The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Wallabies struggle to beat Georgia as storm arrives
Australia were a long way off their best but managed to overcome Georgia 27-8 in difficult conditions in Fukuroi yesterday (FRI) to book a likely World Cup quarter-final against England.
Typhoon Hagibis approaching Japan led to heavy wind and rain battering the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, where Australia went ahead courtesy of Nic White’s 22nd-minute try.
It was not until after the hour mark that they crossed the whitewash again through Marika Koroibete while Jack Dempsey and Will Genia tries gave Australia a bonus-point win after Alexander Todua had touched down for Georgia.
Australia therefore moved to the top of Pool D but they will be relegated to runners-up if Wales avoid defeat to Uruguay tomorrow, which would see the Wallabies taking on Pool C winners England in Oita next Saturday.
If that is indeed how events unfold then England head coach Eddie Jones would have taken heart from Australia’s laboured display.
They lost Kurtley Beale inside the first quarter of an hour, with the full-back not returning to the field following a head injury assessment.
Australia head coach Michael Cheika said: “The hit-out was good, having to dig in, work hard, get up off the ground, get into some tough stuff.
“Our forwards stepped right up to it. We handled the Georgian scrum well, we scored a maul try and the line-out worked.
“We did drop a bit too much ball. But I thought our carrying was strong, we just didn’t have the finishing touch on a lot of stuff so we’ll definitely put that on and we’ll prepare that and be ready to finish the opportunities that will come next weekend.”