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. 'Wales do not need to force it'published at 54 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

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

    Looking at the Portuguese line we don't need to force it.

    It's getting the ball into hands, we are missing those passes a little bit, there's loads of space around it's just taking that contact and building on the next phase.

  2. Replacementpublished at 54 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    More changes for Wales, Taine Basham is on for Dan Lydiate.

  3. Postpublished at 54 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    I know you have games like this when everything goes the way of the opposition but if your half-backs aren't performing you have to change them.

    I don't see any communication, especially from Gareth Anscombe, players are looking around with no idea what to do.

  4. Postpublished at 54 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    It's another penalty for offside, the referee is having a word with Portugal's captain.

    Wales opt for the scrum.

  5. Postpublished at 52 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Wales win a penalty and kick for touch.

    They have a five metre lineout, but again it's messy and they're pushed back 15 metres.

  6. 'Really poor from Wales'published at 52 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

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

    It is Wales who have lacked the intensity and accuracy, throwing passes when they shouldn't, dropping balls.

    It's lost all rhythm and shape when you expected Wales to come out and put their stamp on the game.

    Really poor from Wales.

  7. Replacementpublished at 51 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Warren Gatland has seen enough, the bomb squad is on.

    The entire Wales front row is replaced, while Adam Beard comes on in the second row.

  8. Postpublished at 50 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    I'd change fly-halves now.

    Unfortunately Gareth Anscombe isn't good enough at this level.

    Everything is without shape and a lot of it is coming from the half backs.

    Anscombe hasn't played for a while and nothing is going in Wales' favour.

  9. Missed penalty - Wales 14-3 Portugalpublished at 50 mins

    Samuel Marques

    The 47m distance proved a little too much for the Portugal scrum-half.

  10. Postpublished at 49 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Jac Morgan is penalised for crossing.

    It's a penalty for Portugal.

    Samuel Marques lines up a shot just a few metres inside his own half.

  11. Wales without shapepublished at 49 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales are totally without shape, I don't understand how you can make so many mistakes.

  12. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Time for some more kick tennis, both teams looking for a bit of composure in this frantic game.

  13. An untidy start to the halfpublished at 46 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Make that another lineout malfunction for Wales - that's three in a row now.

  14. Postpublished at 46 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales have to bring back the structure, they have to be more patient and go through the phases.

    I want to see the forwards working Portugal's forwards more and then giving the ball to the backs.

  15. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    Mistakes by Wales, that's the second one this half.

    Unexpected ball and they lose it immediately.

  16. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    It's Portugal's turn to concede possession.

    It's the prop Francisco Fernandes penalised at the scrum.

    Wales kick to touch but they suffer their first lineout malfunction.

  17. Postpublished at 42 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    The eagerness of Rio Dyer sees the ball knocked on, he tried to get the offload away, but he probably should have held on to it.

    It's a Portugal scrum.

  18. Wales need to 'put pressure' on Portugalpublished at 42 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

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

    Territory is a massive thing, kicking more and playing in their half, putting pressure on the Portuguese.

    We need to move them a little bit more, you can see from the first half they got tired towards the end.

  19. Kick-offpublished at 41 mins

    Wales 14-3 Portugal

    The teams are back out - oh to be a fly on the wall in those changing rooms.

    It's Gareth Anscombe who will get us back under way.

  20. Postpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Former Wales forwards coach Robin Mcbryde told S4C: "It's been a really exciting game for the neutral.

    "Wales need to test Portugal in different ways, particularly in the tight areas, I felt Wales were getting some dominance in the final scrum."