Nicolas Martins, flanker

On how it felt to score a try for Portugal at Rugby World Cup 2023:

“That was incredible. First time to play in front of 30,000 people, it’s something special. We are a small country, we are not a country of rugby, so it’s really important for us to show that we can exist at a high level and compete against good teams like Wales, Australia, Georgia.”

On showing how far Portugal have come since their last appearance at a Rugby World Cup:

“We’ve shown a different image than in 2007. In 2007 there was a high score of like 90 points, we didn’t really compete. Now we have shown we have a good generation, we can compete against everybody. So it’s good for the future for us.”

On seeing the Portugal fans in the crowd:

“A lot of people made the trip to come to see us play. At the end of the game when I made a round of the pitch, I saw a lot of Portuguese people and it’s a really good feeling to have this support for us.”

On whether singing the national anthem made him emotional:

“I’m not a stressed man before and during the anthem, but it was something different. It was exciting.”

Samuel Marques, scrum-half

On playing for Portugal:

“It’s a great source of pride but also of frustration because we could have done better in this match. We were in the game until the 60th minute and it was at the end of the first half that we really hurt. We had 20 seconds left, we were strong in the line-up, we made a bad choice and then we lost out against a great team.

“After that, we didn’t manage to play the way we wanted to, but we played a lot of rugby. We wanted to show that Portuguese rugby was alive and well and I think we showed that tonight.”

On his persistent left calf pain:

“I took a knock last week, I was told it was going to be complicated for the World Cup. When you’re told you’re going to play in a World Cup, you bite your lip and play as best you can. I did the best I could and gave it 100 per cent. Now we have to get off to a good start in the match against Georgia.

“I don’t know if it bothered me, but subconsciously I think about it a bit. Whatever happens, I have to take those penalties because I’m not used to missing them. I’m going to work hard again this week, we’re all going to work hard because there are a lot of good things. We put a good Welsh team to the sword. We’re going to work and look at what we need to correct.

On the fact that Wales head coach Warren Gatland considers Portugal to be “mini Fiji”:

“It’s nice of him to say that, but we would have liked to be in their shoes and win this match. Tonight we showed everyone that Portuguese rugby is gradually coming into its own. It’s a great image for rugby and for young people. Today we realised that we really have the level to compete.”

Nuno Sousa Guedes, full-back

On the big reception he got from the Portugal fans when he left the field:

“It’s very good to see so much support like we’ve never had before. It’s the first time that we play in a stadium like this. This makes us very proud. For me especially, I saw my family and my friends all over and it was really good.

On the emotions of representing Portugal at Rugby World Cup 2023:

“I just cried before (the game). We had a meeting before the game, we gave out our shirts and we had a good meeting. We talked about controlling our emotions because we knew it’s going to be like this – so many people, so much family in the crowd, so we just need to keep our emotions and keep calm.

“We controlled it very well and we’re really proud of the team.”

On being frustrated with missed opportunities with the ball:

“Honestly, our main thing is the attack but today we were really good in defence.

“We need to clarify some things in defence but mostly we need to look up to our attack, because we were not structured, we lost some good (positions) and (made) lots of mistakes in the crucial moments.”

On being proud to have pushed Wales to the end:

“We were face to face with one of the best teams in the world. It makes us very proud. We will keep going.”

Tomás Appleton, captain

Tomás Appleton, captain

On how proud he is:

“We’re really proud, especially as we have so many fans cheering for us. More proud of the environment and what we built over two years but the result wasn’t there. We made too many mistakes and at this level you suffer, so we need to correct a lot of things.”

On being at Rugby World Cup 2023 means:

“It’s really important. I don’t know if you’re aware but most of our guys are amateur, we don’t play rugby professionally, so it’s such a big moment to stand here in front of so many fans. It’s such a big stage and we just want to inspire a young generation of kids to start to play rugby back home.”

Patrice Lagisquet, head coach

On how pleased he was with the performance:

“I’m not so pleased because there has been two mistakes and then they can score two tries. We were too shy in the first half, we were not playing enough collectively. We’ve shown in the second half we can play better rugby but I’m a bit disappointed with the red card because for me it was totally accidental, and I would like to see the last try because I think the 21 was doing an obstruction on our number nine. I’m a bit disappointed about these few things but what I really appreciate is the behaviour of the players – they were really committed, fighting a lot, I’m really proud of their attitude.”

On what he takes away from the game:

“Experience. For this young team, these young players, we have to be more confident in the way we can play.”

Jonathan Humphreys, assistant coach

On feelings after victory over Portugal:

“Relief, happy. We are delighted to get 10 points from the first two games. If you had offered that to us before we came out here, we would have taken your hand off.

“There were a lot of boys who hadn’t played for a while, we made a lot of changes. It was great that we got a bonus-point, and they’ve also got a fair bit of game-time.”

On Jac Morgan’s performance after being brought into team after warm-up:

“He’s incredible. He wasn’t due to be involved. The non-23 did weights and extra-conditioning in the morning! He’s an incredible player.

On update to flanker Tommy Reffell who was a late withdrawal:

“It (calf) was just tight with him before the game. He is an incredibly tough bloke, but it was the right decision. He was in agreement with that, that if he pulled his calf he is probably gone for the tournament. It was done as a precaution to make sure that he is not too long out.”

On getting 10 points from first two games:

“We are pretty delighted with that. We made a load of changes to give boys game-time and also to put them in position to go for selection against Australia. To get the bonus-point in the manner that we did right at the end showed the resilience and trying to find a way to win.”

On watching Pool C rivals Fiji-Australia tonight:

“It will be a hell of a game. It’ll be nice to sit in the hotel room and have a look at it. Fiji have massive threats like they showed when we played them. I am looking forward to it.”

On facing Australia in next game:

“It’s going to be as hell of a game. There’s going to be a lot riding on that. I thought Australia were excellent in the first game.

“We have got an eight-day turnaround so hopefully we will have a full squad to choose from. A few boys have rested up after a tough Fiji game.

“It was always going to be a massive game.”

On Australia head coach Eddie Jones:

“It will be interesting to see how they come out. He’s always got something different in his game. But Eddie is not playing in the game. The players he has available to him right now are a hell of a squad.”

On building momentum during Rugby World Cup 2023:

“The first game was obviously massive for us. As a squad we really came together after that game saying ‘it’s a good start’. The support the team that played against Portugal had from the rest tells us the spirit in the squad is there.

“We’re in a pretty good place but we know we need to improve and get better if we are to do the job against Australia.”

On number-eight Taulupe Faletau getting better more games he plays:

“He is phenomenal. He is a massive player for us. He is a huge player and he will get better and better. As Gats (Wales head coach Warren Gatland) said the more games he gets, the better he gets. He was a big, big player for us”.

On Faletau’s late try to secure bonus point:

“That’s the thing about world-class players, on big moments like that they step up and do something. We are looking forward to seeing what more he can do.”

Portugal’s Vincent Pinto will appear before an independent Judicial Committee in Paris having received a red card, following a review by the Foul Play Review Official, in Portugal’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool C match against Wales in Nice on Saturday, 16 September for an offence contrary to Law 9.11 (players must not do anything reckless to others).

At the player’s request, the hearing will take place on Tuesday, 19 September.

The independent Disciplinary Committee that will hear the matter will be chaired by Jean-Noël Couraud (France), joined by former coach Frank Hadden (Scotland) and former player Leon Lloyd (England).