Wales v Georgia LIVE: Result and reaction as Louis Rees-Zammit scores hat-trick to confirm top spot in group
Wales 43-19 Georgia: Warren Gatland’s side top Pool C as Rees-Zammit’s hat-trick eased any late nerves
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Winger Louis Rees-Zammit scored a hat-trick of tries as Wales rugby beat Georgia rugby 43-19 to secure first place in Rugby World Cup Pool C on Saturday and a quarter-final against Argentina or Japan.
Wales, who lost their last match against Georgia 11 months ago, went into halftime with a 17-7 lead after tries by prop Tomas Francis and fullback Liam Williams but then faced a spirited fightback from the Georgians. They had crossed the Wales line before the interval through captain Merab Sharikadze and stunned the Welsh with successive tries after the hour mark from replacement prop Vano Karkadze and wing Davit Niniashvili.
Rees-Zammit and centre George North scored late tries to extend the Welsh lead. Flyhalf Sam Costelow, a last-minute replacement for Gareth Anscombe who was injured in the warm-up, kicked 14 points for Wales. Georgia finished fourth in the pool with no wins and one draw against Portugal despite spirited performances against all their opponents including Australia and Fiji.
Follow all the reaction as Wales defeated Georgia in their final Pool C match plus get all the latest Rugby World Cup odds and tips here:
Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group
Wales won their World Cup group and maintained an unbeaten march to the quarter-finals after beating Georgia 43-19 at Stade de la Beaujoire.
Warren Gatland’s team needed one point to finish top of Pool C after securing a last-eight place almost two weeks ago by defeating Australia in record-breaking fashion.
And they accomplished it on the same ground that 16 years ago Fiji condemned them to a World Cup pool-stage exit.
Wing Louis Rees-Zammit scored three tries, while there were also touchdowns for prop Tomas Francis, full-back Liam Williams and centre George North.
Wales ensured there would be no repeat of Georgia’s shock 13-12 success in Cardiff during the 2022 autumn Tests as they overcame fly-half Gareth Anscombe’s withdrawal just 45 minutes before kick-off due to a groin injury.
Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group
Wales 43-19 Georgia: Prop Tomas Francis, full-back Liam Williams and centre George North also crossed as Warren Gatland’s side topped Pool C
Full-time! Wales 43-19 Georgia
Four wins from four pool matches for Wales! They are resounding winners in Pool C and can start planning for their quarter-final in Marseille next weekend.
Wales finish with 19 points and will likely play either Japan or Argentina from Pool D.
TRY! Wales 43-19 Georgia (George North, 80 minutes)
80 mins: A couple of lovely flat passes, first from Sam Costelow then from Louis Rees Zammit, see Wales fling the ball out to the right wing where George North clings onto the ball.
He slips through a gap, gets in behind and grounds the ball to see Wales end this match with a flourish.
TRY! Wales 36-19 Georgia (Louis Rees Zammit, 74 minutes)
74 minutes: Another try for Wales! Stuck in the middle of the pitch, Louis Rees Zammit collects the ball and kicks it himself. The kick bobbles over to the back right corner and the winger sprints after his own kick.
He dabs it into the the in-goal area and just manages to get a hand on the ball to ground it before being forced to the ground. Sam Costelow misses the conversion.
Wales 31-19 Georgia
72 minutes: Taine Basham and Davit Niniashvili get into a bit of a barney with each other and square up. There’s some pushing and shoving which results in both players getting yellow carded.
They’re sinbinned for 10 minutes and will play no further part in the match.
Wales 31-19 Georgia
70 minutes: Wales needed that try.
They were under a heap of pressure from Georgia but things have settled down once again. A fourth try for Warren Gatland’s men means that they’ve secured themselves a bonus point and in doing so are going to finish top of Pool C.
10 minutes to play.
TRY! Wales 31-19 Georgia (Louis Rees Zammit, 67 minutes)
67 mins: Wales sweep the ball down the line and get it to George North. He whips the ball over to Liam Williams on the wing and the pass may just be forward.
Williams sprints forward and chips a kick over the top. The bounce is perfect for the sprinting Louis Rees Zammit who collects the loose ball and dives over the touchline!
TRY! Wales 24-19 Georgia (Davit Niniashvili, 62 minutes)
62 minutes: A quick transfer down the line brings the ball to Davit Niniashvili who hands off Gareth Davies with ease and puts on the burners to fly down the left wing and leap over the line.
Georgia are back in this match though the conversion sails wide of the target.
TRY! Wales 24-14 Georgia (Vano Karkadze, 58 minutes)
58 mins: Georgia come again with a kick to the corner. Their lineout is about five metres from the line. Vano Karkadze is given the ball and powers forward.
Wales hold him up and keep Georgia at bay through two more phases. A penalty advantage gives Georgia the boost they need and Karkadze goes over with his second attempt!
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