Sign Up
..... Connect Australia with the world.
Categories

Posted: 2023-10-07 21:15:23

It's fair to say that the Rugby World Cup has not gone too well for the Wallabies.

A record defeat at the hands of Wales following a first defeat in 69 years to Fiji saw the Wallabies lose two consecutive matches at a World Cup for the first time.

And yet, incredibly, there is a scenario where the Wallabies still make it through to the quarterfinals.

Here's what needs to happen.

Qualification is in Fiji's hands

Waisea Nayacalevu sings the national anthem

Fiji have not made it to the quarterfinals since 2007.(Getty Images: Levan Verdzeuli)

Qualification for the quarterfinals is well and truly out of the Wallabies' hands.

The defeat to Fiji in the second group game means that the Pacific Islanders have the upper hand due to their better head-to-head record.

As a result, Fiji need one competition point against Portugal to confirm second place in the pool.

That means Fiji either need a win (four points), a draw (two points), a loss by fewer than eight points (one point) or to score four tries or more (one point) to go through.

If, however, Fiji get nothing from the match, Australia will qualify for the quarterfinals as pool runners-up behind Wales.

Can Portugal help the Wallabies with a win?

Former All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens said it would take "some sort of debacle against Portugal" for the Fijians not to qualify — but that does a disservice to Os Lobos.

"Absolutely [Portugal can beat Fiji]," Wallabies assistant coach Dan Palmer said.

"I am looking forward to that game. They showed [against Australia that] they are a strong team, so of course they can do it."

Wallabies prop Angus Bell said in a World Cup, anything could happen. 

"Obviously Portugal tied with Georgia so, it's a World Cup, it's anyone's game," he said.

"If you perform on the day and everything clicks together, anything can happen.

"We are going to keep training hard and preparing like we are in the quarterfinals until we are not."

What do Portugal think?

Nuno Sousa Guedes runs with the ball in his hands

Portugal have never won a match at the Rugby World Cup.(Getty Images: Stu Forster)

Portugal coach, former French international Patrice Lagisquet, has been full of praise for his team, saying they still surprise him with the way they play against the top nations.

"This team still has some things to improve but we have a lot of pride after playing against such a team," Lagisquet said after the Wallabies match

View More
  • 0 Comment(s)
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above