Beating hosts Uruguay in the opening round of the World Rugby U20 Trophy was huge for European U19 champions Portugal, and confirmation that the hard work put in over the summer by Luis Pissarra’s side had paid off.

Battling against rain of biblical proportions and the home support of Los Teritos at the Estadio Charrua, the Junior Os Lobos edged their opponents 20-18 to take second-place behind Fiji – bonus-point winners over Hong Kong - in the embryonic Pool B table. 

Now the task is for them to back it up in their second match against Hong Kong.

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“We were really focused on winning the opening game. Playing Uruguay at home was always going to be tough and so it proved. We played to their mistakes in the opening half and the second they were better but we defended very well. I expect more of that against Hong Kong,” said Pissarra, a veterinarian by trade.

It is hoped that conditions for Saturday’s matches will be much improved with sunshine and wind making a welcome appearance in midweek to help dry out the excellent, but rain-soaked surface at the national stadium.

TOP FOUR GOAL

Asian qualifiers Hong Kong competed well for 70 minutes against a strong Fijian outfit before conceding two late tries to lose 26-7. Former Rugby World Cup scrum-half Pissarra was impressed by what he saw from Saturday’s opponents.

“We analysed their game and you could see that, even with the conditions, they want to play an open and expansive game,” said the veteran of 75 tests.

“Their stats were very positive and they are very committed in defence. But we really want to win and get closer to our initial goal, which is to finish in the top four teams.

With Pissarra and assistant Antonio Aguilar, who won 84 caps over a 15-year international career, the future generation of Os Lobos is in good hands.

Five of Pissarra’s side have already been capped at senior level – centre Vasco Ribeiro and captain Antonio Vidinha have four tests under their belt, while Nuno Mascarenhas, José Luis Cabral, Jorge Abecassis, Manuel Cordero Pinto and Joao Granate also made their test debuts earlier this year.

“Most of these players are from the generation that started playing rugby when we went to Rugby World Cup in 2007. They are a great team, very mature and well led,” Pissarra added.

NAMIBIA ON A ROLL

Following on from Portugal’s game against Hong Kong, Namibia will be seeking their second win of the tournament after getting the better of Canada, 31-16, on Tuesday.

Opponents Chile, however, will have taken a lot out of their narrow 28-22 defeat by Japan, and the South Americans are a strong defensive unit that could well negate the strength of the Namibian mauling game, a tactic the African U19 champions used very effectively in the opening round.

On the back of their first win, Japan will hope for a firm pitch to unleash their many runners, when they take on Canada, while a big crowd is expected for the fourth and final match of the day – Fiji versus Uruguay.

Both teams found the going tough on Tuesday yet the Pacific Islanders still managed a five-point return from their fixture, while the home team could only muster a losing bonus point in their defeat to Portugal.

Fail to beat Fiji on Saturday and Uruguay can forget any chance they have of lifting the trophy on home soil, a feat that has only been achieved once before, by USA in 2012.