![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\nDan Lydiate and Wales are hoping to build on their win against Fiji <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do Portugal beat Wales?\u201d Patrice Lagisquet repeated the question, considering it deeply, pushing his spectacles further up on to the bridge of his nose. As a player, Lagisquet was known as the \u201cBayonne Express\u201d on account of his near world-class sprinting speed; here, in the less than salubrious surroundings of a suburban sports hall just outside of Nice, he was taking his time.<\/p>\n
A legend of Basque rugby, Lagisquet has, for the past four years, been head coach of Portugal, making their Rugby World Cup return after 16 years away from the tournament. But for Spain being booted out of the qualification process after fielding a player later ruled ineligible, they wouldn\u2019t be here at all \u2013 prop Gavin van der Berg\u2019s forged passport earned Portugal a spot in the final repechage tournament, and a tense 16-16 draw with the United States in Dubai last November sealed their tournament comeback.<\/p>\n
Plenty of this current squad\u2019s formative rugby memories come from 2007, when Os Lobos were beaten in every game but proved popular for their spirit and commitment. The group from 16 years ago have been in touch with the current iteration ahead of this tournament, while Luis Pissarra, the vice-captain then, is now one of Lagisquet\u2019s assistants.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/14\/12\/GettyImages-1672264111.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/13\/17\/7e0b1a9659e1ec1fbb94093903ceeea5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0NzA1MzUw-2.73685761.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/13\/16\/c1667546a52601de6a09132f6120b610Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0NzAyODAy-2.69849509.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very special for us,\u201d said captain Tomas Appleton, a rock-solid centre who spent a season with Darlington Mowden Park in the English third tier earlier in his career. \u201cThe 2007 squad really inspired some of these players to play at their very best.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to inspire young kids to play and grow rugby in Portugal. As players, it\u2019s special to be amongst the best in the world and we want to show our qualities and our best rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n
An iffy weather forecast may scupper too many audacious plans for attacking adventure but Portugal have a group of outside backs capable of posing a major threat out wide. They will have taken heart from the manner in which Uruguay tested France \u2013 the gap between the haves and have nots is closing.<\/p>\n
A good number of Lagisquet\u2019s squad are French-based, including scrum half Samuel Marques, a proper petit general type who has been a regular in Pro D2, and veteran Mike Tadjer, an uncompromising hooker who helped Perpignan retain their place in the Top 14 last season. So back to the question \u2013 how, Patrice, do Portugal beat Wales?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have a crystal ball,\u201d Lagisquet replied, pondering over it. \u201cI have tried to think about that for many months. If I found a key, I wouldn\u2019t say it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to try to play our best and show that we have improved in the key areas of the game. We can\u2019t repeat the strategy of Fiji. We don\u2019t have the power. We will try to play with our identity.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/mobile-stores\/Amazon_Prime.svg\")
<\/p>\n
Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video<\/p>\n
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video<\/p>\n
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/15\/11\/newFile-6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Portugal celebrate scoring a try against Italy during the 2007 Rugby World Cup <\/p>\n
\u201cNobody\u2019s expecting Portugal to qualify for the quarter-final, but all of the players want to show they deserve to be at this World Cup and that they can play good rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is worth setting the expectations here. This is just a second-ever meeting between these two sides, and the last, in 1994, ended with Wales crossing the 100-point mark for the only time in their history. While a repeat is highly, highly unlikely, for all the struggles of Warren Gatland\u2019s over the past year or so, the narrow Fiji win has instilled the youth in their group with a bit of confidence \u2013 the road to the last eight certainly looks much smoother with the Pacific Islanders out of the way and five tournament points on the board.<\/p>\n
Gatland and his staff have insisted they are fully focussed on the task at hand, but there is, of course, one eye on what is to come. Bar Henry Thomas, who was in line to start but for a niggly hamstring, every member of Gatland\u2019s squad will have had an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting spot before their next, potentially crucial pool encounter against Australia.<\/p>\n
While the relative strength of the opposition will be weighed by Gatland, a particularly standout showing from an individual or two may yet earn them a place in the starting XV for bigger tests to come. In a side that skews young, there will be a particular focus on the performance of Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza, roommates who are both yet to turn 21 and colleagues for both Exeter University and Exeter Chiefs over the last few years.<\/p>\n
At the other end of the experience scale is Dan Lydiate, by his own admission an improbable inclusion in this 33 at the age of 34 but perhaps just the lumberjack type to chop down Australia\u2019s great oaks in Lyon next weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to respect every team you play at a Rugby World Cup,\u201d Lydiate said ahead of Wales\u2019 second fixture. \u201cPortugal didn\u2019t play last week so they will be champing at the bit to get stuck into us.<\/p>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/11\/11\/newFile-4.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/11\/12\/newFile-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“It goes so quick. I remember in 2011 going to my first World Cup and here we are 12 years later and it\u2019s gone in the blink of an eye. The enthusiasm the [young lads] bring and their work ethic is brilliant. <\/p>\n
“There will be a lot of nerves for these boys but excitement as well. They have got massive futures ahead of them. The advice I\u2019d give them is try to enjoy it as sometimes you get so focussed on doing your job, you don\u2019t always get the chance to appreciate where you are.”<\/p>\n