Sports Mole previews Sunday's Rugby World Cup clash between Australia and Portugal, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
The final match on Saturday in the 2023 Rugby World Cup will see Australia look to salvage some pride in the tournament when they take on Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne.
This Australian side are on the verge of becoming the first in their nation's history to be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in the pool stages, while Portugal will be hoping to capitalise on an opponent that will be low in confidence.
Match preview
© Reuters
This is the Wallabies' final match of the group stages, and most would likely agree that it is also their last match of the competition as they have managed just six points in their three matches so far.
Despite a poor warm-up campaign, Australia had high hopes for this tournament, having cracked a favourable draw, but those aspirations have been shot down following back-to-back defeats in their last two games.
Their 22-15 loss to Fiji was the first blow in their quest for a third world title, and while many, including Eddie Jones, expected them to put on an improved performance against the Dragons last week, it was not to be as they slumped to a 40-6 defeat.
Having only managed a single win in eight matches since returning to the job, Jones's time may be running out, and while it may be unlikely, a loss to Portugal could spell the end for the Wallabies head coach.
Mathematically, Australia are still in it, but in order for them to progress, they would need to secure a bonus point win in this match and will need Fiji to lose their remaining matches against Portugal and Georgia without earning any further bonus points.
© Reuters
Fair to say, Portugal have earned themselves millions of new fans in this competition due to their extremely impressive showing in just their second-ever World Cup.
Their exciting style of play has been eye-catching, and despite losing their first match to Wales 28-8, it is worth noting that they lost by a smaller margin than the Wallabies suffered against the Dragons.
They earned even more admirers last week when they came from 13-0 down at half time against Georgia to take an 18-13 lead in the second half and almost went on to earn their first-ever World Cup win, though Nuno Sousa Guedes missed a late penalty.
Like their opponents, Portugal are still in with a chance of advancing, but while it may indeed be a very long shot, they could not have asked for a better opportunity to face the Wallabies given how low the morale around their opponent's dugout likely is at the moment.
Australia Rugby World Cup form:
- W
- L
- L
Australia form (all competitions):
Portugal Rugby World Cup form:
- L
- D
Portugal form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- D
- W
- L
- D
Team News
In a big call, Jones has decided to drop Samu Kerevi for this match and has instead gone for a new centre combination featuring Izaia Perese and NSW teammate Lalakai Foketi.
The front row remains unchanged, with James Slipper, David Porecki and Angus Bell, while Fraser McReight returns to number seven and Tom Hooper switches to blindside flanker.
Patrice Lagisquet has made four changes to his side, with David Costa starting at loosehead prop and Martim Belo in the second row.
David Wallis will line up alongside Belo in the pack, and Thibault de Freitas also received the nod, which will see him return in the number eight jersey.
Australia starting lineup: 15. Andrew Kellaway, 14. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13. Izaia Perese, 12. Lalakai Foketi, 11. Marika Koroibete, 10. Ben Donaldson, 9. Tate McDermott, 8. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 6. Tom Hooper, 5. Richie Arnold, 4. Nick Frost, 3. James Slipper, 2. David Porecki (capt), 1. Angus Bell
Replacements: 16. Matt Faessler, 17. Blake Schoupp, 18. Pone Fa'amausili, 19. Rob Leota, 20. Josh Kemeny, 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22. Carter Gordon, 23. Suliasi Vunivalu
Portugal starting lineup: 15. Nuno Sousa Guedes, 14. Raffaele Storti, 13. Pedro Bettencourt, 12. Tomas Appleton (c), 11. Rodrigo Marta, 10. Jeronimo Portela, 9. Samuel Marques, 8. Thibault de Freitas, 7. Nicolas Martins, 6. David Wallis, 5. Martim Belo, 4. Jose Madeira, 3. Diogo Hasse Ferreira, 2. Mike Tadjer, 1. David Costa
Replacements: 16. Francisco Fernandes, 17. Duarte Diniz, 18. Francisco Bruno, 19. Steevy Cerqueira, 20. Rafael Simões, 21. João Belo, 22. Joris Moura , 23. Manuel Cardoso Pinto
Head To Head
This is the first time that Australia and Portugal will face off in a Test match.
We say: Australia 42-17 Portugal
While the current state of Australian rugby may be in tatters, it is still very difficult to see them losing this match. Eddie Jones will also be playing for his job here, which ups the ante even further, but we feel the Wallabies will end their tournament with a positive result.
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