The rise of Portugal's 'unpredictable' rugby side hoping to stun Scotland

Scotland will take on Portugal at Murrayfield this Saturday in their third match of the Autumn Nations series, following their courageous performance against South Africa.

For some Scottish supporters, this weekend serves as a chance to build the team's strength. However, for one Tier 2 rugby nation, it represents a crucial moment to demonstrate their ability to stand up to top competition while they work on their growth on the global stage.

Portugal's ascent to fame appeared to happen suddenly, highlighted by an extraordinary World Cup win against Fiji last year—one of the standout moments of the tournament in France.

As a result, they achieved an impressive peak of 13th in the global rankings, a significant improvement from their low position of 30th in 2016. However, following their first loss to the USA in three years last weekend, Portugal's coach Simon Mannix is aware that he faces a major challenge in maintaining that progress.

"We didn't get defeated; we let it slip away," Mannix explains to i. "This is all part of a tough yet fascinating journey as we work on a significant overhaul."

"The essence of that World Cup team has been lost, as many key decision-makers are no longer part of it."

Rodrigo Marta, the all-time leading try scorer for his country, and Rafael Simoes are two key players who won’t be participating, among others. However, scrum-half Samuel Marques could stand out as he gears up for his debut this year.

Mannix believes that having him on the team will bring great benefits, especially after Marques gained a significant following in Portugal due to his impressive performances in France.

Marques, originally from France, has been showcasing his rugby skills in the Pro 14 and Pro D2 leagues since he began his career with Pau in 2009. Over the years, he has also played for Albi, Toulouse, Brive, Carcassonne, and, more recently, Béziers. Known for his dependable kicking ability, he embodies the classic style of a scrum-half with a strong kicking game.

New Zealander Mannix has a wealth of skilled players to choose from, including several who are currently playing in France, like Lucas da Silva, the top try scorer in Pro D2 who has just made his national team debut. The head coach feels that this weekend’s match presents a fantastic chance to nurture young talent and increase the team's depth, especially since eight members of his 45-man roster have yet to earn their first cap.

“To maintain our standing at this level, we need to participate in international matches and demonstrate that Portugal is capable of competing,” he states.

"Even though other teams have more resources at their disposal, we need to demonstrate that we can still hold our own in competition."

The former All Black is experienced in stepping in during tough times, having coached teams in Singapore and led the French second division teams Pau and Biarritz. He aims to draw on that experience in his new role.

"The change hasn’t been as smooth as I would have liked, but the experiences and connections I've made in French rugby will be beneficial in the future, as I will need to find a way to manage everything," he explains.

"We need to balance the players' schedules along with their work and school commitments. These young men have to give up a lot in order to grow and excel."

Portugal faces a tough challenge, having previously played Scotland twice and lost both matches. However, things have changed for both sides, as they are now guided by new leadership—Stafford McDowall will be leading the Scots for the first time this Saturday.

The Scottish team, struggling with injuries, has made 14 changes from last weekend's lineup. Tom Jordan is the sole player who keeps his spot after starting in the 32-15 loss to South Africa.

Nineteen-year-old Freddy Douglas might get the chance to make his debut for Scotland as a substitute. If he does, he would become the youngest player to represent the Scotland men's team since Donald White in 1963, even though he has never participated in a competitive match at the club level. There have been unexpected surprises in sports before, so anything could happen here.

Delivering a solid performance against Scotland is crucial for this rebuilding stage, even if it doesn’t result in a win at Murrayfield.

"Portugal can be erratic in their choices, and they will need to be bold when facing Scotland," says RugbyPass journalist Francisco Isaac to i.

"The match against Scotland is going to be challenging, so the focus will be on delivering a solid performance rather than just securing a victory."

"Right now, rugby is capturing the attention of Portugal's youth, and their achievements are making a significant impact."

The opportunity for a spectacular victory at Murrayfield has never been more promising, and such a win would serve as a tremendous boost for a rugby nation that is increasingly gaining momentum.