Australia
27
Match Complete
Georgia
8
| W. Genia |  | 78 | ||
| J. Dempsey | | 74 | ||
| 69 | | A. Todua | ||
| M. Toomua |  | 60 | ||
| M. Koroibete | | 59 | ||
| M. Toomua |  | 36 | ||
| 27 | | S. Matiashvili | ||
| M. Toomua | | 23 | ||
| N. White | | 22 |
| 4 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Wallabies meet Georgia in their final Pool D match before the knockout stages begin. Join The Roar from 9:15pm (AEDT) for this clash.
The Wallabies will look to secure second spot, and a meeting with England, by beating the Georgians.
It has been a tough tournament for Georgia with two losses and a solitary win over Uruguay 33-7.
Wales put 42 points on them and Fiji 45.
But it’s hardly been great so far for the Aussies either. They struggled against the Fijians and then lost in a thriller to the Welsh.
The Wallabies have had their discipline problems, falling foul of the referees constantly.
Coach Michael Cheika has made 10 changes to his starting XV, with captain Michael Hooper rested and David Pocock given the armband.
Rob Simmons replaces the injured Adam Coleman on the bench as only Jack Dempsey, Nic White, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale and Jordan Petaia keep their place from the victory against Uruguay.
Petaia moves to the right wing while Toomua moves from inside centre to fly-half.
Georgia have made just two changes to the side that lost to Fiji with scrum-half Gela Aprasidze and number eight Beka Saginadze coming into the XV.
Australia and Georgia, ranked 14th in the world, have never previously met on the rugby field before.
Prediction
The Wallabies should demolish Georgia and secure a bonus point.
Wales to win by 40 points.
Join The Roar from 9:15pm (AEDT) for the play by play.
When: 9:15pm (AEDT)
Where: Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Fukuroi
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Australia $1.02, Draw $17, Georgia $51
Wallabies
Beale, Petaia, O’Connor, Kerevi, Koroibete; Toomua, White; Sio, Latu, Kepu, Rodda, Arnold, Dempsey, Pocock (capt), Naisarani.
Replacements: Uelese, Slipper, Tupou, Simmons, Hooper, Genia, Lealiifano, Haylett-Petty.
Georgia
Matiashvili; Kveseladze, Kacharava, Sharikadze, Todua; Khmaladze, Aprasidze; Nariashvili, Mamukashvili, Gigashvili, Nemsadze, Mikautadze, Saginadze, Gorgodze, Gorgadze.
Replacements: Bregvadze, Gogichashvili, Melikidze, Giorgadze, Tkhilaishvili, Lobzhanidze, Malaguradze, Mchedlidze.
Richie Walton
Roar Guru
Even the wallabies aren’t stupid enough to pass up an opportunity to practice wet weather rugby in a tournament held during typhoon season. When you know your next knockout opponent has that as a strength. Since when has wet weather football involved heading wide at every opportunity and refusing to kick from hand? No plan B. They did against Fiji two weeks ago. Look at the first half compared to the second half. Each team has their style and strengths. Wales didn’t change their approach against the Wallabies, who adapted in the second half, and almost got rundown. Ireland box-kicked their way to oblivion against Japan. The Wallabies are reasonably adaptable, but they often start with the wrong tactics, take to long to adapt and execute any plan poorly. That’s why they’re ranked 6th. They kicked less in that game than all tournament, obviously a deliberate Cheika has said for years he wants to play ball in hand running rugby over kicking. I revert back to “no plan b”. - This contradicts your first point. Was it wet weather football.. kicking for territory and keeping it in tight..which would be a plan B, or was it ball-in-hand running footy? It’s not called holding back when you don’t have anything else to give. Any team can score 50+ if they play better. However, the fact that they didn’t, and haven’t consistently, is the reason we’re having this conversation. - Sure. I think you get my point that the score wasn’t reflective of their overall dominance. Not sure I’ve seen them drop 15 in a match previously though. And you seem to have forgotten Perth.
DNZ
Guest
If only we’d actually experiments and tried TK and O’Connor together earlier on. Cheika has settled on his selections so long ago that if he takes a plan b it’s is now a Hail Mary. Amazing.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think tonight’s scrum battle was a tougher contest than the English will provide and that neither Georgia nor England have much of a lineout. Much tougher opponent in England but it won’t be a tougher set piece that brings the challenge. It’s pretty much everything except that.
