Portugal qualifies for the Rugby World Cup 2007

April 11, 2007 - PRLog -- For the first time, Portugal qualified for the RWC 2007, held in France from the 7th of September to the 20th of October, by defeating Uruguay, a team that had not lost a qualifying game since 1933. This left Portugal placed in Pool C, along with New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania.

Defending a 12-5 lead, Portugal was up for a tough match against Uruguay in Montevideo, but only 2 minutes into the game, Juan Bado was sent out, leaving the home team with only 14 players. The numerical disadvantage just seemed to give them strength as the team quickly gained a 6-0 advantage.

In all, both teams struggled, and although Portugal was on to a slow start, they picked up and ended the first half with a 6-6 draw. The visitor’s passion for a first time qualification finally drove them to a lead 50 minutes after, making the historic victory closer than ever. Focus was the key to success and the match was won finally by the Portuguese.

Winning captain, Vasco Uva said: “This is a wonderful feeling; it is something we worked extremely hard for, during the past four years, and is a reward for a long process. We played with passion and for each other. Going to the World Cup will be superb.”        

As for home captain, Rodrigo Ortega, “It is the end of one road, but the start of a new one and although it hurts to fail to qualify in the way we did, we made far too many mistakes. Having played all of the game a player short was too big a burden, but we still gave all we had.”

The qualifying games have ended with Portugal’s victory, after a total of 86 participating countries in over 190 games, and as for the RWC 2007, France will gather 20 countries, in 48 matches for over 40 days.

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About Playing Rugby

The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding an oval ball in the scoring zone at the far end of the field -- called the try zone.

Grounding the ball, which must be done with downward pressure, results in a try (worth 5 points). After a try a conversion may be attempted by place kick or drop kick.

If the ball passes over the bar and between the goal posts the conversion is successful and results in a further 2points. Points may also be scored from a drop kick in general play (worth 3points) and a penalty kick (worth 3 points).  The ball may not be passed forward (though it may be kicked forward) and players may not receive the ball in an offside position, nor may they wait in such a position.

Players may not be tackled without the ball. The play only stops when a try is scored, or the ball goes out of play, or an infringement occurs. When the ball goes out it is thrown back in at a line-out where the opposing "forwards" line up and jump for the ball.  Infringements result in a penalty, free kick, or scrum.

In a scrum the opposing forwards bind together in a unit and push against the other forwards, trying to win the ball with their feet. Substitutions are only allowed in case of injury and there is no separate offensive and defensive unit.

Source: UW – P Men’s Rugby Official Website

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