In an ‘aftermath’ session of the meeting with Georgia (18-18), played on Saturday, Patrice Lagisquet admitted that he ‘would like to say’ that the surprise that Portugal failed to achieve against the Welsh can be achieved against the ‘wallabies’. ‘, but warned that it will be more difficult to “identify weaknesses” in the next opponent.
“Even if they keep dreaming of victory, and I want the players to keep dreaming about that, I know that a team like Australia playing very realistic, organized rugby doesn’t leave room. They did that against Georgia.” It will be difficult for us to play the same match as against Wales,” the French coach analyzed.
Despite acknowledging that Australia “doesn’t look as strong as in the past” as it bets “on a new generation” of players, he recalled that Sunday’s opponent “remains a very strong rugby nation, a very physical one and with great players”.
“I know Australia and their physicality. They also have very fast players, their defense is very strong and it will be very difficult for us to gain meters. If we want to be competitive against them, we have to be much stronger than before. Georgia,” emphasized the “Express de Bayonne.”
Against Georgia, Portugal drew 18-18 after a try in the 78th minute and missing a penalty on the ball, a result that left a bitter taste in the mouth of the ‘wolves’, despite the realization that the first half performance ‘was not could’. have been worse”.
Yet the coach also highlighted the positive aspects of the match, recalling that “when you have such young players, it is difficult for them to be so intense and control their attitude” in matches of this level.
“At the end I told the players to be proud of what they did, even if the first half wasn’t good. It’s never easy to play two games of this level in a week and their ability to respond in the second half was very good, as well as the ability to defend in the first half of the game,” he praised.
Going forward, the coach wants the team to correct the “many mistakes” it made in the first half, in addition to improving “organization and rhythm”.
“We cannot score if we reach the opponent’s last 22 meters. In that critical area we have to be more efficient if we really want to compete and win games at the level of the last two, against Wales and Georgia,” Lagisquet noted on.
The Portuguese rugby team will take on Australia in the fourth round of Group C of the 2023 World Cup in France on Sunday at 4:45 PM (Lisbon time) in Saint-Étienne.
Portugal played away in the first round of the group stage before losing 28-8 to Wales on September 16 and drawing 18-18 against Georgia on Saturday.
After the confrontation with Australia, the ‘wolves’ still have a meeting scheduled with Fiji on October 8.
The France2023 Rugby World Cup started on September 8 and runs until October 28.
Source: DN
