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The 42
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: Portugal v Ireland, Summer Series
If you fancy some pre-match reading, our match preview is available here. The visitors will be strong favorites against a side currently ranked 18th in the world, but Portugal – now led by former Munster backs coach Simon Mannix – will look to play with pace in order to stretch Ireland in the Lisbon sun. It's no secret Portugal did just that to Ireland in a pre-2023 World Cup training game, before they went on to record an historic win against Fiji in the tournament's pool stages. Not all of their playing squad are fully professional, with most playing in the country's domestic league and a few outliers based in French rugby. Portugal have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup but have struggled when asked to punch above their weight. They scored three converted tries in a 64-21 loss in South Africa last summer, followed by November defeats to the USA and Scotland. High-scoring wins against Belgium, Germany and Romania saw them top their Rugby Europe pool, before a semi-final loss to Spain and bronze final defeat to Romania.
Irish Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
With the Lions away in Australia, Ireland debutants have real chance to shine against Portugal
Portugal v Ireland Estádio Nacional do Jamor stadium (7pm Irish time, live on Virgin Media) Players stopped to read the plaque dedicated to Celtic's Lisbon Lions who beat Inter Milan 2-1 to win football's 1967 European Cup, before emerging from the dressingroom area into the drizzle, taking time to absorb the panorama, the landmark concrete amphitheatre with just a single, small covered stand. Coincidentally, Celtic are in the Portuguese capital before making the journey south to play Sporting CP in the Algarve next week. A few of their supporters took time out to make the pilgrimage, no doubt slightly bemused to see the rugby posts at either end of what is a pristine playing surface. The presence of the Ireland rugby team drew a few questions. [ Paul O'Connell shakes up Ireland starting XV for Portugal as Jamie Osborne leaves for the Lions ] There won't be quite the same atmosphere on Saturday as there was 58 years ago, only 8,000 tickets having been sold in the 37,000-capacity stadium. READ MORE Portugal, who won hearts and minds at the 2023 World Cup in France with the quality of their attacking rugby under former French wing and then head coach Patrice Lagisquet, haven't been quite the same force since then. New Zealander Simon Mannix, once an assistant at Munster , took over head coach position in April 2024. Portugal have played two tier-one nations since then, losing 64-21 to South Africa almost a year ago and to Scotland 59-21 last November. In both matches they demonstrated flashes of that creative spark, particularly in the back three. Ireland captain Craig Casey recalled how Portugal had caused their fair share of problems in a World Cup warm-up game behind closed doors and that 'they ripped us up at times'. Most of the Portuguese players ply their trade in the French Pro D2 or Federale 1. The Irish scrumhalf then proceeded to charm the local media by producing his homework. 'Their 15, [Nuno] Sousa Guedes, is absolutely class. His feet are absolutely electric.' Wing Simão Bento was 'a very good player as well', he said, also praising Vincent Pinto. 'I played against him [when he played] for France U20s. We know them quite well.' Casey said: 'Their seven, Nicolas Martins, is a huge threat at the breakdown, an awesome player. He is their talisman, and they will look to their 12 as well, their captain [Tomás Appleton]. We know how special this game is for them, but it is also special for us too.' Alex Kendellen is put through his paces during training at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon, on Friday. Photograph: Ben Brady/INPHO The Irish players wished Jamie Osborne 'viagens seguras' – safe travels – as he set off to hook up with the Lions in Australia. The principal beneficiary is Hugh Gavin, one of three players making their debut, alongside wing Shayne Bolton and flanker Alex Kendellen. The inside centre role might be a better fit for 21-year-old Gavin in the medium term, but the majority of senior matches he has played for Connacht have been in the 13 jersey. He's got a very calming presence in Stuart McCloskey alongside him in the midfield. Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell had a word for all three of the 'newbies'. He said Gavin was 'a big guy, fast, able to beat people, has that little bit of X-factor that we'd love to have more of in the team'. 'It's only when you really see someone in training, see someone in a match that you're going through with a real fine-tooth comb, you see the qualities they have. 'I think his [Kendellen's] ability as an athlete is pretty special. His acceleration, his speed is very high and that's a real point of difference.' Talking about Bolton, he said: 'He's excellent with ball in hand and has the ability to beat people one-on-one and we haven't had a massive amount of that in the past. It's great to give him a chance and get him on the road to development. He's had some great GPS scores in training in terms of his speed.' Ireland players train at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor on Friday. Photograph: Ben Brady/INPHO Nine new caps over the two Tests is arguably the figure that commands the most attention, but there is so much more, as O'Connell has already pointed out, in the development of individuals with fewer than 10 caps, an opportunity given to play Test rugby and to further develop unit skills like that of the young frontrow, for example. While Andy Farrell has more pressing concerns in Australia, he is watching and has been in touch. The Ireland players on the Lions tour will be keeping a weather eye on Portugal. The premise for the tour to Georgia and Portugal was to ascertain the depth in the Ireland playing roster a little over two years out from a World Cup and to see what players deserve further consideration for the four-game November series. Players talking about leaving a jersey in a better place. That's their challenge. Shine within the system. No complacency. Portugal : N Sousa Guedes; S Bento; V Pinto, T Appleton, M C Pinto; H Aubry, H Camacho; D Costa, L Begic, D H Ferreira; A R Andrade, P Ferreira; D Wallis, N Martins, D Pinheiro. Replacements : A Cunha, P S Lopes, M Souto, G Costa, F Almeida, V Baptista, A Campos, G Aviragnet. Ireland : J O'Brien (Leinster); T O'Brien (Leinster), H Gavin (Connacht), S McCloskey (Bangor), S Bolton (Connacht); J Crowley (Munster), C Casey (Munster, capt); J Boyle (Leinster), G McCarthy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster); T Ahern (Munster), D Murray (Connacht); R Baird (Leinster), A Kendellen (Munster), C Prendergast (Connacht). Replacements : T Stewart (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), T O'Toole (Ulster), C Izuchukwu (Ulster), M Deegan (Leinster), B Murphy (Connacht), C Frawley (Leinster), C Nash (Munster). Referee : A Leal (England)
