Fiji hammered another nail into the Wallabies’ coffin by defeating Georgia to all but seal Eddie Jones’ World Cup fate – but their 17-12 win wasn’t without controversy.
Twice English referee Karl Dickson made controversial calls in either half, with both costing Georgia – and the Wallabies – dearly.
The first came in the 40th minute as Georgia, leading 9-0 and Fiji’s nerves firmly on display, managed to clean up the loose ball at a breakdown and pass to winger Aka Tabutsadze to touch down out wide.
But the last pass was deemed to be forward by assistant referee Pierre Brousset, with Georgia denied a crucial five-point blow on the stroke of half-time. Nor was the decision referred upstairs to the TMO, with the on-field referees making a decision on the spot.
The immediate decision went against several moments throughout the World Cup, where referees have been inclined to listen to TMOs.
Vinaya Habosi scores his team’s second try against Georgia at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
The next came in the 65th minute with Georgia hanging on 9-7 following Waisea Nayacalevu’s spectacular finish in the 51st minute, as Dickson awarded an advantage from a knock-on over despite the ball being hacked ahead off the deck and into the hands of Fiji.
From the resulting breakdown, Fiji won a penalty and Frank Lomani wobbled a penalty over from 40 metres out to take the lead for the first time in the match by moving ahead 10-7.
There was no arguing about Fiji’s next scoring movement though, as some brilliance from Levani Botia to attract defenders and clear his arms to send Vinaya Habosi into score and send them on their way.
Or, so they thought.
A late and fabulous shot at goals, where Luka Matkava took next to no time to land a penalty in the 80th minute and cut the margin to 17-12, allowed Georgia one last crack to attempt a coast-to-coast try and win the match.
Georgia threw everything at it, before Mikheil Gachechiladze broke free out wide on the fringes and then unleashed Gela Aprasidze, who toed ahead instead of passing back on the inside.
The decision proved costly, as Fijian fullback Ilaisa Droasese was there first and toed the ball dead to seal a dramatic victory.
Luka Matkava is consoled by Teti Tela after their narrow 17-12 loss to Fiji at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
The 17-12 win put Fiji on the cusp of a historic quarter-final appearance, with Simon Raiwalui’s men only needing a losing bonus point next week against the winless Portugal to seal a place in the final eight.
Fiji, who have a game in hand on the Wallabies, are now four points clear of their Pool C rivals.
It leaves the Wallabies needing not only a bonus point victory over Portugal on Sunday evening (Monday, 2:45am, AEST) to leap their pool opponents, but Fiji to lose to the Europeans a week later and not pick up a losing bonus point either.
Raiwalui, who was Michael Cheika’s assistant with the Wallabies at the 2019 World Cup, said his side were fortunate to only be trailing by nine points at half time.
“Firstly, congratulations to Georgia. If we’re being honest, we were beaten to the punch in the first half. They came out and they were firing and we were lucky to just be down by nine points,” Raiwalui said.
“We knew it was going to be a battle. Just thankful we came away with the result.”
After showing nerves of steel against the Wallabies a fortnight ago at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, the pressure and expectation of being favourites was on display in the opening 20 minutes.
Balls were dropped, shots at goal missed and the composure was all at sea for Fiji.
Yet, for all their anxiety, Fiji weren’t put to the sword despite an early penalty from Matkava and two long-range shots from impressive winger Davit Niniashvili.
Georgia’s disallowed try proved costly on the stroke of half-time.
Waisea Nayacalevu scored a crucial try for Fiji out wide early in the second half against Georgia at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
But they didn’t help themselves in the opening stages of the second half, as Georgia failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage left by Semi Radradra’s deliberate knock down.
Despite having several opportunities inside Fiji’s 22, Georgia made a meal of the chances.
It was left to Fiji’s captain Nayacalevu to settle it down, as the outside centre finished brilliantly out wide. Lomani’s sideline conversion was important, too.
The final 30 minutes was a ding-dong battle that went down to the final play, with Fiji holding on to leave them a losing bonus point away from progressing into the final eight and likely a date with England in the quarter-finals.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Yawn
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Fiji have got a lot go their way after the Wales fiasco. Some would say too much.
WEST
Roar Guru
Yep… that pretty much sums it up. You caught on quick! Anything is possible at this point
Flyman
Roar Rookie
I went back on the slo-mo, definitely a forward pass- the ref had a wry smile and was almost apologetic to Georgia as they'd been pushing hard.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
It wouldn't be a surprise!
savant
Roar Rookie
The wallabies will get relegated!
Kamikaae
Roar Rookie
To depend on other teams to beat Fiji so that Australia can scrape into the Quarterfinals (especially when itself lost to Fiji) , is pretty insulting…. if not humiliating, for a country that carries the prestige of being among the very select few which had won the Rugby World Cup TWICE. How really low can Australia go ,,, when GEORGIA was penalised by the referee, ( GEORGIA meaning Australia) was robbed ?? Suddenly Georgia players were playing FOR AUSTRALIA. Some people are eating wild psychedelic mushrooms in Australia, while watching the Georgia v Fiji game. Hoping Georgia beat the hell out of the Fijians so as to protect Australia’s national interest.
