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LYON - When Portugal prop Rui Cordeiro was driven over for his side's only try against the All Blacks, he admitted it was a moment he will cherish for the rest of his life.
But come the next World Cup 2011, minnows like Portugal might not make the cut, with support growing for a 16-team elite World Cup instead of the current 20-team format.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) sees its four-yearly showpiece event as a way to spread the rugby union gospel, but others are not so keen on the mis-matches that see top-tiered teams posting huge scores past the "have-not" outfits.
Professionalism has driven a divide between the traditional powerhouses of world rugby who largely favour competition between themselves and the fringe countries, meaning there is no longer the strength in depth that was present at the 1987 World Cup.
After seeing his side thrashed, but by no means humbled, 108-13 by New Zealand, Portugal coach Tomaz Morais was adamant that this type of game, albeit horrendously lop-sided, was a worthwhile exercise.
"It is an excellent day for rugby in Portugal and rugby across the world," was Morais' reaction to the drubbing of his largely amateur side by the world's number one team who are hot favourites for the title this time around.
"It is only playing against better players that we can evolve," he said. "Everyone knows what rugby is now in Portugal.
"We have to transmit this message to our country and other countries. You have to allow smaller teams to play against bigger teams."
Qualification for this World Cup started with Andorra's 76-3 win over Norway just over three years ago, and has featured hotly-contested qualifiers, of varying quality, in outposts on five continents of the rugby world.
Asked if the tournament should be cut to 16 teams, Morais responded bluntly: "I don't think that's how rugby should be treated.
"There are teams that play to be champions and others which have other goals," he said. "The World Cup should be 20 teams as it is now. It helps develop rugby.
"We came aiming to fight so other small countries such as us have this opportunity."
His view was echoed by All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who said World Cup organisers had a duty to allow minnows a chance on the global stage.
"It's important that we develop the game throughout the world," said Henry.
"Portugal will go home a better team because of their exposure to better teams. We've got to give them that opportunity."
Portugal's try-scoring prop Cordeiro told AFP that the feeling of being bundled over a swathe of All Black jerseys for a try was immense.
"The best moment of my career is to appear in the World Cup, and that try is included in that experience," said Cordeiro.
"It's a very good feeling. We scored against Scotland and now we scored against the best side in world rugby.
"Whatever happens in this World Cup, we will go back to Portugal full of hope that the game will develop further there.
"We need 20 teams in the World Cup so teams like us can spend the best part of four years training and playing towards qualifying for the next World Cup.
"It's the only way we can improve."
- AFP
