Fiji's centre Waisea Nayacalevu (second right) holds onto the ball in a maul during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Fiji and Portugal in Toulouse. Photo: AFP
Fiji just made it into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals losing to Portugal 24-23 in their final and deciding pool match in Toulouse on Monday morning.
Held 3-all after the first 40 minutes, the Flying Fijians seemed to have held off Portugal late in the second spell but Rodrigo Marta scored and Samuel Marques kicked the conversion for the side's first ever win over Fiji.
Despite the loss, Fiji goes through with a better points average - sending Australia out of the RWC quarter-finals for the first time since the world tournament started in 1987.
Fijian head coach Simon Raiwalui said he was disappointed they did not get the win, congratulated Portugal and said his team will now have to focus on England, who they will play in the quarter-finals next Monday morning in Marseille.
"Congratulations to Portugal, they played really well. Stuck in there once we took the lead," he said at the post-match media conference.
"Thought we had it but they scored the try. Fully deserved victory to them.
"Disappointed not to get the win, we dropped too much ball. We were a bit tight in the context of the game.
"Created lots of opportunities but we just didn't throw the ball out to our outside backs. We're going to have to rest and recover. England are a very good tournament team and we're expecting a tough game. We'll regroup, review and then get on to England."
Captain Waisea Nayacavelu, who left the field late in the second half, said they did not play well and said they will need to cut out their mistakes.
"Congratulations to Portugal, hats off to them, they really played well today. We didn't execute a lot of our plays, dropped a lot of balls and they took advantage of our mistakes. I salute them and congratulate them on the win," he said.
"For us, we've got to go back and look at our mistakes and our work-ons. But we've qualified now and we have to switch our focus now on to next week.
"We've got to do our fine-tuning for next week, regroup and refocus again and take it up to the next level."
Games statistics
Portugal dominated territory in the last 10 minutes of the game, where they were able to score the winning converted try.
They had 67 percent of territory in that last period of the game.
While the Fijians covered 743 metres on attack against Portugal's 566, it was the knock-ons and ruck-area penalties that gave them away.
Portugal were forced to tackle more, making 168 tackles to Fiji's 84.
Fiji won 66 percent of their scrums and 88 percent of lineouts while Portugal had a success rate of 50 percent in the scrums and 75 percent in the lineout.
The difference was in how the teams utilised possessions.
Fiji's full back Sireli Maqala (right) passes the ball ahead of Portugal's fly-half Jeronimo Portela (left). Photo: AFP
Portugal outscored Fiji by three tries to two, with three converted tries, one each to Raffaele Storti (45'), Francisco Fernandes (51') and Rodrigo Marta (78'). Marques kicked the three conversions and added a penalty for a personal tally of nine points.
Fiji managed tries to Levani Botia (48') and Mesake Doge (68') with Frank Lomani converting both tries and kicking three penalties.
Botia, who toiled hard in the contest for the loose balls, was yellow carded by referee Luke Pearce for a dangerous tackle and reduced his team to 14 men.
Portugal did not step away from the physical battles upfront and frustrated the Fijians on defence as well.
Portugal celebrates
Portugal's Nicolas Martins, the Player of the Match, said the win was a good way to end their Rugby World Cup campaign.
"It's incredible, I have no words. It's historic, I'm so happy. I think it's the best moment of my life," he said.
"We are a team of friends from Portugal but we live together, it's something incredible.
"It's incredible, all the public are for us and Fiji are playing well but all these - I don't have the words," he said of the fans.
Portugal's flanker David Wallis (second right) and Portugal's hooker Mike Tadjer (right) celebrate with teammates after victory over Fiji. Photo: AFP
Captain Jose Lima said they worked hard and kept going even when they were tired, adding the team deserved the win.
"Of course you can see our fans, our team deserved that victory so much. I think today we showed the world we can compete and win at this level," he said.
"I think it comes from the heart when you are tired, you have to think of all the stuff before. Get with your partners and say let's go. Let's do it.
"That's what we said at half-time and look at this, it is unbelievable. Just a little word for the guys [who weren't in the match-day 23 as they helped us too."
Head coach Patrice Lagisquet, who has stepped down after the tournament, said he was happy for the team.
"It's incredible. It's unbelievable, they always find resources I never expect. The way they could score, it's amazing," he said.
"Even if we work a lot to be able to do things like that, they still surprise me after four years. it is an incredible group, an incredible team and they are players who are really talented.
"It couldn't be better [to leave with a win]. I am so lucky to train a squad like this one. I am so lucky to finish with this victory, it's a great moment."
Quarterfinals confirmed
Fiji will meet England in Marseille next Monday morning in the third quarter-final.
Other quarter-finals will see Wales battle Argentina in Marseille on Sunday morning, before Ireland and New Zealand clash in Saint Denis the same morning.
The fourth semi-final will be between France and South Africa in Saint Denis on Monday morning.