Uruguay fail Portugal through

Portugal made history on Saturday after qualifying for their first-ever Rugby World Cup with a narrow aggregate victory over Uruguay. The Lobos were beaten 18-12 by their South American hosts in the second leg of their repechage clash in Montevideo but thanks to their 12-5 victory over Los Teros in the first leg in Lisbon they claimed a 24-23 overall victory. The route to the finals was made easier as Uruguay played most of the game with 14 men following the dismissal of Juan Bando their lock for foul play.

Portugal’s reward for seeing off Uruguay at the Estadio Parque Central de Club Nacional is a place alongside New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania in Pool C at this year’s global showpiece.

Uruguay may have maintained their excellent home record by winning the match but that will be of little consolation with the margin of victory leaving them agonisingly short of a place at Rugby World Cup 2007.

Portugal will play Scotland in their first ever Rugby World Cup match at St Etienne on 9 September.

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