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Connacht prepare for Portugal visit

Wednesday 05th November 2008

Os Lobos: Have come along in leaps and bounds since their RWC debut

Ireland's Test match against Canada isn't the only international rugby game to be played in the country this weekend as Portugal make their first ever visit to the Sportsground on Sunday to take on Connacht.

Portugal are the first International side to take on Connacht since South Africa came to the Sportsground in August 2007 prior to their successful World Cup campaign.

Nicknamed Os Lobos, Portuguese for "the wolves", they qualified for their first ever Rugby World Cup in 2007, and have experienced unprecedented success in recent years.

During the World Cup last year they scored against every side they faced, including a pushover try against rugby giants New Zealand, and they came away with a bonus point from their clash against Romania.

Currently ranked 23rd in the IRB World Ranking, last week saw them lose out narrowly to Ireland's opponents this weekend, Canada, in Lisbon.

They'll no doubt prove stern opposition for Connacht on Sunday.