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:
Wales 0-0 Georgia
9 mins: This has been an electrifying start with both teams trying to get enough control of the ball to make a run at the try zone. A kicking battle ensues with Wales earning themselves a scrum inside the 22.
They’ve got a chance to put some pressure on Georgia but an error gives their opponents another penalty.
Wales 0-0 Georgia
6 mins: George North mistimes a tackle and clatters into the neck of one of the Georgian defenders giving away a foul and letting his opponents a free kick of territory.
Georgia slip inside Wales’ half but Warren Gatland’s men recover the ball quickly. A quick kick over to the left wing from Tomos Williams tries to slip Rio Dyer into space but it bounces out of play before the einger can get there.
Wales 0-0 Georgia
3 minutes: After a couple of phases trying to run the ball through the middle of the pitch Wales decide to kick and push Georgia deep into their own half.
A high ball in repsonse sees Liam Williams leap into the air to make the catch but he lands awakward and there’s a momentary worry for the Welsh side.
That blows over as Williams hobbles back to his feet and plays on.
Kick off! Wales 0-0 Georgia
Wales get the match going in Nantes and boot the ball over to the right side of Georgia’s line. The Welsh forward line follows it up brilliantly and refuse to let the Georgians gain much territory and the ball is hefted back into their half of the pitch.
Wales vs Georgia
Here come the teams.
Georgia will be hoping to execute a perfect gameplan to finish off their Rugby World Cup campaign on a high. Wales know that one point will be enough for them to win the pool.
Sam Costelow will play at 10 after the injury to Gareth Anscombe with Dan Biggar brought onto the bench.
The national anthems are sung and kick off is up next...
Wales vs Georgia
Wales are aiming to win their World Cup pool for a second successive tournament when they face Georgia in the final group game in Nantes.
Warren Gatland’s side need a point from their Pool C match in order to top the group, having already secured a quarter-final place thanks to their victory over Australia last time out.
Georgia have yet to win a game in this competition with defeats by Fiji and Australia and a draw against Portugal however they inflicted a shock 13-12 defeat on Wales when the countries last met almost a year ago.
Gareth Anscombe injured in warm-up
Bad news for Wales ahead of today’s game as starting fly half Gareth Anscombe has been injured in the warm-up. It continues Anscombe’s rotten luck with injuries as it seems like he’s tweaked a groin and he’s almost in tears on the pitch.
It means that Sam Costelow comes off the bench to start at 10 and Dan Biggar, who is nursing a pec injury and Warren Gatland wanted to rest ahead of the knockouts, joins the replacements. A real blow for Wales.
Gatland on Wales’ player rotation
“I think we have been excellent in the way we have managed the players.” Warren Gatland said about his player rotation for this World Cup.
“We pretty much have a clean bill of health, in terms of no injuries. I know that is hugely important for a country like Wales with such a small playing base, that we can’t have too many injuries.
“I don’t think there is any secret, it is just hard work. We have spoken in the past about the opportunity in World Cup years - the time you get with the players, the time you can put into things.
“These guys have worked incredibly hard.”
Wales mindful of Georgia threat
Wales know from painful experience exactly what Georgia are capable of. It was less than a year ago that Wales endured a calamity in Cardiff, losing 13-12 at the Principality Stadium as Georgia’s shock victory effectively signalled the end of Wayne Pivac’s coaching reign.
It was an abject display, even allowing for Georgia’s impressive second-half performance when their forwards took charge and pummelled Wales into submission.
Four of that starting XV will be in the line-up on Saturday – Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Tomos Williams and Gareth Thomas – and while a repeat result looks highly unlikely, Wales know they must be on their guard.
Gareth Anscombe at the controls
There would have been a collective holding of breath by Wales supporters when Dan Biggar went off injured after just 12 minutes during a record 40-6 victory over Australia in Lyon.
A pectoral muscle strain forced the fly-half’s early exit, but Wales were in safe hands as Gareth Anscombe replaced him and equalled Biggar’s best of 23 points for Wales in one World Cup game, booting a drop-goal, conversion and six penalties.
It was a wonderfully-assured display by Anscombe, who retains his place against Georgia, while Biggar recovers and remains on course to be available for the quarter-finals.
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