Portugal may famously have a love of football, but right now the whole country is gripped by rugby fever with the national side on the verge of a first ever appearance on the Rugby World Cup stage.
Only Uruguay stand between Portugal and a place in Pool C alongside New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania with the Estadio Universitario de Lisboa in the capital Lisbon hosting the first match of a two-legged qualifier on Saturday 10 March.
A nation expects victory over Uruguay, who are currently ranked one place higher than Portugal in the IRB World Rankings at 20, to take into the second match in Montevideo on 24 March, which will determine the final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2007.
“Yes at this moment, the Portuguese speak more about rugby [than football] and this team is a reference for everyone, for its attitude, passion and courage,” Portugal coach Tomaz Morais told Total Rugby this week.
“Some people ask us about the national side and about the team, if you are okay, if you did good preparation. They are expecting a good result and they are expecting victory against Uruguay and Portugal in the World Cup for the first time as well.
“These are the biggest games in Portugal’s rugby history. For us to be in the World Cup would mean everything.”
Repeat performance
This is not the first time that Portugal and Uruguay have met in the repechage, the South Americans having triumphed 46-9 in Montevideo and then 33-24 at the Estadio Universitario de Lisboa on the way to their first Rugby World Cup in 1999.
Time will tell if history will repeat itself with another Rugby World Cup debutant, but the match is likely to be close given the last two meetings with Portugal having won 20-6 in Lisbon back in November 2005 and Uruguay 20-14 in Montevideo last September.
Morais though will certainly not be underestimating the challenge posed by Uruguay, even if in an ideal world he would rather Portugal were at home in Lisbon for the second match with Los Teros.
“Uruguay is a good team; they have a very strong pack of forwards and very quick backline players. We know that they asked [for Argentina and Australia prop] Patricio Noriega to help them out and that certainly will be very important,” Morais added.
“It is more difficult to play the second game away, but our team sometimes plays better when the difficulties are bigger. At this moment we know the important thing is to be concentrated in winning the first game in Lisbon.”
No pressure
Uruguay captain Rodrigo Capó, whose team were sent down the Repechage path after losing to the USA Eagles over two legs, is certainly happy his side are away from home in the first match and in Montevideo the second.
“Yes, I think it’s much better to go away and then play at home second for the simple reason that you don’t have to go out in the first leg and feel the pressure of scoring as many points as you can,” Capó told Total Rugby.
“We’ve come here to win, don’t get me wrong, but if we don’t win we can still go back to Uruguay with a deficit of five or seven points and use the support and record we have at home to our advantage.”
Capó himself is a veteran of the Rugby World Cup 2003, one of 15 players in Uruguay’s squad to have played in that Tournament with eight of those having also played in 1999 and the number eight believes this experience will be important for Los Teros.
“It helps a lot to have players who have been in these situations before. When a team is going through a tough time, it’s these guys who pick up and tell you how you’re going to get back into the game,” he added.
Tough challenge
However Uruguay forwards coach Nicolás Inciarte is quick to dismiss suggestions that his side are favourites to qualify for a third successive Rugby World Cup and insist they must be at their best to get the result they want.
“Portugal have played against Morocco, Spain and Montpellier in recent weeks. For us it’s summer so we haven’t had a lot of action ourselves. I think we have an opportunity to win, but I don’t think we’re favourites,” Inciarte told Total Rugby.
“We have seen them, but only on video and not in the flesh. They’re a powerful side and they have an interesting style of play. They are to be respected, especially in the way that they retain possession. Our defence will have to be very alert to keep them at bay.
“We’re looking to win the game, but I think a good result for us will be a close game where neither side gains a significant advantage.”