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
Did they try to play wet weather football? Of course they did. Even the wallabies aren't stupid enough to pass up an opportunity to practice wet weather rugby in a tournament held during typhoon season. When you know your next knockout opponent has that as a strength. Did they attempt a plan B? They haven't had a plan B for 4 years. Surely you're not suggesting they've held it back since Cheika took over? They kicked less in that game than all tournament, obviously a deliberate ploy. Correct. It is a deliberate ploy. Cheika has said for years he wants to play ball in hand running rugby over kicking. I revert back to "no plan b". It's not called holding back when you don't have anything else to give. if they hadn’t dropped so much ball they would’ve scored 50+ You may as well just say "if they'd scored ten tries they could have put on 50+". Any team can score 50+ if they play better. However, the fact that they didn't, and haven't consistently, is the reason we're having this conversation.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
I live in the uk nowadays
Richie Walton
Roar Guru
Did they try to play wet weather football? Did they attempt a plan B? They kicked less in that game than all tournament, obviously a deliberate ploy. Seemed apparent that they held back and didn’t give much away on purpose. It might look stupid, but if they hadn’t dropped so much ball they would’ve scored 50+ despite not playing any particular style besides a few one-out hit ups and then give it to the backs.
TC
Roar Rookie
CD.. Think he might be Worried about Cards..Saving it for the QF
John
Roar Rookie
Tbf I don't think Eddie will take much from the game, apart from maybe testing the Australian teams discipline, as I doubt any team in the competition has had as many yellow cards as Australia, and if that is not addressed next week, Australia will be going home. I think the Australian set piece is much stronger than most Australian teams of recently years, but England has arguably the strongest set piece in the competition, so that'll be a challenge. I think it will be a great game and of course any one can win a one off game(I mean Scotland almost beat Australia at the last wc), but England will be favourites and rightly so because they are a much better team than Australia and have not lost to Australia even once since 2015 including 37-18 last autumn.
Bruce Vartan
Guest
Not sure how this leaves Aust ahead of next week. If the weather is similar I think England will have a field day! Doubt Aust will score those close tries v Eng. Set pieces will be more even. If it's dry then will be a more even contest. But their discipline needs a huge improvement because Eng will take all points on offer
John Davidson
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT Australia have warmed up with their quarter-final clash with England with a worrying and stuttering 27-8 win over Georgia. The Wallabies had to work hard for their victory and crossed twice in the final 10 minutes to flatter the scoreline. Georgia were tremendous in defence, frustrating the Wallabies at every opportunity and suffocating their attack. With the rain coming down and heavy winds, Australia struggled to get any momentum. It took 22 minutes for them to find a way through, Nic White sniping from the ruck. Soso Matiashvili made it 7-3 when he landed a penalty goal. Then Isa Nasiarani was yellow-carded for a high tackle that connected to the head of a Georgian opponent. He was lucky not be sent off. Matt Toomua extended the lead slightly with a penalty goal. It remained 10-3 at the break as the Wallabies could not open up Georgia’s wall of defence. In the second half errors and mistakes continued to mount and mount for the men in gold. On 59th minutes Marika Korobiete eased the pressure with a brilliant individual try. Australia looked safe at 17-3. But then Alexander Todua touched down on the left wing for a great Georgian try. The amount of tackling they were forced to do in the first half started to catch up with Gerogia in the final stages and the Wallabies pounced. First Jack Dempsey crossed off the back of a rolling maul. Then Will Genia glided over right on full-time to seal the win. The average performance leaves Michael Cheika with plenty of work to do ahead of the quarter-finals. If Wales beat Uruguay on Sunday, as expected, then the Wallabies will meet England in Oita on October 19.
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
Eddie will take out: That the wallabies still have no plan b, Still have no kicking game, Still can't play wet weather rugby, Have a poor feel for their combinations, And were it not for slightly better depth and fitness could possibly have lost to Georgia Doesn't seem like nothing to me
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Yeh, I picked the MotM. I.Rodda went the full 80, tackled hard with few misses, hit the rucks hard and destroyed the Georgia lineout.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
- Wallaby forwards set piece very good. Scrum was great which is good practice for next weekend. - Backs were very attack minded, which is good but - Halves needed to kick more and play to the conditions (wet weather). Kick deep and play in the “right” area of the field. - Forwards needed to employ the “pick and go” from rucks. - And Genia needed to put the Ball carriers into space I predict it will be a close and tough encounter with England next week. Never write off the Wallabies!
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
I still dislike him as a commentator but credit where it's due he's definitely improving and coming across as one of the most knowledgeable tonight
Highlander
Guest
This evenings closing limerick Sat up late in the night To watch 80 minutes of shite There was no chance at all Of holding the ball Maybe kicking for distance was right.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
fully agree mon ami!
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Me, I'm interested
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
Scraping a bonus point win in the dying minutes...still, it's a whole different tournament when the QFs arrive. Everyone is in with a serious shot. England, France, ABs and Boks are a little underdone. Ireland, Wallabies, Wales and either Japan or Scotland have had a tougher time and maybe a little more battle hardened.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Thanks
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Yes...a while ago mind you!