PREVIEW…
Portugal vSpain
Today. Kick-off 3pm, Estadio do Restelo in Lisbon
PORTUGAL host Spain in today's second semi-final looking for a statement win to set up a final clash with Georgia.
Portugal are ranked 15th in the world after their exploits at the World Cup, while Spain, ranked 19th, are out to avenge their 27-10 defeat to their big rivals in last year's semi-final.
“Portugal versus Spain is always a special game and as players value this a lot not only because of all the history that exists between Portuguese and Spanish rugby but also because of the entire history of Portugal,” Portugal captain Tomas Appleton said.
Portugal showed drastic improvement in the four-year cycle leading up to RWC23 having been promoted back into the Rugby Europe Championship in 2019, running Italy close in 2022 and seeing off the USA to reach the World Cup in France. And Appleton revealed on The Rugby Paper podcast that when he told his troops they could replicate Japan's 2015 achievement of downing a tier one nation, he was met with ridicule.
“After our first training session I said: ‘You're going to call me crazy, but we're going to win against Wales,' and everyone laughed. The day after I said the same again, and one or two players laughed. The third time I said it, no-one laughed.” Appleton said.
“Of course we lost against Wales, but the seed of feeling we needed something to shock the world was there, and in a really typical Portuguese way we left it for the last game and the last minute against Fiji. It was our last chance to win in the World Cup, and we managed to do it.”
On their return to Portugal, Os Lobos were met with a heroes' welcome as they disembarked the plane from France.
“It was like we were world champions,” he said. “Thousands of people were in the airport waiting for us, it was a moment I'll never forget.
“We were invited to watch the football team and I met Cristiano Ronaldo. I thought the footballers had no idea about Portugal at the Rugby World Cup, but the team doctor said they'd watched every game. That was very impressive.”
Portugal came crashing back to earth in the opening round of the Rugby Europe Championship with defeat to Belgium and Spain head coach Pablo Bouza is relishing the challenge.
“We are looking forward to playing this match, we are playing a team who were at a World Cup a few months ago, so it'll be a big challenge.” ble victory for Germany.
TEAMS
PORTUGAL: C Pinto, Sayerse, Lima, Appleton (c), Martins, Aubry, Camacho; M Santos, Begic, Da Cunha, Bello, Madeira, Wallis, Martins, Granate
Replacements: Arrojado, Vicente, Ferreira, Torgal, Baptista, Pinheiro, Azvedo, P Dos Santos
SPAIN: Bay, Aurrekoetxea, Suárez, Foulds, Imaz, Ferrer, Piñeiro; Futeu, Bessonart, Garcia, Del Hoyo, Santamaria, Dominguez, Urraza, Pichardie (c)
Replacements: Muñiz, Güemes, López Bontempo, Mateu, Gimeno, Aira, Cian, Bell, Carmona
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
