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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Your support makes all the difference.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:
TRY! Wales 17-7 Georgia (Merab Sharikadze, 35 minutes)
35 mins: Can Georgia get a try before the half-time break? Yes!
They’re forcing the issue with some good pressure deep in Wales’ half. An attempted maul from a lineout goes nowhere due to Wales’ fantastic defence but Mikheil Gachechiladze bursts out from the cluster of bodies and is brought down just before the line.
Georgia shift the ball quickly and find captain Merab Sharikadze who powers in between the sticks.
Wales 17-0 Georgia
31 mins: A penalty for Georgia earns them their best field position of the match. From a line the ball comes in from Shalva Mamukashvili and drops to Tornike Jalagonia.
Jalagonia has a sight of the line but juggles the ball and spills it befor he can get over.
PENALTY! Wales 17-0 Georgia (Sam Costelow, 27 minutes)
27 minutes: Sam Costelow, playing at fly-half today, pings the ball straight down the middle of the uprights and there’s another three points added onto the score.
Wales 14-0 Georgia
25 mins: Wales are starting to amp up the pressure with more turnovers of the ball in the middle of the pitch. A comfortable lead established they decide to run the ball more.
Dewi Lake drives into the line and is brought down before a foul against Aaron Wainwright gives the Welsh an opportunity to kick for goal.
TRY! Wales 14-0 Georgia (Liam Williams, 23 minutes)
23 minutes: Wales attempt to get into the in-goal zone with a driving maul that Georgia manage to keep at bay. The ball comes out and is pass along to Sam Costelow in the No. 10 role.
He delays his pass before flinging the ball over to Liam Williams who skips inside and grounds the ball for Wales’ second try. The conversion goes over without too much trouble too.
Wales 7-0 Georgia
22 minutes: Tomos Williams feeds the scrum and receives the ball over on the left side of the line. He releases it to Sam Costelow who feeds the ball wide for Rio Dyer.
Dyer strides down the wing before getting brought down but Wales are awarded a penalty and decide to kick for territory.
Wales 7-0 Georgia
20 minutes: That opening try may just unlock Wales to press home their advantage in this game. They’ve been pressing beautifully, chasing the kicks down and forcing more efforts from the Georgians.
Wales win a scrum on the 22, can they make it count?
TRY! Wales 7-0 Georgia (Tomas Francis, 16 minutes)
They don’t mess this one up! From a lineout Wales drive forward with a maul before releasing the ball and switching it down the line.
Dewi Lake is held out just before the line but a short pass into the path of Tomas Francis is enough to enable the big man to power over for the first try of the match!
Wales 0-0 Georgia
15 mins: Big chance for Wales!
They turn the ball over deep in Georgia’s half and square the ball out to the left wing. They have a six on two overload as Rio Dyer takes possession.
He tries to put on the burners but is tackled. As he’s brought down Dyer offloads to Sam Costelow who fumbles the ball out of play.
Wales 0-0 Georgia
12 mins: A Georgian scrum sees them fling the ball quickly down the line with Davit Niniashvili grabbing hold of it on the left wing. He tries to cut inside and is brought down but gains a few yards inside the Welsh half.
The Lelos are unable to press their advantage though and the ball is turned over once again.
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