WALES IN TENSE win over Georgia

Wales held on to beat Georgia 13-6 in an extraordinary finish at a tense Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday (18).

Warren Gatland’s experimental team took a 10-0 lead thanks to Hallam Amos’ try but Georgia defended well and were predictably powerful in the forwards.

Soso Matiashvili’s boot had them within four points after 50 minutes.

Rhys Priestland’s penalty calmed nerves but Georgia were frustrated late on by uncontested scrums being called with Wales’ Tomas Francis in the sin-bin.

In similar scenes to the 2017 Six Nations game against France in Paris, there was controversy in stoppage-time with Wales unable to replace prop Francis after he saw yellow for conceding a penalty in the shadow of the home side’s posts.

With no Wales front rowers deemed fit enough to return to the field, Referee Mathieu Raynal

Rhys Priestland’s penalty calmed nerves but Georgia were frustrated late on by uncontested scrums being called with Wales’ Tomas Francis in the sin-bin

ruled uncontested scrums and Georgia - who would have preferred to opt for a scrum with a view to a pushover try - went for touch.

In the confusion, Georgia brought their starting tighthead Levan Chilachava back on to the field, and Wales held out to claim an unconvincing victory.

With 14 changes, Welsh players were hoping to make an impression before next week’s visit of New Zealand and further ahead to the World Cup in 2019. (BBC)