VIDEO: Ten magical minutes showed the guts of Os Lobos
VIDEO: Portugal opened the scoring in the Test against the Springboks in the perfect way possible with a length-of-the-pitch try that signified their guts and passion to give it their all against the world champions.
Despite their 21-64 loss, the gutsy Portuguese managed to score three wonderful tries and won the hearts of everyone with how bravely they stood up against the much bigger, stronger, and fitter Springboks.
Their coach Simon Mannix was full of praise for his charges and for the way in which they managed to stretch the Boks coast to coast at times.
The New Zealander tried to explain how big the divide still is between his players, all of which are still only semi-professional, compared to the Springboks.
“It was a historical event for us, not just for South Africa.
“As the No. 15 team in the world that came to the number one ranked team, for ten minutes our guys showed we want to play,” Mannix said proudly.
“There were never any illusions in the coaching box that we were going to do something special, we could’ve stayed in the game a little bit longer but physically [it was] just so tough.”
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Mannix said the lessons learned from this match will stand his players in good stead going forward as they endeavor to qualify for the next World Cup in 2027 in Australia.
“The lessons were enormous.
“The physicality was higher than what the guys experienced at the World Cup in 2023.
“There is an awful lot to be learned for us.
“We are not naive. We know that that was a beating.
“We got beaten up at the breakdown, we got beaten up in quite a few areas of the game.
“Yet, we showed a lot of courage,” he said.
This is only Portugal’s second Test under Mannix after beating Namibia last week, so the lessons for both the coach and players are massive.
“We’ve got guys that have been playing in the fourth and fifth division in France, and to see them exposed in front of an incredible crowd, incredible atmosphere…I couldn’t be more proud of this team tonight.
“And given where we were, because this is a pre-season tour for us, physically we are not in the greatest shape that we could be.
“We will learn and we will get better.
“I am just so proud of how we tried to play rugby. I thought the first ten minutes we showed our ability to give the ball width, to move it around.
“And when we did that, you all saw Portugal play rugby at the World Cup, that was a real pleasure.
“I am going to reflect a lot on the positives because this is only game number two for me.
“I said to the players this trip is about discovery, it’s about learning about each other and seeing what we could do.
“I think rugby watchers worldwide will be so happy to see that Portugal is continuing on in the vein that made them one of the most popular teams at the World Cup.
“And gee, tonight we were up against the World Champions,” the coach said.
Captain Tomas Appleton said the memory of scoring the first points against the best team in the world, is something he will cherish forever.
“The first few minutes were really good for us.
“We were the first to score.
“It was special for us to be leading against South Africa. It was a pretty special moment,” Appleton commented.
