Lobas howl in Brussels
Portugal starts with a blast in the Rugby Europe Trophy opening round
Hello! the following piece will be solely written in English, as the Portuguese version will come out in Fair Play (www.fairplay.pt)
Olá, o artigo em português sairá no Fair Play com uma análise mais detalhada em certos aspectos do jogo
What a start for the Portuguese women's national team, as they cruise past Belgium in their Rugby Europe Trophy opening match. A 71-05 win grants them 1st place, in what should’ve been one of their toughest opponents in the competition, as the Portuguese women only won by two points the last time they met (in 2021).
The recipe to land such a big score was:
No errors in the set-piece, making their scrum a stable platform to start their attacking strategy;
Quick support that kept the ball alive, making sure Belgium wouldn’t have a breather when Portugal had the egg in their possession;
Lethal every time they created a clean break, displaying more than 2 options which drove doubts and mistakes on the opposition's defense;
The work-rate from Sara Moreira (nº8), Neuza Reis (prop), Adelina Costa (flanker), Mariana Marques (centre), and Maria Costa (centre) in the breakdown or in the support tackle, ripping the ball eight times from the Belgian players’ hands;
There’s a clear development in the Portuguese women's team, as they are making things “easier” every time they play, working well to keep a strong attacking flow, or not to lose focus when they are under high pressure while cornered inside their 22, being these two factors the basis of their streak of wins (three on a row since Portugal came back to the XV women Test Match level, after 24 years away).
If you wish to watch or rewatch the game, please follow the link retweeted by the brilliant Scrumqueens profile
After an initial come and go in the first twenty minutes, the Portuguese side started to find cohesion in their offensive strategy, with the advantage line being won in the X moments, which opened sufficient gaps for the “Lobas” to score tries.
Aside from those first twenty minutes, and the first 10 of the 2nd half, Portugal was just “perfect”, and quickly built a stomping lead to start very well in their Rugby Europe Trophy campaign.
Big shout to two players: the tighthead prop, Neuza Reis, and the openside flanker, Adelina Costa. The first one was simply outstanding in the “little things” be it in a simple pick and go (never stopped in the first tackle, forcing the Belgian team to apply more tacklers), or in her scrum duties, and showed promise when she had a bit more space to attack. Adelina Costa was a monster, her support to the carrier made an impact when Portugal exploited a gap and was always there when it was needed.
11 tries, 71 points, lead in the Trophy table, and a superb display in Brussels.
(FROM 1 TO 15 | 16 TO 23 | TRIES, CONVERSIONS AND PENALTIES)
Elsa Santos, Beatriz Rodrigues, Neuza Reis (5), Márcia Santos, Laura Pereira, Francisca Mendes, Adelina Costa, Sara Moreira (5+5), Leonor Amaral, Beatriz Oliveira, Mariana Santos (5), Maria Costa (5+5), Mariana Marques, Inês Spínola (5), Daniela Correia (cap | 5+2+2+2+2+2)
Carlota Torres (5), Maria Teixeira, Marta Magalhães (5), Ana Freire, Arlete Gonçalves, Maria Vasquez, Cátia João, Yara Fonseca (5)
Keep an eye on Rugby Europe website as it brings all the fresh news about the Trophy competition (Finland also scored a big victory in Germany in both sides first match)
Belgium's try was scored by fullback Chanel Germiat