Baz
Roar Rookie
Firstly why didn't the TMO intervene when the referee re-awarded the penalty. This was a blatant refereeing mistake. Secondly the Georgians seem to handle the physicality of Fiji far better than the Wallabies did. Their defensive line appeared far less bothered by the big Fijian ball runners.
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Not to mention your fellow roarers! ;)
Nobody
Roar Rookie
I watched my recorded replay a few times today. First impressions were that it was fine, but having viewed it a lot I’m positive it actually was forward after all. It leaves the passer’s hands about 2m from the 5m line, and touches the recipient’s hands about 1m from it. That’s what I see, anyway. Georgia were still robbed though. There was one arm to head that absolutely should have been a yellow card that was completely missed, at a time it would probably have changed the result. If that had happened to a tier 1 side, their fans would be rioting.
Rush Gunawardena
Roar Rookie
Rememeber , Fiji referred the no arms tackle in 2019 for reece Hodge and he got a two match suspension? Fiji should have got a Red card for the the head on head in Marika in the second round .. Not sure why they keep getting out .. I know everybody would cheer for Fiji .. But I hope they beat England in the quarter final .. and proceed to semis .. for what its worth .. as a wallabies fan , I would want them to go all the way
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
The article was as one sided as a Rassie video. The bad decisions went both ways e.g. Georgia's first six points came from penalties that went the wrong way.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Tom reality is that if someone s ratches their bum wrong it gets spotted. If it didn't get spotted its probably a good sign it didn't happen anywhere but inside your imagination.
Hughi
Roar Rookie
Yea, it sucks that the consistency issue comes up again. if they could check on these close calls that would help but then the game gets slower and slower which disadvantages teams that want to play quickly. Always had calls that are border line or just wrong, maybe more reviews by the TMO as play continues. The calls may have gone against Georgia but Fiji against Wales seemed to go against Fiji so maybe the rugby gods balance it out. I sympathize with your comment though.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Throw Georgia in to make it the 7 nations. Throw in Japan and Fiji into the rugby championship and then add the winner of a new pacific nations tournament with samoa, tonga, us, canada, Uruguay, Chile. Religate the last placed team from the Rugby championship into that league each year. And promote the 1st. Bledisloe should be a one-off match each year outside of the RC. What ya think?
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
100% with you on that. I also think Georgia played really well and wished they had played like this against the Wallabies. I don’t think they would have beaten the Wallabies, but this was a far better outing for them than the performance they put in in that game and showed what they can do. I agree the Fijians were not able to put them away, but gee the Georgians defended so well against a much more physical side. I liked it as a game and it had me watching to the end. I guess it is easier for me when I don’t have anything riding on it, so completely understand many Wallaby supporters comments and passion around this game. I really wish things were different in Australian rugby as the average Wallaby supporter and so many who post here are deeply invested and passionate about rugby and their team. I hope we get through these dark days and the Wallabies rise again in the not too distant future. Australia is genuinely one of the greatest sporting countries on the planet and their athletes of all codes always give it their absolute all and wear their national colours with pride. I am sure this is just a blip, but in saying that there are some things which need to be sorted.
RakaviBoy
Roar Rookie
Helped with funding? Lol. World Rugby owe teams like Fiji big time. All the funds come from the RWC profits, yet no prize money is ever given. Fiji should get their cut, fair and square, like all participating teams. Instead, WR keep ALL the profits and dictate to tier two teams how they must spend the grants, who they can and cannot hire etc. Note that the same restrictions don’t apply when tier one teams get their funding. It’s shameful.
toadflax
Roar Rookie
Maybe. But they have beaten England at the Home of Rugby, so that has to be a “settler”. I think we are toast and on our way home so am hoping for a bit of a fillip with Fiji nailing England again!
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
It’s not what I think, it’s what the ref sees and calls, however for me it was line ball at best. He passed it stationary and looked like it was caught by the runner outstretched and stumbling to catch up with it slightly forward of where it was passed from. I can see how that is called forward and have no issue with it. It certainly wasn’t passed backwards and the ref was on the spot, so in my view it’s the refs call. People saying it definitely wasn’t forward are reaching in my opinion for what they want to see. People then using this as Georgia being unlucky to lose and complaining it should have been referred to TMO when the ref clearly feels certain in his call just looks like desperation. Another thing is this happened in the first half, so if Georgia deserved to win they had ample opportunity. But no let’s make a song and dance about a missed opportunity by Georgia and create controversy around it, then go on to suggest that Fiji didn’t deserve the win and weren’t the better team. I think it was a good game and enjoyed it as a spectacle. Shame that this is all some people want to talk about and discredit Fiji in the process. I can understand it on the back of the Wallabies woes, but still think it’s unfair.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It’s possible, Ben, but doesn’t seem likely given that it was a clear forward pass.