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Os Lobos in defiant mood

Silva will not be taking a backward step against New Zealand

Portugal have vowed to stand up to the might of the All Blacks when the teams meet for the very first time at the Stade Gerland on Saturday.

"We are not going out onto the pitch simply to stare at them or to have a barbecue but to win," prop Andre Silva told the press on Friday.

Pundits have already predicted that the All Blacks will hand Os Lobos a good old-fashioned cricket-score drubbing in their historic fixture and the World Cup debutantes certainly expect one. But they are not going to take it lying down.

"After that we know we are going to face an onslaught from the All Blacks and that they will simply walk over us," admitted Silva.

The spirit and attitude within the Portuguese team is admirable; indeed they have been eagerly awaiting this game for a long time now and want to make the most of their World Cup experience.

Silva warns that the Portuguese defence will be ruthless.

"But first they will have to walk over our dead bodies and watch out for the Portuguese tackling!" added Silva.

While the All Blacks are a much feared outfit by most international teams, Silva said that his team had the utmost respect for the Tri-Nations champions but hastened to say that his team did not fear the Southern Hemisphere nation.

"It's a run of the mill game, 15 against 15. Respect them but don't be afraid."

Silva explained that Portugal had a job to do and that they had set their minds to do it as best they could.

Lock David Penalva shared the same sentiment on the game, adding that Portugal had to be assertive from the kick-off.

"We have to be defiant. Because if we don't get down to business straight away when the referee blows the whistle we will get stuffed with us receiving 120 kilos of New Zealander in our faces."

As is expected the All Blacks will have to work for the victory and they probably wouldn't have it any other way.

"They are stronger, but they will have to show that," concluded Penalva.

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