Portugal one step away from France

Portugal beat Uruguay 12-5 in Lisbon to go ahead in the last qualifying round for the 2007 World Cup.  This was the first of two legs.

The two teams will meet again in Montevideo on 24 March.

This defeat certainly does not mean that Uruguay are out of the running.  They have top beat Portugal by eight points or more next time to go the World Cup again.

For Portugal there is the huge incentive of a first trip to the World Cup.

There was not score at half time at this match in Lisbon, though Duarte Pinto missed three penalty attempts for Portugal and Juan Menchaca two for Uruguay.

Portugal's first try came from an intercept and Pedro Carvalho raced 75 metres before feeding centre Diogo Gama to score under the posts.  Pedro Leal converted.

With ten minutes of the match left Portugal went through many phases before Diogo Countinho scored.

There were just three minutes left when captain Rodrigó Capo, scored Uruguay's final try.

Portugal's coach, Tomaz Morais, is reported by the IRB to have said afterwards:  "Seven points is nothing in rugby, we know that.  We need a good game in Uruguay, to play with courage and we will play with our style without fear.  We know with good defence and ball in hand we will have our chances because the two teams are very similar," Morais said.

"In terms of the game my players need good mentality and need to play for a win not a loss.  They need a win, whether by one, two or three points.  That is the mentality, not just to defend seven points.  To do that is stupid in my opinion."

Scorers:

For Portugal:
Tries:  Gama, Countinho
Con:  Leal

For Uruguay:
Try:  Capo

Teams:

The Portugal squad:
Forwards:  Joaquim Ferreira, João Correia, Gustavo Duarte, Duarte Figueiredo, André Silva, Gonçalo Uva, David Penalva, Marcello D'Orey, Juan Severin, João Uva, Paulo Murinello, Vasco Uva, Diogo Coutinho;
Backs:  Luís Pissarra, José Pinto, Gonçalo Malheiro, Cardoso Pinto, Diogo Gama, Miguel Portela, David Mateus, Pedro Carvalho, Pedro Leal

The Uruguay squad:
Forwards:  Sebastián Aguirre, Juan Miguel Álvarez, Carlos Arboleya, Juan Carlos Bado, Rodrigo Capó, Federico Capó, Pablo Lemoine, Juan Pérez, Carlos Protasi, Rodrigo Sánchez, Guillermo Storace
Backs:  Diego Aguirre, Rafael Álvarez, Matías Arocena, Nicolás Brignoni, Francisco Bulanti, Juan Campomar, Joaquín De Freitas, Alfredo Giuria ), Juan Labat, Juan Martín Llovet, Juan Menchaca, Joaquín Pastore, Hernán Ponte (Rouen)

Referee:  Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges:  George Clancy (Ireland), David Keane (Ireland)