Australia still just alive after bonus-point win over Portugal

SAINT ETIENNE, France: Australia did just enough to keep their miniscule World Cup hopes alive with an unconvincing but hardfought 34-14 bonus-point win over a lively Portugal team in their final Pool C match on Sunday (Oct 1).

Losses to Fiji and Wales had left Australia's campaign on life support and the Wallabies now need Portugal to beat Fiji next week without allowing the Pacific islanders a bonus point.

Richie Arnold, David Porecki and Angus Bell crossed for Australia in the first half and a fourth forward, Fraser McReight, secured the all-important bonus point early in the second half.

Marika Koroibete finally got the Australian backs on the board in the 74th minute but only after the Wallabies had weathered a storm playing with 13 men for the best part of 10 minutes.

"We're still alive. That was the aim of the day," said coach Eddie Jones, who has led Australia to two wins in nine tests this year.

"For a young team down to 13 men we showed plenty of courage and fought hard. We've done that all season, sometimes the results haven't been in our favour...well, most of the time."

Roared on by their own passionate support and most of the neutrals at Stade Geoffrey Guichard, Portugal dominated large parts of the match and were well worth the two tries they scored through Pedro Bettencourt and Rafael Simoes.

If the Portugal that ran the Wallabies ragged for 10 minutes before Bettencourt went over for his 14th minute try turn up against Fiji in Toulouse next Sunday then Australia's campaign might yet have legs.

"We're really proud but we lost, so not happy to be honest," said Portugal captain Tomas Appleton.

"We still have one more shot next week to show what we want - and that is to win - but I'm disappointed."

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