Australia kept their hopes of reaching the Rugby World Cup knockout stages alive with a 34-14 victory over Portugal on Sunday.

Australia earned a bonus point and a Pool C lifeline thanks to tries from forwards Richie Arnold, David Porecki, Angus Bell, and Fraser McReight, as well as winger Marika Koroibete, while Portugal responded through Pedro Bettencourt and Rafael Simoes.

If Fiji loses to Portugal without a bonus point next week, the Wallabies can still make the quarter-finals.

“It was good, the boys dug deep knowing it could be our last game and credit to Portugal, they are a very solid team,” Australia’s No.8 Rob Valetini said.

“We pride ourselves on the forwards trying to get over their forwards. A lot of things we did at training transferred over to the field, we knew the game was going to be won by the forwards.”

It was a special night for Wallaby prop James Slipper, who broke his country’s record for most World Cup caps.

“I think we are really proud for what we gave, but it is a loss. I am proud, but not happy to be honest,” said Portugal captain Tomas Appleton.

“We still have one more shot to show what we can do next week, but we are a bit disappointed.”

Portugal showed no fear in running the ball from the start, even from deep within their own half.

Despite Australia’s Ben Donaldson’s early penalty, Portugal deservedly took the lead when they played with a penalty advantage.

A deft backs move freed centre Bettencourt on the overlap to dive over in the corner.

Samuel Marques converted, but Bettencourt was sent to the sin-bin after a high tackle on his opposite number Izaia Perese.

Donaldson missed the resulting penalty, but Australia quickly capitalised on the extra man, with Valetini offloading to Arnold, who scored next to the posts.

Portugal became ragged, giving away possession cheaply, and Wallaby captain Porecki punished them once more, touching down from behind a short-range driving maul.

And, before Portugal was reduced to 15 men again, prop Bell raced to the line from close range to score Australia’s third try.

The enterprising Portuguese were once again the better side once they had their full contingent back.

Portugal thought they had scored a well-deserved second try, but Wallaby full-back Andrew Kellaway’s last-ditch tackle forced flanker Nicolas Martins into touch before he dotted down, leaving Australia leading 24-7 at halftime.

Seven minutes into the second period, Australia secured the attacking bonus point after another Portugal penalty allowed them to kick deep into their opponents’ 22 before Mark Nawaqanitawase was able to pop the ball off for flanker McReight to score.

Donaldson missed the conversion, but Australia was comfortably ahead of their spirited opponents.

Portugal, on the other hand, continued to play with vigour and panache, and they thought they had scored again when hooker Mike Tadjer was driven over, but he was ruled to have knocked on in the grounding.

Wallaby replacement hooker Matt Faessler was yellow-carded for a driving maul infringement, but Portugal failed to capitalise and knocked on again metres from the line.

However, Wallaby replacement centre Samu Kerevi was sin-binned for a forearm smash into Bettencourt’s head, and Australia was reduced to 13 men.

Portugal persisted, eventually driving Australia back from a five-metre scrum and landing Rafael Simoes.

Marika Koroibete ploughed over late in the game for Australia’s fifth try.

Photo by EPA/Guillaume Horcajuelo