Rugby World Cup 2023: Australia keep slim knockout hopes alive with bonus-point win over Portugal

Australia got the bonus-point win they needed to stay alive in the 2023 Rugby World Cup after beating Portugal 34-14 on Sunday.

It is unlikely to be enough to reach the quarter-finals, however, with the Wallabies now having played their last game in Pool C and awaiting the outcome of Fiji’s match with Portugal next weekend.

Fiji simply need a single bonus point next Sunday to join Wales in the last eight, and while Australia are not officially out of this tournament yet, the prospect of a first-ever pool elimination is realistically just one week away from being confirmed.

A likely exit aside, Australia remained thoroughly professional throughout their performance against Portugal despite conceding the first try when Pedro Bettencourt went over.

It was a moment to savour for the Portuguese, but short-lived, as Bettencourt’s yellow card swung the momentum, with Australia ruthless during his time in the sin bin.

Richard Arnold was the first to go over for Australia, whose pack were too strong as front-row duo David Porecki and Angus Bell also scored tries before half-time.

After the break, Fraser McReight scored the fourth which put Australia on course for the bonus-point win, and though they conceded a second try when down to 13 men and under immense pressure, the Portugal fightback ended when Marika Koroibete scored the Wallabies’ fifth.

They won’t be packing their bags just yet.

Australia are unlikely to kick another ball this tournament, with the damage done when they were humiliated 40-6 by Wales last weekend – and arguably more so when losing to Fiji the week prior.

Head coach Eddie Jones said he remained “100 per cent committed” to the cause, but reports linking with a return to the Japan role will not go away.

Will be jump before he is pushed? Or somehow cling on? Big decisions await after what is likely to be an historic and unwanted first – that is unless Portugal can save them.

An honourable mention to Raffaele Storti who looked dangerous for Portugal with ball in hand, but on an evening where Australia’s forwards got them over the line, Fraser McReight deserves the plaudits for a couple of interventions on top of his second-half try.

Australia XV: Kellaway 8; Nawaqanitawase 7, Perese 7, Foketi 6, Koroibete 8; Donaldson 7, McDermott 6; Bell 7, Porecki (c) 7, Slipper 6; Frost 6, Arnold 7; T Hooper 6, McReight 8, Valetini 6. Replacements: Faessler 6, Schoupp n/a, Fa’amausili 6, Leota 6, Kemeny n/a, Fines-Leleiwasa n/a, Kerevi 7, Vunivalu n/a.

Portugal XV: Guedes 6; Storti 7, Bettencourt 7, Appleton (c) 6, Marta 6; Marques 6, Portela 7; Costa 6, Tadjer 6, Ferreira 6; Madeira 6, M Belo 6; Wallis 6, Martins 7, De Freitas 6. Replacements: Fernandes 6, Diniz n/a, Bruno n/a, Cerqueira 6, Simoes 6, J Belo n/a, Moura n/a.

14’ TRY PORTUGAL! BETTENCOURT Penalty advantage for Portugal and they give it everything to get over that line… Quick hands, a desire to break the game line, and then bam, a quick switch of play to the right and Bettencourt goes over in the corner. Sensational. Marques kicks over the extra two. AUSTRALIA 3-7 PORTUGAL

19′ TRY AUSTRALIA! ARNOLD With Portugal down to 14, the forwards do the job for Australia with a couple of big carries before Arnold goes over. No mistake from Donaldson with the conversion and the Wallabies have the lead, and crucially the first of four tries they’re after. AUSTRALIA 10-7 PORTUGAL

24’ TRY AUSTRALIA! PORECKI A fine kick to the corner – and I mean the very corner – from Donaldson after a penalty gives Australia’s forwards another chance to capitalise on this man advantage, and it’s captain Porecki who gets the try with the maul too powerful for Portugal. Donaldson adds two more. AUSTRALIA 17-7 PORTUGAL

27’ ANOTHER TRY AUSTRALIA! BELL One minute it’s their hooker, the next it’s one of their props. Australia have warmed up and after Koroibete almost goes over it’s Bell who picks up the scraps and gets the Wallabies’ third try of the afternoon. And another two points from Donaldson. AUSTRALIA 24-7 PORTUGAL

49’ TRY AUSTRALIA! MCREIGHT A superb dummy then offload from Nawaqanitawase, who gifts McReight a free run into the corner for Australia’s fourth try, meaning the bonus-point win is on the horizon and they are set to stay alive in this tournament for another week. Donaldson’s conversion hits the post! AUSTRALIA 29-7 PORTUGAL

71’ TRY PORTUGAL! SIMOES Fully deserved, and at last… It feels as though they’ve been pushing for this try all half! And eventually it’s number eight Simoes who picks the ball up at the back of the scrum and gets their second try. AUSTRALIA 29-14 PORTUGAL

James Slipper became Australia’s most capped Rugby World Cup player in what was his 21st match.