Portuguese to face the Saxons
In their warm-up match before the start of the European Nations Cup Division 1 gets under way Portugal play England’s Saxons at Edgeley Park in Manchester.
They have two Six Nations B matches in February – against Russia, a tough match, and a fortnight later against Germany.
It is an important competition over the next two years as the top two teams then go straight into the World Cup, and Portugal would dearly like to be there again.
Coach Tomaz Morais has chosen a squad of 22 for the trip to Manchester.
In the squad are 11 players who were at the 2007 World Cup – João Correia, António Aguilar, Vasco Uva, Pedro Leal, David Mateus, Duarte Pinto, Gonçalo Foro, Gonçalo Uva, Pedro Cabral, José Pinto and Juan Muré.
Portuguese squad:
Forwards: J uan Murré Saint-Nazaire, France),Jorge Segurado (Direito), João Junior (CDUL), João Correia (Direito), Nuno Taful (Técnico), Gonçalo Uva (Montpellier, France), Eduardo Acosta (Direito), David dos Reis (Nimes, France), Juan Severino (Agronomia), Salvador Palha (Direito), Vasco Uva (Direito), António Duarte (Agronomia)
Backs: José Pinto (Roma Olimpico, Italy), Pedro Leal (Direito), Cardoso Pinto (Agronomia), Pedro Silva (Belenenses), David Mateus (Belenenses), Francisco Mira (Agronomia), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), António Aguilar (Direito), Adérito Esteves (Direito),Pedro Cabral (CRC Madrid, Spain)
Manager: Francisco Martins
Coach: Tomaz Morais
Assistant coaches: Murray Handerson, Pedro Netto
Physiotherapist: Luis Ramusga
The team travel via Paris to Manchester on 29 January, returning on 31 January.
England Saxons squad
Forwards: Nathan Catt (Bath), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Newcastle Falcons) (captain), Tom Mercey (Saracens), Kearnan Myall (Leeds Carnegie), Andy Saull (Saracens), George Skivington (London Wasps), Joe Ward (London Wasps), Rob Webber (London Wasps), Dave Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Ben Woods (Leicester Tigers),
Backs: Nick Abendanon (Bath), Ed Barnes (Bristol), Noah Cato (Saracens), Alex Goode (Saracens), Adam Powell (Saracens), Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Matt Smith (Leicester Tigers), Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers), Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps),
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Touch judges: Andrew Patterson (Scotland), Alan Forrest (Scotland)
Assessor: Steve Lander (England)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Timekeeper: Andy Turner (England)
