Georgia stun Wales for second tier one triumph
The best thing is proving a lot of people wrong . . . World Rugby needs to pay more attention to us.
Georgia upset Wales 13-12 for the first time in rugby history in Cardiff, only the Lelos’ second win against a tier one nation. The first was just in July, against Italy at home.
Georgia trailed 12-3 at halftime but rallied with a converted try while Wales were down a man. Replacement first-five Luka Matkava then kicked a long-range penalty with two minutes left and the Lelos held on for a famous win less than 11 months before the teams meet again at the World Cup in Nantes, France.
“The best thing is proving a lot of people wrong,” Lelos captain Merab Sharikadze said. “It’s a big pleasure. It’s amazing. This is not a team that people think we are. World Rugby needs to pay more attention to us.”
Wales made six changes after beating Argentina last weekend, but it soon became apparent in the second half that a new spark was needed and the bench began to be cleared early. The spark never came. Wales will end the year failing to win consecutive tests and Australia, another World Cup opponent, coming this weekend.
“We’re very disappointed,” Wales coach Wayne Pivac said. “We’ve got to pull this game apart, learn very quickly, and make sure we get the result against Australia we need.”
Halftime came as a relief for Georgia. The forwards were flagging and Wales were running them off their feet. However, Wales wasted chances and managed in the first half only two quick tries finished by flanker Jac Morgan.
But Georgia were transformed after the break, especially the scrum. The defence also gave Wales no space, the forwards held the ball longer, their confidence grew and Wales wilted.
“Before the game, I said [to the team] if you believe, you can win. The boys said yes,” Lelos coach Levan Maisashvili said. “At halftime, I said you can win this game. That result was important for us, for self-belief, for trust in our system, for trusting each other, coaches and players.”
The turning point was Alex Cuthbert’s yellow card for taking out opposite wing Sandro Todua. Cuthbert’s absence was expertly exploited when Georgia first-five Tedo Abzhandadze laid on a perfect crosskick to Todua to catch and stroll over the tryline.
Abzhandadze converted to lift Georgia within two of Wales with 20 minutes to go.
Thanks to the forwards’ control, halfback Vasil Lobzhanidze was playing the tempo game Wales wanted and fullback Davit Niniashvili was being a threat.
Abzhandadze missed a straightforward penalty kick for the lead but Georgia’s scrum took over at the end. Second best to Wales in the first half, the Georgians monstered Wales’ pack in the second. A tighthead earned another penalty and Abzhandadze’s replacement, Matkava, slotted it from Wales’ 10m line in the 78th minute.
“We didn’t come out in the second half,” Wales captain Justin Tipuric said. “It’s not nice to lose first time to them. It is a blow, especially with Georgia coming up in the World Cup.”
Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze