Tough Georgia finally subdued
BRUTAL: MINNOWS MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR WALLABIES
Australia fine-tuned preparations for a likely Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against England with a hard-fought, error-strewn 27-8 Pool D victory over Georgia at Shizuoka on Friday.
Wales’ 27-19 win over Fiji on Wednesday had guaranteed the Wallabies a place in the last eight, with the Welsh playing minnows Uruguay tomorrow in a match that should see them book the pool winners’ spot.
In blustery conditions and heavy rain as Typhoon Hagibis headed for landfall on Japan’s east coast, Australia were forced into a real arm-wrestle by the hard-hitting Georgians in the two countries’ first-ever Test match.
The Wallabies dominated possession and territory early on, and successfully pitted their setpiece against one of the strongest at the World Cup.
But the Georgians put in a fine defensive shift and kept in the game by seizing on a catalogue of basic handling errors.
“We missed a few opportunities in attack. We could have stepped up and played a bit flatter. We stayed a bit too far back,” said Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
“The conditions were a bit tricky, the rain, the wind. But no excuses,” added the coach.
A tight opening quarter saw play see-saw between the two 22m areas, David Pocock and Jack Dempsey trading tough tackles with back row rivals Mamuka Gorgodze and Beka Gorgadze.
Georgia repelled wave after wave of attack, making almost 80 tackles in the first 20 minutes.
But an initial break by Matt Toomua set up another Wallaby attacking platform and Georgia eventually wilted, scrumhalf Nic White burrowing past Mikheil Nariashvili from close range for a try Toomua converted.
No 8 Isi Naisarani spilled the steepling restart to hand Georgia the advantage, Soso Matiashvili booting a penalty after a high Tolu Latu tackle as the ball was recycled in midfield.
White and Toomua were key cogs as Australia continued to launch a series of forays from ruck time, but Georgia’s defence continued to hold firm.
Five minutes before half-time, Naisarani was yellow-carded for a high tackle into the face of Giorgi Nemsadze, but it was Australia who instead got on the scoreboard next through Toomua’s second penalty.
A moment of jinking brilliance from Fiji-born winger Marika Koroibete, who played for Fiji at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, broke the deadlock.
Picking up a loose pass, the bearded back flew past two defenders and cut back inside opposite number Alexander Todua for an excellent individual try.
Todua sent the crowd wild, however, after he ran in his own try with nine minutes to play after a break by replacement hooker Jaba Bregvadze.
There were late tries for Dempsey and Will Genia to put some gloss on the scoreline. –