It is truthful to say that the Rugby World Cup has not gone too properly for the Wallabies.
A document defeat by the hands of Wales following a primary defeat in 69 years to Fiji noticed the Wallabies lose two consecutive matches at a World Cup for the primary time.
And but, extremely, there’s a state of affairs the place the Wallabies nonetheless make it by way of to the quarterfinals.
Here is what must occur.
Qualification is in Fiji’s arms
Qualification for the quarterfinals is properly and really out of the Wallabies’ arms.
The defeat to Fiji within the second group recreation implies that the Pacific Islanders have the higher hand attributable to their higher head-to-head document.
Because of this, Fiji want one competitors level towards Portugal to substantiate second place within the pool.
Meaning Fiji both want a win (4 factors), a draw (two factors), a loss by fewer than eight factors (one level) or to rating 4 tries or extra (one level) to undergo.
If, nonetheless, Fiji get nothing from the match, Australia will qualify for the quarterfinals as pool runners-up behind Wales.
Can Portugal assist the Wallabies with a win?
Former All Blacks nice Andrew Mehrtens stated it could take “some form of debacle towards Portugal” for the Fijians to not qualify — however that does a disservice to Os Lobos.
“Completely [Portugal can beat Fiji],” Wallabies assistant coach Dan Palmer stated.
“I’m wanting ahead to that recreation. They confirmed [against Australia that] they’re a powerful crew, so in fact they will do it.”
Wallabies prop Angus Bell stated in a World Cup, something may occur.
“Clearly Portugal tied with Georgia so, it is a World Cup, it is anybody’s recreation,” he stated.
“When you carry out on the day and every thing clicks collectively, something can occur.
“We’re going to hold coaching laborious and getting ready like we’re within the quarterfinals till we aren’t.”
What do Portugal suppose?
Portugal coach, former French worldwide Patrice Lagisquet, has been stuffed with reward for his crew, saying they nonetheless shock him with the best way they play towards the highest nations.
“This crew nonetheless has some issues to enhance however we’ve a whole lot of delight after enjoying towards such a crew,” Lagisquet stated after the Wallabies match.
“We advanced quite a bit after two months of preparation. They managed to problem this Australia crew. That is unbelievable.
“After I see territory [stats], I see we performed whole rugby. We scored a attempt from a maul.”
He believes the problem for Portugal once they tackle Fiji would be the physicality.
“It is a very well-structured crew at a bodily stage,” he stated.
“I’m fearful. They did not handle their attacking recreation towards Georgia and they’ll handle that higher towards us.
“I do not suppose it is related to try to reproduce what Georgia did. They lastly cracked bodily. They put Fiji at risk once they put a whole lot of quantity again into the sport.
“Sure, the counterattack on the finish of the primary half was the turning level for them however we do not have the identical high quality as Georgia or the identical DNA. We do not but have sufficient expertise to manage our recreation.
“However, we will take inspiration from their defensive high quality as a result of they defended excessive and prevented the Fijian powerhouse from expressing itself.”
What do Fiji say?
Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui is beneath no illusions the match towards the Portuguese shall be a tough check.
“They’re a really, superb crew,” he stated.
“They like to play rugby. I am not shocked as we’ve been taking a look at them since we knew they had been in our pool.
“They play a very good model of rugby and so they have confirmed that at this World Cup.
“They have a really thrilling again three and their forwards are actually coming into their very own as properly. You noticed that within the Wallabies recreation — they put strain on them at scrum time and so they had lineout.
“We expect a very good match.”
How can Portugal win?
Portugal performed properly towards the Wallabies, impressing loads regardless of the 34-14 defeat.
“For positive the world is aware of a bit bit about Portuguese rugby now. Once they’ve acquired area, they’re unreal,” Wallabies participant Rob Leota stated.
In wingers Rodrigo Marta and Raffaele Storti, with fullback Nuno Sousa Guedes, Portugal has severe tempo out vast and so they look to make use of it — they play the fourth-most of any crew 30 or extra metres away from the breakdown, in search of width 13 per cent of the time.
“A variety of their gamers have a background in sevens, in order that they love area, and whenever you give them area they counter[attack] properly, in order that they actually put us to work there,” Leota continued.
“They had been superb at unstructured [play], and all credit score to them.”
Now, who does that remind you of?
Two-time Olympic males’s sevens champions, Fiji are the normal pleasure machines of World Rugby and have continued in that vein at this World Cup — however have paid for it in effectivity.
The Flying Fijians have conceded essentially the most turnovers per recreation (17.7), which implies simply 61 per cent of their possessions finish positively, which is sweet information for Portugal, who rank fourth for essentially the most profitable turnovers per recreation with seven.
They do keep a powerful quantity of possession although (the second most of any crew within the event), ensuing within the second-highest variety of carries per recreation (138) and have fashioned essentially the most rucks (94 per recreation) with the second-best retention (95 per cent).
Fiji play in the best areas too, recording the third-most phases (37) within the crimson zone — and have spent the second-most period of time there per recreation, (05:22) from simply 8.7 entries per recreation.
They are not afraid to assault from deep although. Fiji have scored the second-most quantity of factors from exterior the crimson zone per recreation (6.0).
That flamboyant work within the unfastened is constructed off a dominant scrum base — Fiji are the one crew but to lose a scrum at this World Cup.
Fiji even have essentially the most dominant collisions per recreation, 44.3 — which is able to concern Portugal who’ve made the fewest dominant tackles per recreation of anybody within the competitors with 5.7 per recreation.
Tellingly, Fiji have the very best total self-discipline, conceding simply eight penalties per recreation, with simply 5 per recreation in defence.
So, c’mon Os Lobos!
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was requested whether or not or not he could be supporting Portugal of their match towards Fiji.
“It isn’t a matter of supporting Portugal,” Jones stated.
“We’ve accomplished all we will. We will not management the consequence so I’m not going to spend an excessive amount of time worrying in regards to the consequence.
“We’ve had our go on the World Cup. We’re sitting the place we’re.
“We settle for our place, and if it occurs and we get one other probability so be it, but when it does not we’ve solely acquired to have a look at ourselves.”
Palmer expressed related ideas in his press convention.
“It isn’t very best that it is out of our arms however that is the place we put ourselves in,” he stated.
“Now we’ll go away, clean up, then put together as if we’re enjoying a quarterfinal and see what occurs.”
Who awaits within the quarterfinals?
Regardless of who qualifies for the quarterfinal, it’s set for an intriguing match-up.
With England set to high Pool D, that’s who the second-placed finisher will meet within the quarterfinal at 1am on Monday AEDT in Marseilles.
Meaning a reunion for Eddie Jones together with his former expenses within the England set-up, or a repeat of Fiji’s pre-World Cup shock at Twickenham.
Comply with all of the motion as Fiji takes on Portugal to resolve Australia’s destiny in our reside weblog from 6am on Monday AEDT.
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