Wales v Portugal Prediction, Preview & Odds – Rugby World Cup
We have a Wales v Portugal prediction for you along with all the betting odds ahead of this Pool C clash on this Saturday.
Wales v Portugal Match Info
When? 4.45 pm, Saturday, 16th September
Where? Allianz Riviera, Nice
TV Channel? ITV 1/ Virgin Media One
Wales v Portugal Odds
| Wales v Portugal Betting Odds – 2023 Rugby World Cup | ||
| Team | Odds | Chance |
| Wales | 1/250 | 99.6% |
| Portugal | 28/1 | 3.4% |
| The Draw | 100/1 | 1% |
Wales are currently priced at 1/250, Portugal are 28/1 while the draw is 100/1.
Handicap Betting
The match handicap is Wales -31 at 10/11. Portugal are +31 underdogs while you can back the -31 handicap draw (Wales to win by exactly 31 points) at odds of 18/1.
Wales v Portugal Preview
Wales’ Form
This Wales team are the number 8 ranked team in world rugby. Ironically in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Wales won Pool D, which also included Australia, Fiji and Georgia, with Uruguay being the other side.
Head Coach Warren Gatland is amidst his second spell in charge of the nation with the first being from 2007-2019. The New Zealand native returned to the role again in December 2022 after Wayne Pivac, who had replaced Gatland, was sacked by the Welsh Rugby Union after a poor period of results. Gatland has a contract until after this Rugby World Cup with the potential of another four years based on the team’s performance in this tournament.
Wales had a poor 2023 Six Nations. They won one game against Italy and lost their other four matches. In their more recent outings there have been few signs for optimism.
Gatland’s side started their World Cup warm-up with a 20-9 victory against England but would then lose the return game 19-17 before losing 16-52 to South Africa in their final World Cup warm-up game.
Wales opened their Rugby World Cup campaign with an opening weekend thrilling 32-26 victory against Fiji. This Welsh team were 18 points up with less than eight minutes to play but allowed Fiji to comeback and have a chance to win the game in the last passage of play.
Had it not been for a Fijian fumble in the 81st minute they likely would have lost the game if the proceeding kick had been converted. Portugal should present a far easier challenge at the weekend than what Fiji did.
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Portugal’s Form
World Number 16 ranked Portugal will be making their second appearance in September at the Rugby World Cup. They failed to make it out of the Pool Stage in their previous appearance.
Patrice Lagisquet has been in charge of this team since 2019 and most recently guided them to a 2023 Rugby Europe Championship final. The Portuguese won four out of four matches in that tournament before losing 38-11 to Georgia in the final.
Portugal won their only World Cup warm-up match with a 46-20 victory over the USA. They sat out the opening weekend of the tournament due to the uneven pool split, which I think will be to their detriment with less pressure on Wales following their win over Fiji.
Team News
Wales
Warren Gatland has made 13 changes to the Wales team to face Portugal in their second match of the Rugby World Cup.
Louis Rees-Zammit and Taulupe Faletau are the only players to be retained in the starting line-up.
Wales Starting Lineup
- Nicky Smith
- Dewi Lake (C)
- Dillon Lewis
- Christ Tshiunza
- Dafydd Jenkins
- Dan Lydiate
- Tommy Reffell
- Taulupe Faletau
- Tomos Williams
- Gareth Anscombe
- Rio Dyer
- Johnny Williams
- Mason Grady
- Louis Rees-Zammit
- Leigh Halfpenny
Portugal Starting Lineup
- Francisco Fernandes
- Mike Tadjer
- Anthony Alves
- José Madeira
- Steevy Cerqueira
- Joao Granate
- Nicolas Martins
- Rafael Simoes
- Samuel Marques
- Jerónimo Portela
- Rodrigo Marta
- Tomás Appleton (C)
- José Lima
- Vincent Pinto
- Nuno Sousa Guedes
Key Players To Watch
Leigh Halfpenny
Halfpenny was not even on the bench for the opening fixture but is poised to start this one at full-back. While not the force he once was at 34-years-old, his experience could prove key at the weekend for Wales to get the job done.
The number 15 was once one of the best kickers in the world so there’s a good chance he takes over kicking duties for the Welsh in this game.
Rodrigo Marta
The Portuguese winger may still only be 23-years-young but he made his international debut for his country five years ago. Marta is already his country’s all-time top try-scorer with five tries in his twenty-five caps.
Wales v Portugal Rugby History
This will be the first-ever meeting between Wales and Portugal in Senior International Rugby.
Wales v Portugal Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Wales 35-5 Portugal
Even with widespread changes being made from their opening game against Fiji, Wales should have far too much for Portugal. Given that, I’m expecting a comfortable Wales victory in this one.
Best Bet: Wales -31 @ 10/11
Click Below For All Our Wales v Portugal Odds
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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