfielder of a “mêlée” conquered following intense pressure mounted on the Portuguese 2 meters still with the absent formation.
At 70, a punishment from the irreproachable Ionel Melinte70), who obtained a 100% diligence to shoot the posts, put Romania ahead (30-27) for the first time José Lima’s essay and, instead of what the blow felt for the last quarter of the Portuguese, the biggest “carvalhos” was made in the last quarter of the match.
Who are they, Portugal, in which you need a rehearsal for Romania I back but Romania the “wolves” of 2 and the selection, on the back its physics, consented to a test at meters its André Gorin (8000000) +1) that made it impossible to earn a defensive bonus point (defeat by seven or fewer points).
With this result, Portugal dropped to fourth in the World Cup qualifying ranking, with 16 points, from Georgia (31), Romania (22) and Spain (21), being behind forced to win the last three games and wait that Romanians and Spaniards, who face each other in the next round, lose points along the way.
In the Europe Championship 2022, which corresponds to the second round of qualifying for the World Cup, Portugal is also in fourth place, with two points, behind Spain (9), Romania (8) and Georgia (7).
Game at the Arc de Triomphe Stadium in Bucharest.
Romania v Portugal, 37-27.
At half-time: 13-22.
Under the referee of Franck Murphy, the associated teams:
– Romania: Vasile Balan, Ovidiu Cojocaru, Alexandru Gordas, Marius Antonescu, Adrian Motoc, Cristi-Marian Chirica, Dragos Ser, Mihai Macovei, Gabriel Rupanu, Daniel Plai, Marius Simionescu, Jason Tomane, Hinckley Vaovasa, Ionut Dumitru, Ionel Melinte.
Also playing: Tudor Butnariu, Alexandru Savin, Alexandru Tarus, Marius Iftimciuc, Andre Gorin, Florin Surugiu, Florin Popa and Nocolas Onutu.
Rehearsals (4): Dragos Ser (40+2), Ovidiu Cojocaru (52), Alexandru Savin (63), André Gorin (80+1).
Conversions (4): Ionel Melinte (40+3, 53, 64, 80+2).
Penalties (3): Ionel Melinte (5, 37, 70).
Coach: Richard Robinson
– Portugal: Francisco Fernandes, Lionel Campergue, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, José Madeira, Rafael Simões, João Granate, Steevy Cerqueira, Thibault de Freitas, Samuel Marques, Jorge Abecasis, Rodrigo Marta, Tomás Appleton, José Lima, Vincent Pinto and Manuel Cardoso Pinto .
Also playing: Geoffrey Moïse, Duarte Diniz, Cody Thomas, Duarte Torgal, David Wallis, Pedro Bettencourt, Pedro Lucas and Simão Bento.
Rehearsals (4): José Lima (25), Rodrigo Marta (33), Vicente Pinto (37, 49).
Conversions (2): Samuel Marques (34, 38).
Penalties (1): Samuel Marques (29).
Coach: Patrice Lagisquet
Disciplinary action: Yellow card for Samuel Marques (51).