Australia vs Portugal LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and final score as Wallabies keep faint hopes alive
Australia 34-14 Portugal: The Wallabies got the bonus-point win they needed but their World Cup hopes now rest on Fiji’s final match next week
Australia’s slender hopes of making it to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals survived another round of matches as they huffed and puffed to a 34-14 bonus-point victory against Portugal.
Eddie Jones’s Wallabies, who have now played all their games, will be eliminated in the group phase for the first time if Fiji take a point against Portugal next week in the Pool C finale.
Portugal led 7-3 after Pedro Bettencourt’s early converted try but the centre was then sin-binned for a high tackle and Australia made the most of it by scoring three tries through Richard Arnold, David Porecki and Angus Bell.
Fraser McReight touched down to secure the bonus point shortly after the break, while Marika Koroibete got a fifth with only a few minutes left.
Ben Donaldson added points from the tee as twice world champions Australia, who conceded a late converted try by Rafael Simoes after picking up two yellow cards, climbed to second on 11 points, three behind already-qualified Wales and only one ahead of Fiji.
Follow all the latest from the Pool C match below. Get all the Rugby World Cup odds here, plus the latest tips and free bets on the World Cup here.
Try! Australia 29-12 Portugal LIVE: 70 minutes
Scrum five metres from the line, Portugal have another chance.
Portugal get the ball over the line this time and have the second try!
Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 67 minutes
Portugal have come close again, some lovely offloads as they edge towards the line.
But so far Australia have stood strong. Portugal have another penalty advantage in the final five or six metres.
Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 65 minutes
Samu Kerevi has been handed a lifeline here, the yellow card has not been upgraded to a red and in a few minutes, Australia will be back to full strength.
Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 63 minutes
Both sides have made over 100 tackles already, it has been a physical fast-paced contest.
Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 62 minutes
Portugal have eight minutes with a two-man advantage and they have to make this count. There will be no better opportunity to get back into the clash.
TMO: Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 61 minutes
TMO review for a possible foul by Australia, there looked like a hand to the head.
A yellow card will be shown to Kerevi, and they will be down to 13, Portugal have never had a better chance to get back into this game.
Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 61 minutes
Portugal have a knock on before the offside from Australia and another chance to capitalise is lost.
So much possession, but they have lacked end product.
Australia 29-7 Portugal LIVE: 60 minutes
The review shows the foul was three or four metres away, so there is no penalty try.
But Portugal have another opportunity here with a line out just metres from the line.
TMO: Australia 29-12 Portugal LIVE: 59 minutes
Looking at a clear loss of control as the ball crosses the try line, so that try by Tadjer could be ruled out.
That would be a heavy blow to Portugal.
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