LAM PUTS COUNTRY FIRST BEFORE CLUB COMMITMENT
KOROIBETE SCORES, NAISARANI SIN-BINNED
IT was the antithesis of pretty but the Wallabies have ground out a 27-8 victory over Georgia in their final pool game after fullback Kurtley Beale left the field in the first half with a head knock that could put him in doubt for a quarter-final clash next week against England.
Georgia’s stoic defence prevented the Wallabies from piling on the amount of points onlookers may have expected given the disparity between the sides in the world rankings.
Australia led 17-3 in the 60th minute after a superb 52-metre solo effort from a zigzagging Marika Koroibete but Georgia hit back with a five-pointer 10 minutes out from full-time.
Late tries to Jack Dempsey and Will Genia brought the margin back out and ensured Australia snared a bonus point.
There was major concern, however, for the men in gold when Beale did not rise from the bottom of a breakdown in the 14th minute. He appeared groggy and took a few minutes to leave the field. After being assessed, he did not return.
An eight-day turnaround before a quarter-final in Oita may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Wallabies in terms of return-to-play protocols but one can’t help feel the storyline of next week will be whether Beale will be given the green light to play.
The Wallabies went to the top of Pool D following their third win from four starts but will be almost certainly be leapfrogged by Wales unless the northern hemisphere side loses to minnows Uruguay today.
When No.8 Isi Naisarani was sent to the sin bin in the 35 minute for a lazy high tackle on Mamuka Gorgodze, the steam would have been coming out of Cheika’s ears given it was his side’s third yellow card in 100 minutes of rugby.
Australia 27 (Jack Dempsey, Will Genia, Marika Koroibete, Nic White tries Matt To’omua 2 cons pen) Georgia 8 (Sandro Todua try Soso Matiashvili pen) at Shizuoka Stadium. Referee: Pascal Gauzere.
Australia led 17-3 in the 60th minute after a superb 52-metre solo effort from a zigzagging Marika Koroibete