Portugal ease past Tonga to earn final spot

Portugal secured their place in the World Rugby u20 Trophy Final after easing past Tonga by a score of 40-3 on Wednesday afternoon. The power of the Tongan ball carriers proved no match for the speed of the Portuguese attack, with the latter’s superior defense denying their opponents even a single try.

Tonga performed a spirited Sipi Tau war dance prior to kickoff, and that energy spilled into the opening minutes of the game. Portugal were left frustrated as António Cunha was sent to the bin for a no-arms tackle at the 10 minute mark.

The man-advantage didn’t result in success for Tonga, however, and it was instead Portugal who scored first through star winger Raffaele Storti. Portugal held off a Tongan attack and opted to run from the shadow of their own posts. Storti got the ball on the 10 meter line, broke the tackle of one and stepped past two more for a wonderful individual finish.

Filipe Samate landed Tonga’s first and only points with a penalty goal a few minutes later, but it was instantly erased with interest by another Portugal try. Simao Bento nearly slipped clean through, and Sebastião Silva was on hand to finish from close range.

Two quick scores went up before the break. Martin Belo reached out from a tackle to score as Hateni Tafolo was binned for a dangerous tackle in the build-up. Next it was Storti again breaking through to score his 7th try of the tournament and make it a 26-3 game at the interval.

Jose Roque got in on the act, picking from a scrum early in the second half for the fifth try. Discipline cost Tonga again as Taniela Filimone was served a 10-minute break for a tackle in the air. The sixth and final try went to Francisco Rosa with an easy walk-in where Filimone would have been.

Sunday will see Portugal taking on Japan with a spot in the 2020 World Rugby u20 Championship on the line. Tonga will play in the 3rd place play-off against Uruguay.

 

SCORING

TONGA 3
Pens – F. Samate 1/1 (21′)
Yellow cards – H. Tafolo (33′), T. Filimone (47′), M. Toumohuni (80′)

PORTUGAL 40
Tries – R. Storti 2 (17′, 37′), S. Silva (24′), M. Belo (33′), J. Roque (45′), F. Rosa (53′)
Cons – J. Portela 5/6 (18′, 34′, 38′, 46′, 54′)
Yellow cards – A. Cunha (10′)

 

TEAMS

TONGA u20
1 Apitoni Toia, 2 Falamani Mafi, 3 Tevita Sole, 4 Solomone Fono, 5 Aisea Maksini, 6 Tupou Afungia, 7 Roy Lolesio, 8 Lopini Kioa, 9 Siaosi Nai, 10 Filipe Samate, 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 Malakai Uasi (capt.), 13 Rodney Tongotea, 14 Lisiate Folau, 15 Hateni Tafolo

Replacements: 16 Lisivani Tuifua, 17 Mafi Fifita, 18 Mesake Toumohuni, 19 Otunuku Pauta, 20 Lote Fakatou, 21 Alan Tukuafu, 22 Tu’atao Savou, 23 Hesitoni Fa, 24 Mordecai Pulu, 25 Pita Halaifonua

PORTUGAL u20
1 David Costa, 2 Rodrigo Bento, 3 António Cunha, 4 Sebastião Silva, 5 Martim Belo, 6 Manuel Maia, 7 Manuel Pinto, 8 José Roque (capt.), 9 Joaquim Félix, 10 Jerónimo Portela, 11 Francisco Rosa, 12 José Do Carmo, 13 Rodrigo Marta, 14 Raffaele Storti, 15 Simão Bento

Replacements: 16 Márcio Pinheiro, 17 Duarte Conde, 18 Frederico Simões, 19 André Gouveia, 20 José Madeira, 21 Helano Alberto, 22 Pedro Lucas, 23 Tomás Lamboglia, 24 João Vieira, 25 José Santos, 26 Francisco Salgado

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
Assistants: Gonzalo Ventoso (URU) & Cauã Ricardo (CBRu)