Summary

  • Wales leave it late to secure bonus-point win against Portugal in a closely-fought game in Nice

  • Late change sees Jac Morgan start at flanker in place of Tommy Reffell who was injured in the warm-up

  • Louis Rees-Zammit scores game's opening try before captain Dewi Lake gets a second before half-time

  • Jac Morgan scores Wales' third try of the game in scrappy second half before Portugal score their first try through Nicolas Martins

  • Gareth Davies had scored fourth Wales try but it was ruled out by TMO after wonderful work from Rees-Zammit

  • Taulupe Faletau scores try with final play of the game to earn Wales much-needed bonus point

  1. 'Points most important thing'published at 18:47 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    FT: Wales 28-8 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    The points are the important thing but the game was full of mistakes, much too messy.

    As I said before, if it's like that you need to keep things simple, give the ball to the fly half who finds the centres and just cross the advantage line.

    We played into Portugal's hands because of how messy the game was.

  2. 'Massive' for Walespublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    FT: Wales 28-8 Portugal

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row on BBC Scrum V

    That's massive.

    I know we speak about performances but we would have gone in to this game making sure that we get the win firstly then we get the bonus point from the group stage,

    When we did change our mindset it favoured us but the purple patch always comes, in the second half we did play most of the rugby in Portugal's half.

  3. Red cardpublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    FT: Wales 28-8 Portugal

    After a bunker review, it's been confirmed that Vincent Pinto's yellow card has been upgraded to a red.

  4. Postpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    FT: Wales 28-8 Portugal

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row on BBC Scrum V

    That try just shows how strong Taulupe Faletau is.

  5. Full-time - Wales 28-8 Portugalpublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    Job done in Nice!

  6. try

    Converted try - Wales 28-8 Portugalpublished at 82 mins

    Taulupe Faletau, con Sam Costelow

    Who else could it be?

    The Wales number eight picks up the ball from the scrum and it's job done.

    Sam Costelow adds the conversion to settle this game.

  7. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    The crowd do their best to rally Wales with Hymns and Arias.

  8. Postpublished at 80+1 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    Wales have the power dominance, but the decision making has been poor.

  9. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Wales have a scrum five metres out.

    Surely they'll keep it in the forwards.

  10. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales have to spread the ball, they've got an extra player in the backs!

  11. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    One last effort for Wales, they are playing with a penalty advantage.

  12. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row on BBC Scrum V

    We need a bonus point here, fingers crossed we can get it.

  13. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Wales have three minutes to find this bonus point, but again it's an error and possession is handed straight back to Portugal.

  14. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    That's worse than anything we've seen in the tournament so far.

    I think this will be a yellow card at least, maybe even a red card.

    The leg is in an unnatural position. For me, that is red!

  15. Sin-bin - Vincent Pintopublished at 76 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    The Portugal wing has been shown a yellow card.

    He leaped up in the air to gather the ball, but leads with his foot on landing which catches Josh Adams on the chin.

    That could have been nasty.

  16. No trypublished at 74 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Wales are still in search of that bonus point - the try is chalked off after a TMO review.

    It's Wales prop Tomas Francis who is penalised for obstruction.

  17. Try reviewpublished at 74 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    The ball is stolen by Jac Morgan,

    Louis Rees-Zammit breaks through and it's a lovely offload out the backdoor for Gareth Davies to score.

    But was there obstruction in the build up? We'll go to TMO.

  18. Postpublished at 73 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    Can Portugal create problems for Australia and Fiji? They've shown they've got the ability to score tries.

  19. 'This could hinder us later on'published at 73 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row on BBC Scrum V

    This could hinder us if we don't get the bonus point.

    Ideally we need it but you don't want to throw everything because it could cost us, Portugal could get a break-away try.

  20. 'It hasn't been the second half I was expecting'published at 72 mins

    Wales 21-8 Portugal

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    We actually looked more dangerous in the first half, Wales have been poor this half.

    The way they've looked after the ball has been disappointing, they haven't created those opportunities.

    It hasn't been the second half I was expecting to see from this Welsh side.