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. 'I'm not worried'published at 17:50 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

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

    It's been a really entertaining game.

    You have to give credit to Portugal, sometimes it is impossible not to get dragged in to that open game.

    But I'm not worried at all going in to the second half, I think Wales will pull away.

  2. Pictures from the halfpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Louis Rees-Zammit dives over for Wales' opening tryImage source, Getty Images
    Leigh Halfpenny gathers his own kickImage source, Getty Images
    Double hit: Rafael Simoes is tackled by Taulupe Faletau and Dewi LakeImage source, Getty Images
    Johnny Williams makes a break through the midfieldImage source, Getty Images
  3. Postpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Gareth Griffiths
    BBC Sport Wales at Stade de Nice

    The expansive Portugal side have been excellent. Wales have looked rattled and are struggling for control.

    That try for captain Dewi Lake on the stroke of half-time will hopefully settle Wales down.

    That 14-3 lead flatters Wales. They will hope fitness will see them increase the lead in the second half.

  4. Postpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Former Wales scrum half Mike Phillips told S4C: "You have to praise Portugal they've got nothing to lose but their passing has been superb.

    "Their wingers look dangerous and the whole team has made an impression on everyone here."

  5. 'Portugal look deflated'published at 17:43 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

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

    Portugal look deflated and they are getting tired so the longer we keep the ball on the park it is going to work in our favour.

  6. Postpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Caryl James, Dewi Lake's former teacher, said: "That try is so representative of what Dewi Lake does.

    "He loves taking the ball from the five metre line, and going for it.

    "He's so strong and looking at the profile of his body, he's able to get so low to the ground and keep his legs pumping, he's impossible to stop from there.

    "I'm very happy with the end of that half."

  7. Postpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    HT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

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

    What a carry from him, Dewi Lake is such a big boy, he shows his power there.

  8. Lake 'no right to score from there'published at 17:37 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    FT: Wales 14-3 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales needed that try desperately.

    Dewi Lake had no right to score from there but it just shows how strong he is, to go through three or four players and score.

  9. Half-time - Wales 14-3 Portugalpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    A frantic end to the half!

  10. try

    Converted try - Wales 14-3 Portugalpublished at 40+1 mins

    Dewi Lake, con Leigh Halfpenny

    Wales go back to the penalty for offisde and Dewi Lake takes a quick tap and go and crashes over.

    Leigh Halfpenny nails the easy conversion and that's the last play of the half.

  11. Try reviewpublished at 40 mins

    Wales 12-3 Portugal

    Hold fire, Karl Dickson is having a look at something.

    Did Johnny Williams lose possession?

    His expression suggests he did.

  12. Disallowed try - Williamspublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 16 September 2023

    Wales 7-3 Portugal

    Dewi Lake takes it from the mark and Johnny Williams makes amends for his yellow card and crashes over right at the death.

  13. Postpublished at 40 mins

    Wales 7-3 Portugal

    Wales launch one final attack as the clock goes into the red, they have a penalty coming.

  14. Postpublished at 40 mins

    Wales 7-3 Portugal

    Johnny Williams is back on for Wales as half-time approaches.

  15. Postpublished at 40 mins

    Wales 7-3 Portugal

    Emyr Lewis
    Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

    I'm sure Warren Gatland is going to give his team a tongue lashing at half time.

  16. 'Portugal have used a huge amount of energy'published at 39 mins

    Wales 7-3 Portugal

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

    The one thing that will please Gatland is the amount of ball in play we've had in this half.

    He'll know come 50/60 minutes it will be hard for Portugal, they would have used a huge amount of energy in this 40 minutes.

  17. 'It's too individual at times'published at 38 mins

    Wales 7-0 Portugal

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

    I'm still not sure what Rio Dyer is doing running in to the middle of the park and a couple of poor kicks have let Portugal win the battle.

    I'm sure players and coaches will be frustrated, it's too individual at times and it's given Portugal an opportunity to escape.

  18. Penalty - Wales 7-3 Portugalpublished at 37 mins

    Samuel Marques

    Samuel Marques makes no mistake from the tee this time.

    He kicks Portugal's first points of this World Cup and it's nothing less than they deserve.

  19. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Wales 7-0 Portugal

    Portugal try something different, full-back Nuno Sousa Guedes goes for the drop goal, but he's just wide.

    They go back for the penalty.

  20. Portela 'controlling' for Portugalpublished at 35 mins

    Wales 7-0 Portugal

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Jeronimo Portela is controlling the territory well for Portugal, making long kicks which are turning the Welsh back three.

    He's also made some really good chips over the top, he's changing it up and the Welsh defence need to react to his variation.