Anything less than a win with a try bonus point won't do for Eddie Jones's side
There is a slither of hope for Australia. Fiji’s failure to claim the maximum five points in that thrilling win over Georgia in Bordeaux yesterday means the Wallabies are still in the fight, just. But that won’t matter if they don’t collect a try bonus point and beat Portugal in Saint-Étienne on Sunday. Here are our Australia v Portugal predictions.
The task at hand is simple for the Wallabies. Score four tries, win and then hope the Lobos aren’t too downbeat in order to do them a favour next week against the Flying Fijians.
Read more: How to watch Australia v Portugal wherever you are
Australia v Portugal predictions
Josh Graham: Australia by 15. We’ve seen enough from both these teams this tournament to suggest that this won’t be the landslide that it ordinarily would be. I’m backing Australia to get the job done with a bonus point. But the Lobos will not be blown completely away. However, if the tries don’t start flowing early, things could get pretty agitated.
Alan Dymock: Australia by 21. Saving the best to last is pretty useless in a Rugby World Cup pool, but the Wallabies need to do something – anything – to lift the mood after the disheartening loss to Fiji and the hammering by Wales. Portugal have played some really good stuff and are one of the funnest teams to watch. But if it looks like the worst World Cup in Aussie history, then surely, surely, they have to do something to end it well. And if they play cynical rugby (some would say anti-Australian rugby) then Portugal will struggle against them.
Kick Off Time 4.45pm BST – 5.45pm Local –Sunday 1st October
TV Channel ITV4 (UK) – How To Watch The Rugby World Cup
Venue Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Capacity: 41,965
Fun Fact: The oldest stadium to be selected as a venue for the Rugby World Cup 2023, it also hosted three pool games at Rugby World Cup 2007 – two of which involved Scotland.
Read more: Feel the vibe in Saint-Étienne as Rugby World Cup fever takes over
Australia form
Lost to Wales
Lost to Fiji
Beat Georgia
Lost to France
Lost to New Zealand
Portugal form
Drew with Georgia
Lost to Wales
Beat USA
Drew with USA
Beat Kenya
AUSTRALIA v PORTUGAL HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS
These two sides have never played each other before.
Australia v Portugal team news
Eddie Jones has axed inside centre Samu Kerevi in his big selection call of the week.
AUSTRALIA Andrew Kellaway; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete; Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott; Angus Bell, David Porecki (captain), James Slipper; Nick Frost, Richard Arnold; Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini
Replacements: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Robert Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suli Vunivalu
PORTUGAL Nuno Sousa Guedes; Raffaele Storti, Pedro Bettencourt, Tomás Appleton (captain), Rodrigo Marta; Jerónimo Portela, Samuel Marques; David Costa, Mike Tadjer, Diogo Hasse Ferreira; José Madeira, Martim Belo; David Wallis, Nicolas Martins, Thibault de Freitas
Replacements: Francisco Fernandes, Duarte Diniz, Francisco Bruno, Steevy Cerqueira, Rafael Simões, João Belo, Joris Moura, Manuel Cardoso Pinto
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