Sea Eagles fly in to Lisbon

Tonga of the South Pacific play Portugal of the North Atlantic for the first time ever at Estádio Universitário in Lisbon on Saturday

This is Tonga’s third match on their European tour and they must be hoping for a win. Ireland A beat them 48-19 and Scotland A 38-7. It is clear that they are nothing like the 2007 at the World Cup in France, when they beat Samoa 19-15, the USA 25-15 and just lost to South Africa 30-25 and England  36-20.

Window or no window, they will not get the best use of their top players, who are playing in Europe. Portugal, too, will not have the use of two top players playing in France.

Last weekend Portugal, who had their French-based players, lost to the Jaguars 23-14. On Friday night Ireland A smashed the Jaguars 31-0. António Aguilar, capped 52 times for the Lobos, is back in the side.

This match could be a close affair. It would be interesting to see how Portugal’s smooth backs cope with the rugged Tongans.

Teams

Portugal squad: Eduardo Acosta (GD Direito), António Aguilar (GD Direito), Aurélien Beco (Limoges, France), Pedro Cabral (CD University Lisboa), João Correia (GD Direito) (captain), Gonçalo Foro (CD University Lisboa), Tiago Girão (CD University Lisboa), João Junior (CD University Lisboa), Pedro Leal (GD Direito), David Mateus (OS Belenenses), Diogo Mateus (OS Belenenses), Juan Murre (Auch, France), Salvador Palha (GD Direito), Duarte Cardoso Pinto (AEIS Agronomia), Miguel Portela (GD Direito), Emmanuel Rebelo (Dijon, France), Jorge Segurado (GD Direito), Francisco Serra (Académica), Juan Severino (AEIS Agronomia), Pedro Silva (OS Belenenses), Nuno Taful (GD Direito), Gonçalo Uva (GD Direito), Vasco Uva (GD Direito)
Coach: Tomaz Morais

Tonga: tba

Referee: James Jones (Wales)