Patrice Laguesquet has made his choices to challenge the Wallabies. Thierry Breton / Panoramic
Frenchman Patrice Lajesquet revealed his team that will face Australia on Sunday in Saint-Etienne.
Portugal national team coach, Frenchman Patrice Lagesquet, made four changes, all at the level of his group, in his fifteenth starting lineup to face Australia on Sunday in Saint-Etienne (5:45 p.m.) during the 2023 World Cup finals, according to the formation of the squad. The team revealed on Friday. After the draw against Georgia (18-18) on Saturday in Toulouse, Lajesque decided to renew half of his eight attacking players for the Portuguese’s third match in the third group of the competition.
Cornerstone David Costa will start for the first time this World Cup in place of Francisco Fernandez, as a substitute on the left. Martim Bello is linked with José Madeira in the second row instead of Stevie Cerqueira, and David Wallis and Thibault de Freitas in the third row in place of Rafael Simões and Joao Granit who did not appear on the match sheet.
Fiji to finish
After being narrowly defeated (28-8) by Wales in the first match, the Lobos tied with Georgia and could have won at the end of the match, if Nuno Souza Guedes kicked, after a penalty kick was awarded shortly before. The siren did not pass slightly to the left of the columns. After Australia, which was on the verge of elimination before its last match in the group stage, Portugal will face Fiji on Sunday, October 8, in Toulouse.
Portugal’s lineup to face Australia : Souza Guedes – Storti, Bettencourt, Appleton (cap), Marta – (S) Portela, (D) Marques – Martins, De Freitas, Wallis – Bello, Madeira – Hasi Ferreira, Tadjer, Costa.
Alternatives: Fernandes, Diniz, Bruno, Cerqueira, Simoes, Bello, Moura, Pinto.
