Australia nonetheless alive in Rugby World Cup regardless of ugly win, rating, end result, Eddie Jones

SAINT ETIENNE – The Wallabies’ keep of execution has been prolonged one other week after getting previous Portugal 34-14 of their remaining World Cup pool match. It shapes as being one in all their longest.

Regardless of shifting one level away from Fiji into second spot on Pool C, their Pacific neighbours will leapfrog them in the event that they handle to safe a mere shedding level in opposition to Portugal of their remaining group match. The Wallabies, in the meantime, will probably be pressured to coach for the following week and pray for a miracle.

Ought to Fiji stumble in opposition to the world No.16 aspect the Wallabies would meet England in a quarter-final, but it surely appears a foregone conclusion that it will likely be Australia’s Tremendous Rugby rivals that can head to Marseille in every week’s time.

The week of ready will do little to quell the storm brewing again Down Below, with Rugby Australia’s administration dealing with an enormous month to not simply shore up their futures but in addition the sport’s trajectory.

Izaia Perese was one in all his aspect’s finest in opposition to Portugal in Saint-Etienne. (Picture by Chris Hyde/Getty Pictures)

With Eddie Jones’ aspect all however out of the World, not often has the build-up to a Wallabies fixture felt as flat because it did.

Their 20-point win nonetheless was something however that, because the Wallabies walked right into a cauldron the place the Portuguese smelled blood and had been wooed on by a partisan crowd that booed Jones each time he was proven on the tv and known as on Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli to affix them on a raucous Sunday afternoon.

But, the frenetic and ill-disciplined nature of their win over Portugal – simply their second win from 9 Assessments in 2023 – summed up the Wallabies’ wild marketing campaign the place the wheels all however got here off.

The Wallabies led 24-7 over Portugal at half-time, however two of Australia’s five-pointers got here when the lads in pink had been diminished to 14 males for a excessive shot on Izaia Perese.

Then, having gone out to a 29-7 lead, the Wallabies fell to items after captain Dave Porecki – the sixth chief of their 2023 marketing campaign – was changed.

Matt Faessler was proven a yellow card after collapsing the scrum, earlier than Samu Kerevi – a late call-up for the injured Carter Gordon – was yellow carded for main together with his elbow within the carry in a repeat to that sorry afternoon in Tokyo 4 years in the past Wales.

Samu Kerevi was proven a yellow card for main with the elbow in opposition to Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 01, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Picture by Chris Hyde/Getty Pictures)

Whereas the Wallabies’ defence held on for one of the best a part of 10 minutes, finally Portugal struck in tight to scale back the deficit to 29-14 as Rafael Simoes scored in tight after 70 minutes.

Marika Koroibete’s attempt 4 minutes later flattered the Wallabies, as they prolonged their result in 34-14.

However the pressure on the Wallabies and the lengths Jones’ aspect needed to go to shut this match out advised a narrative of how a lot the lads in gold had fallen not simply over the previous 12 months however 12 years.