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.
Australia 3-7 Portugal LIVE: 13 minutes
That was a bit sloppy from Australia, they have spilled the ball.
They started quickly with all guns blazing, but Portugal have almost stunned them here and have the advantage.
Conversion! Australia 3-7 Portugal LIVE: 12 minutes
That was a brilliant kick from Portugal, it was out almost at the touchline but the kicker has found the gap between the posts to extend their lead.
Try! Australia 3-5 Portugal LIVE: 12 minutes
Everything was perfect from Portugal there and with an offload wide they capitalised.
They already had the penalty advantage from the scrum and made it count with the first try of the game.
It was scored by Bettencourt who dived for the line right into the corner.
Australia 3-0 Portugal LIVE: 11 minutes
Could we be about to see an early enforced change from Australia? Potentially not but Nick Frost was down and receiving treatment on his knee for a while there.
Australia 3-0 Portugal LIVE: 11 minutes
Well, that was a bit surprising, a lovely bouncing ball, and the Australian forward could only fall onto the ground behind the line.
A very fluid and promising move from Portugal.
Australia 3-0 Portugal LIVE: 10 minutes
Portugal still looking to make the most of this passage of play which is into the 9th phase, but they are nearing the touchline, with the Wallabies looking stretched.
Australia 3-0 Portugal LIVE: 9 minutes
Portugal now have a penalty after Australia were penalised for not releasing, not close enough to go for the points, but they have the line out inside their opponent’s territory.
Australia 3-0 Portugal LIVE: 7 minutes
A little bit clumsy from Portugal but they have started to find their footing in this game, and they have pace in the back three.
Australia 3-0 Portugal LIVE: 5 minutes
Eddie Jones cutting an unmoved figure, having been subject to criticism from everywhere from the Australian fans.
It has been a blistering start for Australia, having 93 percent of the ball so far.
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