PORTUGAL MEN 58-12 HONG KONG CHINA XVs MATCH REPORT

Hong Kong China Mens XVs fell to a stronger Portugal side at Estadio Nacional in Lisbon on Saturday night after being in the game at halftime and trailing just 21-12, before falling to a 58-12 defeat. Fans can watch the full match back via RugbyPass TV (free to view, registration required).

The hosts, Os Lobos, were the higher-ranked side at 20th compared to 23rd for Hong Kong China and the last time we faced them in 2022, the Europeans won 42-14. Hong Kong China fielded six debutants, as Max Murphy, Brendon Knell and Dylan McCann started the match, with Harry Baron, Jack Bartless and Chui Wap Lap all coming off the bench.

FIRST HALF

The hosts themselves were desperate for a win, as they had not won a Test Match since February against Romania. They started the match as the much better of the two teams, with their dangerous backs showing early what a threat they would be.

From a Portugal kick off, captain Josh Hrstich collected and carried as he put in another big shift from number 8 - this was his 13th consecutive test start.

The commentary mentioned the game would be a real acid test to show what Hong Kong China could do, and we started really well with good patient phases and carries, but that positive play was met by stern defence. Despite early good ball retention, the boys struggled to break the Portuguese defensive line. 

The boys lost a lineout early, and that continued throughout the game as we struggled to win our own ball at the crucial set piece. 

Portugal kicked a superb 50/22 from the lineout loss, and we gave away a few too many penalties through the match. The hosts often opted for touch as they had a good, solid platform. In their loss to Uruguay last week, they secured 14/17 lineouts, and they scored their first try from a lineout maul in the 10th minute. 

Portugal were also winning the aerial battle, and the kicks put us under pressure, with Matt Worley a late injury drop-out from the starting fullback position. 

After 14 minutes, Portugal were 12-0 up as their outside backs were really incisive and they were dangerous in open space and winning easy metres. They added a third try to lead 19-0.

The Portuguese are also rebuilding as they only had eight players in the matchday 23 who played RWC 2023, but the average Portuguese caps of 20 per player were double that of Hong Kong China, with 10 per player.

Hong Kong China had a penalty in the 27th minute, and a great kick to touch by fly-half Gregor McNeish meant we had a lineout 15m out. We secured the ball and won the advantage, and Sunia Fameitau scored from short range after 29 minutes - his first test try in what was his 5th consecutive match. McNeish converted for a score of 7-19.

This period of play was the main one in which Hong Kong China had the momentum and put the hosts under real pressure. We were also winning the referee’s calls, but our lineout still faltered.

Hrstich had a run down the flank showing a clean pair of heels. This set up McNeish, who threw a fantastic pass to wing Guy Spanton for a really well-worked try in the 38th minute. The touchline conversion was narrowly missed. 

Portugal scored a late penalty to make it 22-12 at the break.

SECOND HALF

Hong Kong China struggled at times in the second half. There was a scrappy period as both teams won turnovers. Our best chance was a superb cross-field kick by McNeish, collected by Spanton, but he was just in touch.

Hong Kong China gave Portugal too many easy outs after we were able placed them under pressure. Their backs with ball in hand carved through on several occasions, and they scored a few tries as the flow of the game was disrupted by subs and soft penalties leaving us 31-12 down after the hour mark.

Portugal scored in the 66th minute, and we received a team warning for the transgressions. Shortly after, Marcus Ramage was yellow-carded for another infringement in the 67th minute, and the hosts ran in a couple of scores with the extra player. Then Spanton’s tackle was checked by the TMO, and he was sin-binned in the 71st minute.

With two players down and already on the back foot, we conceded more tries as Portugal found good flow and deserved their win, outscoring by nine tries to two.

COACH REACTION

Hong Kong Head Coach Logan Asplin: “It was a tough game. But I was impressed by how we fought back from a 19-nil deficit in the first half, but we let them off the hook too easy with our lineout and our discipline let us down. When we turned the heat up on them we scored tries, but we conceded points too easily after that.

“Many positives though: we had a good week, and we need this exposure to close the gaps with teams at this level. I think to get into a 19-point hole off of our own errors and fight back to be one try off it at halftime shows we can front up against these teams.

“From a conditioning, discipline and set piece standard, we were not good enough, but the players know that by no means was that our best performance. It would be lovely to have another test, but we have had some good exposure in this window, and I think it shows that we need to play at this level all of the time.   

“We have made some really important growth and are now setting challenges for our contracted players to go back into Club rugby and excel. We also need to ensure that our club rugby is pushing them as well. We want our players to be making significant dents in the club game with our performances across the league now."

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