Portugal RFU hosted the event and the help of the local Rugby community they performed as well as any of the teams on display. There was a notable presence from the local Rugby Clube de Loule (link) who were brilliant. Much credit much go to all the administrators and volunteers.
On the pitch there was high expectations from the home team Portugal who have an outstanding reputation in this form of the game considering the small numbers that play the game here. Scotland and France were the obvious favourites, both with large resources and professional squads. The other Iberian nation Spain could not be discounted. They are one position above Portugal in the World listings. There was also a strong contingent from East European countries who are improving extremely quickly.
So 12 teams were split into three groups of four. Each team playing the other in their group. At the end of Day 1 all these matches had been completed. Portugal had Ukraine, Italy and Lithuania in their group and started extremely confidently with a fine 57-5 win over Lithuania. Italy was always going to be the difficult match and this proved to be the case with Portugal snatching a 12-12 draw after indiscipline from the Italians saw them lose two players to the sin bin in the last period of the second half. Both France and Scotland were cruising and both won their first two games comfortably. However , the outcome for the rest of the competition would be descended by the last two group games where both teams lost games they should have won. The Scots were well beaten by Spain 25-5 and in the shock of the day France were beaten by Georgia 33-17.
These results meant that Spain finished top together with Georgia with Portugal coming up third. The quarter finals would be between the top eight teams with Spain playing Germany, Georgia playing Ukraine, Portugal matched against Italy and France v Scotland
Next up was Portugal and Italy clashing again after their game in the group stages. This time the Portuguese came out with all guns blazing and never let the Italians get back into the game after getting in front and playing their best rugby of the tornament so far. The final score was 28-7.
The last quarter finalwas a clash of the two favourites France and Scotland. I am sure Scotland fancied their chances against what seemed a demoralised team at the end of the first day. But in usual Gallic style the French team were magnificent and the Scots were left trailing badly . France 26 Scotland 14.
The semi-final line up were Georgia v Portugal and Spain v France.
Portugal again played some fine sevens rugby to defeat a strong Georgia line up 19 - 12. The semi final should have been another tense and tight affair with France being favourites to conquer the Spanish. Of course as in the rest of the tournament it depended upon which French team was going to turn up? The Spanish started like the Mistral wind passing through the south of their opponents country, creating mayhem in the French defense with their constant aggressive tackling and pressure. With the ball in hand they were superb and scored 4 tries to nil to win comfortably 24-0.
And so to the final, Portugal v Spain. Could the home team exact revenge for their football compatiots? Would the home crowd be the decisive factor?
Well one factor not taken into account was the referring. In what turn out to be an exciting game but a poor exhibition of rugby mainly due to the referee , Alexandre Ruiz´s (France) interpretation of the rules. In the one game I saw where the game was not allowed to flow. The offside rule was not applied with the Spanish constantly getting away with pushing this rule to the limit. The rucks were a total mess and the scrums not much better.
A second half try by Duarte Moreira superbly converted by my player of the tournament, Pedro Leal. was enough to secure the win for Portugal. Credit must go to Spain who were also brilliant throughout the two days.
A great two days of wonderful rugby!!
Five teams qualified from the tournament for the World cup next year. In addition to the two finalists, the losing semi finalists, France and Georgia were joined by the Plate winners Scotland.
My players of the tournament :
Pedro Leal- Portugal
Martin Heredia- Spain
Terry Bouhraoua
The rest of the Portugal squad!!
