Portugal and Canada put on a classic in Coimbra

Portugal and Canada put on a classic in Combra, Portugal on Saturday. A high-scoring a tight contest saw the teams competing to a 33-27 scoreline on full-time. The match rounds out the November Internationals for both Portugal and Canada. Both teams can now look forward to the draw of Rugby World Cup 2027, doing so nervously as they will be in the bottom band.

MATCH REPORT

Manuel Vareiro was the hero for Portugal. The 20-year-old fly half kicked 18 points for Os Lobos in the form of four penalties and three conversions. His goal-kicking was critical in a contest that was all level at 16-16 at half-time and went down to the wire.

Vareiro opened the scoring on 8 minutes with a penalty. His opposite, Robbie Povey, levels the scoring two minutes later with a penalty of his own. Povey then put Canada 6-0 ahead with a second penalty, this time in the 16th minute.

Portugal leveled the scoring again as the early back-and-forth continued and Os Lobos went 9-6 up on 24 minutes from a scrum penalty. Canada then broke the deadlock to score the opening try of the contest. From an attacking lineout, the ball went right with Mason Flesch storming over for the Canadians.

The boot of Poovy added the extras and he slotted a penalty on 39 minutes to give Canada a 16-9 advantage. Notwithstanding, Canada’s lead would not last. Portugal struck-back with time up on the clock in the first-half. A lineout to maul move saw Portugal edging forward only to be stopped. Frenchman Nicolás Martins then scored from a pick-and-go for Portugal.

The second-half started well for the Portuguese. An attacking lineout saw raised through the mid-field. Canada recovered only to spill the ball to gift Tomás Amado and assist try with Guilherme Vasconcelos over in the left corner. Vareiro added the sideline conversion off an unfavorable angle.

Canada hit-back on 51 minutes through debutant Morgan Di Nardo. His try in the right corner came following deep raids from the forwards and sharp passing from the backline. The conversion attempt was wide which meant Portugal held a 23-21 lead after 52 minutes.

Portugal extended their lead minutes later with a penalty. Povey responded with a penalty of his own to see the match poised at 26-24 in Portugal’s favor with three quarters of the match having been played.

The home team recovered and went about putting together waves of phases inside the Canadian 22. It culminated with center Rodrigo Marta powering his way over for the final try of the match. Vareiro converted for the Portuguese.

Replacement Canadian back, Peter Nelson landed a penalty with two minutes remaining. It was the final scoring act of the match. With the clock running down, Canada looked to run the ball out of their own 22. A fumble saw Portugal recovering and Morné Ferreira blew his whistle for full-time.

MATCH NOTES

Portugal played in red and Canada in white.
Morgan Di Nardo and James Naylor debuted for Canada.
Manuel Vareiro scored 18 points for Portugal.

SCORING

PORTUGAL
TRY – Nicolás Martins, Guilherme Vasconcelos, Rodrigo Marta
CON – Manuel Vareiro (3)
PEN – Manuel Vareiro (4)

CANADA
TRY – Mason Flesch, Morgan Di Nardo
CON – Robbie Povey
PEN – Robbie Povey (4); Peter Nelson

TEAMS

PORTUGAL
1 Luis Lopes, 2 Luka Begic, 3 Cody Thomas, 4 Duarte Nunes, 5 Duarte Torgal, 6 Francisco Almeida, 7 Nicolas Martins, 8 David Wallis (capt.), 9 Tomás Amado, 10 Manuel Vareiro, 11 Simão Bento, 12 Guilherme Vasconcelos, 13 Rodrigo Marta, 14 Raffaele Storti, 15 Vincent Pinto

Replacements: 16 Abel Da Cunha, 17 Nuno Mascarenhas, 18 António Prim, 19 Martim Belo, 20 Vasco Baptista, 21 Hugo Camacho, 22 Hugo Aubry, 23 Martim Faro

CANADA
1 Sam Miller, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Matt Tierney, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Izzak Kelly, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Brock Gallagher, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Kyle Tremblay, 13 Spencer Jones, 14 Morgan Di Nardo, 15 Cooper Coats

Replacements: 16 Austin Creighton, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Cole Keith, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Sion Parry, 21 James Naylor, 22 Noah Flesch, 23 Peter Nelson

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS