HomeWorld NewsPortugal is the last qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2023

Portugal is the last qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2023

Date:

Related stories

Will Irvine City Council Members Nearly Quadruple Their Pay?

Irvine City Council members are expected to discuss...

Huntington Beach City Attorney Heads to Trump Administration

Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates announced Monday...

Santa Ana Officials Ban Family Contracts After OC Bribery Scandal

Santa Ana officials are prohibiting themselves from giving...

How To Track Special Interest Influence In Your Public Backyard

Imagine if you could slap stickers onto politicians...

A DIY Approach to Watchdogging Local Government 

There’s no such thing as a free lunch.  Especially...
spot_imgspot_img

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Portugal grabbed the last qualifying spot for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in spectacular fashion.

Samuel Marques’ long-range penalty kick after the final buzzer gave Portugal a 16-16 tie with the United States on Friday in Dubai and 20th and final place in the standings.

The Wolves have reached their second Rugby World Cup. They return to France, where they made their tournament debut in 2007. They open against Wales in Nice on September 16. Australia, Fiji and Georgia are also in Pool C.

“Just unbelievable,” said Portugal captain Tomas Appleton. “We have been missing (from the World Cup) for quite some time. We need a new generation to inspire children.”

The United States has missed the Rugby World Cup for the second time. The other was the 1995 tournament in South Africa.

Both teams beat Hong Kong and Kenya in the final round-robin tournament to set up their decider. But Portugal had a better point differential of over 17 and could afford to draw with the USA to advance.

Wolves scored their lone try through winger Raffaele Storti while his opposite Nate Augsperger was in the sin-bin, and led 10-9 at half time at The Sevens Stadium.

Hooker Kapeli Pifeleti regained the Eagles lead with a 60th minute try, converted by AJ MacGinty for 16-13.

The Eagles also had a one-man lead after Portugal mainstay Francisco Fernandes was dropped, but they played rugby for sure first.

A scrum penalty at their Test line gave Wolves one last chance with minutes remaining, and they pushed their way into the Eagles half. Flyhalf Jerónimo Portela’s dropped goal attempt from 40 meters hit the right post, but Portugal held the penalty lead.

Missing two penalty kicks early in the half, scrum half Marques hit his last shot in the 82nd minute for an equaliser.

“Seconds away for us,” MacGinty lamented. “We did the best we could.”

___

More AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

spot_img

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here