3. Portugal – 2007 Rugby World Cup
If there are no last-minute withdrawals akin to their Iberian Peninsula cousins, Portugal are set to be removed from future incarnations of this list. Portugal have qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and are set to soon make the short journey North of the border to France.
This upcoming competition will mark the second Rugby World Cup appearance for ‘The Wolves’, with their debut also seeing them make a short international trip to the home of Les Bleus. Portugal’s first Rugby World Cup run-out came in the France-hosted 2007 tournament, with an unexpected lucky omen taking shape with their rugby neighbours.
Portugal have been drawn into Pool C for the 2023 competition, the same Pool in which they were seeded in for the 2007 tournament. This year, ‘Os Lobos’ are taking on Australia, Wales, Fiji and Georgia, none of which they met in their first competition run 16 years ago. Back in ’07, Portugal lined up against the All Blacks, Scotland (another trend for RWC debutants), Italy and European Championship rivals Romania.
There was excitable expectations around Portugal’s opening match, as they took on Italy. The Wolves entered the match with a point to prove, as a strong performance against the Azzurri could well ignite the conversation against the ring-fenced Six Nations. However, Italy recorded a comfortable 31-5 win, with the ‘Seven Nations’ discussion fizzling out until the international rise of Georgia.
Then came the feared run in against the All Blacks, with no expectations on Portugal besides keeping the score-line respectable. New Zealand had a point to prove, and took no Portuguese prisoners with an emphatic 108-13 win. Next came Portugal’s most competitive fixture at the Rugby World Cup to date, as they took on their like-for-like opponents Romania.
This entertaining clash between European rugby’s top ‘championship’ sides, was a deadlocked battle of attrition for the most part. However, the Romanians were able to come from behind to beat Portugal 14-10, and secure their own first win at the Rugby World Cup. Portugal’s fate was long decided before their final encounter with Scotland, which rounded off Pool C.
The 56-10 Scottish victory proved crucial, as the Scots surpassed Italy in the Pool standings and earned themselves a spot in the knock-out stages. Portugal have the opportunity to record their first ever Rugby World Cup victory this coming September, with an enticing clash against Georgia set to decided Rugby Europe Championship bragging rights.