Portugal secured a historic first World Cup victory with a last-gasp 24-23 win over Fiji on Sunday, but the Pacific Islanders nonetheless advanced to a quarter-final showdown with England next week.
Fiji looked to have wrapped up the win with two late Frank Lomani penalties, but there was drama as Rodrigo Marta crossed for a try, converted at the death by the excellent Samuel Marques.
Fiji needed one point from the 40th and final pool game and they got that for finishing within seven points of Portugal.
The result also ensured Eddie Jones and his two-time winning Australia side failed to qualify for the knock-out phase for the first time in the history of the World Cup.
Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui said there would be a reset before taking on England in Marseille.
“We’re going to have to rest and recover,” he said.
“England are a very good tournament team and we’re expecting a tough game. We’ll regroup, review and then get on to England.”
Raiwalui added: “Congratulations to Portugal, they played really well, stuck in there once we took the lead.
“We thought we had it but they scored the try. A fully deserved victory to them.”
Raiwalui said he was “disappointed not to get the win”.
“We dropped too much ball. We were a bit tight in the context of the game. We created lots of opportunities but we just didn’t throw the ball out to our outside backs.”
Fiji captain Waisea Nayacavelu said the focus would immediately switch to facing England.
“For us, we’ve got to go back and look at our mistakes and our work-ons,” he said.
“We didn’t execute a lot of our plays, dropped a lot of balls and they took advantage of our mistakes.
“But we’ve qualified now and we have to switch our focus now on to next week.
“We’ve got to do our fine-tuning for next week, regroup and refocus again and take it up to the next level.”
Incredible and historic
Portugal flanker Nicolas Martins called his team’s win “incredible”.
“I have no words. It’s historic, I’m so happy. I think it’s the best moment of my life,” he said.
“We are a team of friends from Portugal but we live together, it’s something incredible.”
Coach Patrice Lagisquet, the former France winger who played at both the 1987 and 1991 World Cups, added: “It’s unbelievable, the players always find resources I never expect.
“The way they could score, it’s amazing. Even if we work a lot to be able to do things like that, they still surprise me after four years. it is an incredible group, an incredible team and they are players who are really talented.”
Lagisquet added: “It couldn’t be better (to leave with a win). I am so lucky to train a squad like this one. I am so lucky to finish with this victory, it’s a great moment.”
Veteran Portugal hooker Mike Tadjer, born in France and a player who has spent his creer in the Top 14 and ProD2 — latterly with Perpignan, joked that “Obviously I can die tomorrow!
“It’s going to be an awesome day for me. I have retired after this World Cup, to finish like that it is unbelievable for me.”
