Wolves brave the Lyons den

Pool C/ New Zealand v Portugal:There are concerns for their health but the Portuguese amateurs would not miss tonight's mismatch, writes Johnny Watterson

What has become obvious in the first week of this World Cup is that there is little sympathy for the weaker folk among the competing brethren. If they can be bullied and beaten and have their noses rubbed in the dirt, the bigger teams will gladly do it.

The All Black coach, Graham Henry, basking in the Mediterranean sun and the 11 tries his team had just run in against Italy in their first match, was asked if in the context of tonight's game in Lyon he had concerns for the health of the Portuguese amateurs. Henry first looked perplexed, then replied.

"We will be sensitive to that issue," he declared. "But not too much."

Since the draw was made, the twinning of the two names, Portugal - Los Lobos (The Wolves) - and New Zealand has captured imaginations. The meeting has drawn the attention of the voyeurs, attracted by the prospect of watching Portugal meet a grisly end at the hands of a team more capable and savage than any they have ever faced. Roll up, guys, and see the gore.

The professionals are, quite literally, facing the amateurs in what is expected to be one of the great mismatches of the tournament. Henry has made 11 changes to the side that ran up 76 points against Italy, but such details are almost cosmetic.

Flanker Jerry Collins captains the All Blacks and remains along with locks Ali Williams and Chris Jack. Mils Muliaina moves from centre to fullback.

There is a new front row of Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore and Neemia Tialata, and there are new halfbacks in Nick Evans and Brendon Leonard and a new midfield of Aaron Mauger and Conrad Smith. Joe Rokocoko gets a run after being overlooked for the Italy game, while Isaia Toeava, normally a centre, starts on the other wing.

Portugal have a professional at fullback, Andre Silva, and a medical student, Joao Correia, on the wing. Then, filling the rest of the back line, they have another professional player, Ruben Spachuk, two lawyers, a television producer and a marketing executive.

The pack consists of a front row made up of a lawyer, a vet and an engineer. The second row and back row consist of two more lawyers, two students and a graphic designer.

The giant prop Carl Hayman has said no quarter will be given the doughty Iberians, who lost their first-ever World Cup game, against Scotland, 56-10.

"Everyone's grown-ups here," he said. "There's a lot of competition in our team for spots, so easing up is not going to be an issue."

Hayman added that while "nobody wants to see anyone getting hurt", it was in Portugal's interests to play New Zealand despite there being a significant chance of them being humiliated.

That more positive attitude is the one Portugal cling to, and no one among the team sees the polarised meeting as anything other than their grand prize for qualification.

Centre Diogo Mateus, who spent three months playing with Munster, is almost giddy with anticipation.

"Definitely this is a great honour for us," he says. "To be on the field; to have the haka made in front of you . . . all the players will love this. "We are really looking forward to the game. They are top of the world and playing them is a dream for all of the players.

"In pre-season we had a meeting to make aims. Against Scotland our aim was beneath 60 points. Of course New Zealand will be different. We want to try and defend everything we can. Not 100 points would be a big aim. That's what we want."

Of Portugal's 30-man squad, seven are professional or semi-professional. The rest are amateurs, working their holidays and taking unpaid leave from their jobs to make the time.

The coach, Tomas Morais, is a university professor and a published author.

"The majority of players . . . work in intense jobs where they are under a great deal of pressure.It makes them doubly professional," says Morais.

"They have an incredible attitude and set an example for the professional members of the team. They bring a great deal of dedication to the team."

But few see anything other than a painfully one-sided match in which a proud team that earned their place in the finals on merit will be cruelly pummelled.

Los Lobos are more used to playing in the third tier of world rugby. Ranked at 22 in the world, they are already punching above their weight just to be included in the tournament's 20 teams.

"Everyone wants to play that game. They are our idols," says the hooker and medical student Joao Correia. "They are superstars. We know we are going to be beaten by many points, but it will still be a dream."

Never has rugby enjoyed such a profile in soccer crazy Portugal. The legend of the All Blacks even has a resonance in Lisbon, though the Portuguese players are virtually unknown.

There are approximately 5,000 rugby players in the country over all age groups, just 1,000 playing at senior level.

"They ask how it is possible for a small country to qualify," says Mateus. "Now they see the top team in the championship playing one of the smallest. They understand how big the game is for us. Our mentality is that we want to show why we are here.

"For these three months in our build-up, some guys took their vacations or unpaid leave. Some IRB money went to the students. It could be better. It's hard for some of them; they left their wives, they left their work - but this is a one-time opportunity."

One of the biggest cheers of the opening week came when Los Lobos barrelled in for their first World Cup try, against Scotland. It was a moment when the minnows momentarily halted the relentless march of the Scots.

But whether tonight's mismatch is good for the World Cup remains to be seen. There have been 100-point landslides before and there is talk of pruning the finals to 16 nations, which would end the dreams of teams like Portugal.

"We have doctors, lawyers, vets, designers and students," says Mateus proudly. "I expect the All Blacks to respect and give their best."

NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina, I Toeava, C Smith, A Mauger, J Rokocoko; N Evans, B Leonard; N Tialata, A Hore, G Somerville; C Jack, A Williams; J Collins, C Masoe, S Lauaki. Replacements: A Olilver, T Woodcock, C Hayman, R So'oialo, K Mealamu, A Ellis, L McDonald.

Referee: C White (England).

Portugal: a team of amateurs

15 Pedro Leal (student)

14 Antonio Aguilar (student)

13 Miguel Portela (lawyer)

12 Diogo Mateus (graphic designer)

11 Pedro Carvalho (student lawyer)

10 Goncalo Malheiro (engineer)

9 Luis Pissarra (vet)

1 Andre Silva (rugby professional)

2 Joao Correia (medical student)

3 Ruben Spachuck (rugby pro)

4 Marcello d'Orey (lawyer)

5 Goncalo Uva (rugby prol)

6 Paulo Murinello (TV producer)

7 Diogo Coutinho (marketing)

8 Vasco Uva (lawyer)