Rugby World Cup

PREVIEW: RWC 2023 – Pool C – Wales v Portugal

Wales will be looking to make it to wins from two starts when they take on European minnows Portugal out in Nice this Saturday.

by
Darry Worthington
September 15, 2023

The Dragons will be looking to up the ante here and claim the full five-pint haul despite the fact that they will field a weakened run on XV.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Wales v Portugal
Saturday 16 September
Allianz Riviera

Wales 1/100 | Draw 40/1 | Portugal 16/1

The Dragons come into this one as heavy favorites with the bookmakers and have been assigned a massive handicap to clear. They managed to get the job done in their opening game but were not at all impressive against a vastly improved Fijian side and were extremely lucky to win the fixture with the referee being far more lenient on them than he was on the Fijians.

While the 32-26 victory was far from merited, it has put the Dragons in a very tidy position as they also took a try-scoring bonus point from the win. They are level on points with the Australians in Pool C but they cannot rest on their laurels as Fiji took a try-scoring bonus point and a losing bonus point from their clash.

Warren Gatland has rung the changes for this one as he looks to give his fringe players a run against the European minnows. Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe form the new halves pairing while Johnny Williams and Mason Grady get their first World Cup runs in the centres. Veteran Leigh Halfpenny will start his 101st Test at fullback.

In the forwards, Dewi Lake captains the side from hooker with Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis completing a new look front row. Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins complete a very powerful looking tight five, while veterans Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau are part of a very experienced back row.

This second-strength Welsh team looks pretty tidy and is vastly experienced so Portugal could be in for a long old night on the Riviera. The European minnows produced a decent enough showing in their sole Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture as they beat the United States 46-20 back in mid-August. Wales are a massive step-up in class, however, and they may well struggle here.

The handicap for this one is really high but I think this Portuguese side is going to struggle. There are a lot of Welsh vets in this side who will be trying to work their way into the matchday 23 for their country’s big ticket clash with Australia. Money on the minus.