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Wallabies vs Georgia: Rugby World Cup preview and prediction

10th October, 2019
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Roar Guru
10th October, 2019
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Occasionally extreme weather interferes with major sporting events. There was the 2002 Champions Trophy final between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo.

The match was rained-out twice and neither side won.

More famously the 1976 Grand Prix at the storm-hit Fuji circuit ended in far more dramatic fashion. A Japanese monsoon helped James Hunt pip great rival Niki Lauda to the Formula One World Championship.

The outcome of this Rugby World Cup is far from decided and is still in the hands of the sides competing. However, the super typhoon that has changed to a more northerly course than first thought, and is now set to wreak havoc on Tokyo on Saturday, will have a definite bearing on the knockout stages.

The Wallabies say they only have Georgia on their mind and will not be distracted by the mature tropical cyclone.

In their fourth and final match of Pool D, Australia will play the Georgians – as scheduled – in what will be the first ever meeting between the two sides. The match itself will not impact the Wallabies progression in the World Cup. Their place was sewn up following Fiji’s defeat to Wales on Wednesday night.

Dane Haylett-Petty

Australia’s full back Dane Haylett-Petty (R) (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Wind gusts will reach in excess of 120mph and 300-500mm of rain will fall on Saturday forcing the England-France and New Zealand-Italy matches to be abandoned.

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Both games will be recorded as 0-0 draws. As a result England top Pool C. Australia know they will be facing their old rivals in Oita next weekend unless Uruguay can shock Wales on Sunday.

Had France played and beaten England, the French would have topped Pool C and Australia’s quarter-final assignment would look very different. It is immaterial now. We will never know.

The Wallabies are scheduled to fly to Oita on Monday evening, six days out from their potential clash with England. Eddie Jones’ side have already travelled south to the coastal town of Miyazaki. They will come into next Saturday’s match with an extra week of rest.

The upside for the Aussies is the opportunity to use this match as a springboard to next week and find the consistency in their play that has been missing so far in the tournament.

David Pocock, who will captain Australia against Georgia, believes both sides are looking forward to making the most of the dead rubber.

“I haven’t seen any of the stuff around the typhoon or thought that far ahead,” he said.

“It can work either way so I’m sure both teams will be looking to make the most out of the situation.

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“The way that we make the most out of it is by turning up and having a really good game, giving guys an opportunity to push for selection and hopefully building some momentum.”

Team news
Michael Cheika has made several changes for the game and said that the competition for places was “driving the Wallabies to greater heights,” using halfbacks Nic White and Will Genia as examples.

A notable shuffle comes at flyhalf as Matt To’omua starts with Christan Lealiifano selected on the bench. It will be the first time To’omua has worn the No 10 in 2019.

With Pocock in as skipper, Michael Hooper is left out of the squad. As is Adam Coleman. Blindside specialist Jack Dempsey slots in and will be looking to nail down his spot in the starting XV.

David Pocock

David Pocock of the Wallabies (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Jordan Petaia has retained his spot in the starting line-up after his excellent debut in the win over Uruguay.

Georgia coach Milton Haig has named virtually the same starting XV that lost to Fiji.

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Just two changes see scrumhalf Gela Aprasidze and back-rower Beka Saginadze come in for Vasil Lobzhanidze and Giorgi Tkhilaishvili who both drop to the bench. Giorgi Kveseladze starts once again having played every minute of every match so far in the competition.

Merab Sharikadze returned as captain against Fiji and retains his position. The 26-year-old has been the stand-out player in attack for Georgia.

Prediction
Georgia’s tournament started badly with a 43-14 loss to Wales who blew them off the park in the first half.

However, they did show real quality against Uruguay with a dominant 33-7 victory. Their scrum was particularly effective.

Fiji put paid to their dreams of making the knockout stages but the Lelos can still secure qualification for the 2023 World Cup with a win.

It will be a tough ask though. The Wallabies have never lost their final pool stage game at a World Cup and should make light work of the tier two nation.

Australia by 25.

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