The Portuguese rugby team’s hopes of securing a podium finish at the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 were dashed following a disappointing 7-21 loss to Romania in the third-place playoff at Jamor. This defeat marked a dismal end to an otherwise promising campaign, where Portugal had initially shown great promise by winning their group stage and hosting a semifinal match against Spain, albeit ending in a 42-31 defeat.
In the aftermath of the match, national team selector Simon Mannix was scathing in his assessment of the team’s performance. “We simply weren’t good enough, and it’s clear we have a lot of growing to do as a unit,” he lamented. “It’s disappointing, especially considering we won our group and had a home semifinal, where we failed to deliver. We needed a response in the next game, but unfortunately, we didn’t get it. We were outplayed and outmuscled. While we’ve qualified for the World Cup, it’s evident we have a lot more work to do – and I mean a lot more. The truth is, our performance was poor.” Mannix’s words underscored the team’s underwhelming display, which fell short of expectations.
Captain José Lima echoed similar sentiments, expressing the team’s disappointment and frustration. “We’re feeling a bit ashamed and disappointed because we wanted to end this competition on a high note, but the result wasn’t what we had hoped for,” he admitted. “Romania played well, adapting to the weather conditions and outmuscling us in the scrums, lineouts, and defense. That made all the difference in a game of rugby.” Lima’s comments highlighted the team’s inability to cope with Romania’s physicality and tactical acumen.
Subcaptain José Madeira also voiced his disillusionment with the team’s performance. “We’re disheartened because we know we’re capable of doing much better, but today we just didn’t show up,” he said. “We struggled to get into the game, while Romania started strong and maintained their intensity in the second half. The conditions were challenging, but we made too many mistakes, and we need to review the game. Credit to Romania, they prepared well and deserved the win. We need to take responsibility for our performance and get back to work. There are many lessons to be learned from this game, and we need to analyze it carefully and move forward.” Madeira’s words emphasized the need for introspection and improvement, as the team looks to regroup and rediscover their form.
Key Takeaways
- Portugal failed to secure a podium finish at the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 after losing to Romania 7-21.
- National team selector Simon Mannix criticized the team’s performance, citing a lack of growth and poor display.
- Captain José Lima and subcaptain José Madeira expressed disappointment and frustration with the team’s inability to adapt to Romania’s physicality and tactics.
- The team has qualified for the World Cup but acknowledges the need for significant improvement and hard work ahead.