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Portugal Test 'to be taken very seriously'
Ireland interim forwards coach Cullie Tucker says their Test against Portugal on Saturday is one that will provide a "significant" challenge. With usual head coach Andy Farrell and 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty in Australia, Paul O'Connell leads the inexperienced side into the game in Lisbon after a comfortable 34-5 win against Georgia last while pleased with their performance in the victory in Tbilisi, Tucker believes Portugal - under former Racing 92 and Munster assistant Simon Mannix - will provide another stern test."They're a very good rugby team and it is a game that needs to be taken very seriously," he said. "We're here to win two games and they're going to provide a different challenge to Georgia and a significant one with the heat on top of that. "They're coached by Simon Mannix, who is a serious operator, so it is going to be a very tough game, and we are going to prepare for it to be tough."Tucker took interim charge of Connacht last season after the departure of Pete Wilkins but will return to his role as scrum and contact coach at the province after Ireland's summer tour to work under new boss Stuart said the experience away as a coach with Ireland under O'Connell has been hugely beneficial."It's been a brilliant experience, it is always good to get in with new coaches, but the calibre of coaching has been outstanding," he added."It is great to work with them and everyone is across each other, so it is great to have that environment. We're being really accurate with the messages we have been delivering, and Paul has been driving that."
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Cullie Tucker: New caps did themselves justice in Georgia
Cullie Tucker believes Ireland's summer tour of Georgia and Portugal will only strengthen the competition for places in the Ireland team next season. The Ireland squad are deep into their preparation for Saturday's Test with Portugal in Lisbon, as they look to build on their 34-5 win against Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend, where six players made their debuts. With 16 regular internationals away on duty with the British and Irish Lions, as well as the majority of the senior coaching staff, Ireland's first ever game in the Georgia capital had the potential to be a real banana-skin, particularly as the rain poured down at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. While their win was far from perfect, it never looked in any major doubt as they raced into a 14-0 inside seven minutes following a brace of tries from debutant Tommy O'Brien. A Georgia try on the stroke of half time put only a minor level of jeopardy on the result, but Craig Casey's try just after the break saw Ireland keep them comfortably at arm's length. "The big downpour of rain made it even tougher, but a very proud moment for them," said Tucker, who is covering as scrum coach while John Fogarty is away with the Lions. Tucker (below), who has been scrum coach at Connacht in recent seasons, was impressed with the attitude of Ireland's inexperienced players. "I think in fairness, how they prepared, they weren't just accepting of getting the jersey, they wanted to go out and perform with it. "It was evident in how they undertook the task at the weekend. Very proud to see new caps out there, and I thought they did themselves justice." The squad have now moved from Tbilisi to Lisbon, where they will take on Portugal this Saturday at Estadio Nacional, the site of Celtic's 1967 European Cup triumph over Inter Milan. Connacht captain Cian Prendergast is available for selection again after he missed last Saturday's game with illness. Interim head coach Paul O'Connell is to name his starting team on Thursday morning, with one change guaranteed in the backline after Jacob Stockdale (below) suffered a tour-ending shoulder injury, which opens a space on the left wing for Calvin Nash, or potentially a debut for Connacht's Shayne Bolton. Portugal, coached by former Munster assistant Simon Mannix, will be familiar with Ireland having previously trained against them in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, a tournament 'Os Lobos' defied expectations in, defeating Fiji and claiming a draw with Georgia. "They're a very good rugby team," Tucker added of Portugal, who are now 18th in the world rankings. "It's a game that needs to be taken very, very seriously. We're here to win two games, they're going to provide a different type of challenge to Georgia, but a significant one. And you have the heat on top of that. "They're coached by Simon Mannix, who is a very good operator. It's going to be a very, very tough game and we're preparing like it's going to be that way. "The boys are very focused, obviously carrying good positivity from the result and performance at the weekend. We reviewed it very well, very hard. There's plenty for us to be better at. "A change of climate now, the heat has increased significantly, but the boys' attitude has been brilliant. It's been a good couple of days so far." With O'Connell the only member of the regular Ireland coaching staff involved this summer due to the Lions, Tucker has been recruited to work with the Irish setpiece, with Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy drafted in from Munster to work on attack and defence. It caps off an eventful season for the Shannon man, who spent a portion of the campaign as interim head coach of Connacht, following the departure of Pete Wilkins. "t's always good to get in with new coaches, but the calibre of their coaching is outstanding as well. It's great to work with them, nothing is off the table, everybody is across each other, giving opinions. "It's fantastic to have that kind of open environment as coaches, and we're being really accurate with how we're delivering our messages.
