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Pinto hails Portuguese heart

Pinto was huge in defence for a plucky Portugal side

The IRB man of the match, Portugal's scrum-half José Pinto, paid tribute to the heart shown by his side in their 31-5 defeat to Italy on Wednesday.

"It was a wonderful match, one in which we wanted to give a fight to Italy in a good sense of the word," he said.

"I think for the most we were able to do it, but in the end it was the old cliche, we are amateurs and they are professionals."

Having run Italy close before two late tries made the game safe, Portugal showed huge heart and spirit, but, as Pinto pointed out, Portugal did not have the fitness in the closing stages.

"We have the heart, always, but we just did not have the legs as the game got older and that was a telling factor in the end for us," he said.

And there is no doubt who Portugal will be supporting in ten days' time.

"It was a hugely enjoyable match, and I now wish all the luck to Italy for their game with Scotland," Pinto concluded.