Today’s rugby information as pundits rage in opposition to last-second Wales v Portugal resolution and Gatland explains late change

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Sunday, September 17.

Pundits sad with Portugal pink v Wales

A lot of rugby pundits and followers have questioned the choice to challenge a pink card to Portugal’s Vincent Pinto in opposition to Wales.

Pinto was initially yellow-carded after catching Josh Adams within the face together with his boot as he leapt to take a catch within the 76th minute. The resolution was then upgraded by the TMO bunker to a pink card in what was almost the ultimate act of the competition, which Wales received 28-8.

It left Pinto trying distraught on the aspect of the pitch, with a looming ban doubtlessly ending his match.

Again, it was a choice that break up opinion, with some accepting it was a reckless and harmful act, whereas others felt it was the incorrect name.

Former England worldwide and pundit Andy Goode had sturdy views, saying: “Horrific decision to give a yellow card for Pinto for that foot to the head, he’s falling backwards and over as he’s caught the ball! Simple physics! What the f**k?!”

When it was then upgraded, he described it as “one of many worst choices I’ve ever seen.”

Former Wales fly-half James Hook weighed in, posting: “Never easy in games you’re expected to win but with the players we’ve got we need to be better in attack. Hats off to Portugal, they came to play. Disagree with Pinto red card, what’s he supposed to do?”

ITV pundit Maggie Alphonsi stated: “Interesting name. Portugal participant jumps within the air and is coming down. Shows no intention to make contact with Josh Adam’s face however does. Looked by chance, however he will get a yellow card upgraded to pink as a result of his foot is in an unnatural place. Harsh name.”

Gatland explains Wales withdrawal

Wales coach Warren Gatland has confirmed flanker Tommy Reffell was affected by a decent calf muscle that noticed him pulled out of the beginning line-up simply minutes earlier than kick-off, with Jac Morgan referred to as up.

The look of Morgan caught everybody abruptly, coming so near the beginning of the sport.

“Tommy stated his calf was a bit tight,” Gatland stated.

“I believe he was nonetheless fairly eager to take the sector, but when he pulled that calf, that may have been his World Cup over.

“To put Jac in as a straight alternative with very restricted preparation, I believed he was good.”

Gatland’s much-changed aspect struggled all through for management and fluency within the contest, the spotlight of which was Portugal’s attacking aptitude.

Wing Louis Rees-Zammit, captain Dewi Lake, Morgan and Faletau scored tries, whereas Leigh Halfpenny kicked three conversions and Sam Costelow landed one, but an enormous enchancment will probably be required in opposition to Australia in Lyon subsequent weekend.

Portugal gave pretty much as good as they bought for giant elements of the sport they usually undoubtedly deserved greater than flanker Nicolas Martins’ try to a Samuel Marques penalty.

Lake denies Wales taken abruptly

Wales captain Dewi Lake denied his group had been taken abruptly after a really tough match in opposition to minnows Portugal.

Asked if he was stunned by Portugal’s physicality, Lake stated: “No, I do not suppose we had been stunned as we had carried out our homework on the group that we had been dealing with.

“We understood what they had been going to convey to the desk from a physicality standpoint. Gats spoke within the week about them being a mini-Fiji when it comes to an off-load recreation.

“They’ve bought gamers who need to snipe and need to run. In phrases of physicality, we received that battle over 80 minutes.”

Portugal misplaced 102-11 once they final performed Wales in 1994, though captain Tomas Appleton struggled to masks his disappointment on the latest final result.

“We actually needed to win this recreation. We actually labored arduous for that,” Appleton stated.

“We misplaced many areas of the sport, we did not have a stable scrum, we made errors within the backs and once we are enjoying at this stage we get penalised and we endure with these errors.

“We could not fairly present the rugby that we now have, the nice stage of quick rugby we will play, and on the finish of the day we’re pissed off.

“We aren’t right here to only be a presence, we’re right here to compete and win. When you might be enjoying at this stage you need to be cool-headed, and I believe a variety of instances we made unhealthy choices.”

Ireland beat Tonga as Sexton breaks document

By Ed Elliot, PA, Nantes

Johnny Sexton smashed Ireland’s particular person factors document as his aspect edged nearer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a crushing 59-16 bonus-point victory over Tonga in Nantes.

The influential fly-half surpassed Ronan O’Gara’s all-time tally of 1,083 in fashion with the fourth of his aspect’s eight tries on a balmy night at Stade de la Beaujoire.

Captain Sexton additionally kicked a penalty and 4 conversions en path to shifting on to a profession whole of 1,090 earlier than being withdrawn from a bruising Pool B encounter at half-time forward of subsequent week’s essential conflict with South Africa.

Tries from Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Mack Hansen paved the best way to victory, with Bundee Aki’s double and second-half scores from James Lowe and Rob Herring capping Sexton’s landmark second.

Vaea Fifita crossed simply earlier than half-time to provide Tonga hope within the aftermath of Peter O’Mahony’s yellow card, whereas William Havili contributed three penalties and a conversion.

But the world’s top-ranked nation comfortably maintained their 100 per cent begin to the match and emerged comparatively unscathed shifting in direction of pivotal Paris appointments with the Springboks and Scotland.