Wales 43-19 Georgia: Warren Gatland’s men win again to maintain perfect record and top Pool C at Rugby World Cup
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Updated 07/10/2023 at 15:20 GMT
Louis Rees-Zammit bagged a second-half hat-trick as Wales beat Georgia 43-19 to maintain their perfect record at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The win means that Wales finish the pool as resounding winners – though Georgia gave Wales food for thought in a second half that was not all plain sailing for Warren Gatland’s men. Wales will face the Pool D runner-up in the quarter-finals next Saturday.
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Wales secured top spot in Pool C by continuing their perfect record at the Rugby World Cup as Louis Rees-Zammit scored a second-half hat-trick in a 43-19 win over Georgia in Nantes.
The Welsh, who came into their final pool game on the back of a superb 40-6 thrashing of Australia, were dealt a major blow in the warm-up when fly-half Gareth Anscombe picked up an injury.
Sam Costelow was promoted to earn his first World Cup start in his place, and the young Scarlets man guided his side to a strong start as Tomas Francis and Liam Williams crossed inside the first 24 minutes.
Georgia responded when captain Merab Sharikadze drove over before half-time to raise faint hopes of another famous comeback win, with their 13-12 victory in Cardiff last November still fresh in the memory.
Rees-Zammit restored a comfortable lead for Wales early in the second half to settle any nerves, but two Georgian tries in the space of four minutes from Vano Karkadze and Davit Niniashvili reduced the deficit to just five points going into the final 15 minutes.
Again Rees-Zammit was called on to settle Welsh anxiety as he gathered a Williams kick to dot down in an immediate response from Warren Gatland’s side, before he added a third and George North crossed the whitewash late on.
Wales will face the Pool D runner-up, likely to be either Argentina or Japan, in Marseille next Saturday.
Talking point – Costelow copes admirably
This probably wasn’t how Costelow expected to make his first Rugby World Cup start. The fly-half was called into the starting side about 30 minutes before kick-off when Anscombe suffered a reported groin injury in the warm-up.
With Dan Biggar still not fully fit, it was all on the 22-year-old Scarlets man to run the show. Pressure? What pressure?
Costelow quickly looked at ease pulling the strings for the Welsh, orchestrating their attacks, kicking from hand effectively in open play and nailing almost all of his kicks from the tee. It was an impressive audition from the third-choice fly-half.
Player of the match – Louis Rees-Zammit
There were several contenders, with Williams putting in an impressive display from full-back, Tommy Reffell impressing in the back row, and Costelow pulling the strings impressively despite his late call-up.
But Wales relied on the class of Rees-Zammit in a difficult second half, with his hat-trick of fine finishes helping them over the line just as Georgia were threatening a stirring fightback.
Player ratings
WALES: L. Williams 8; Rees-Zammit 9, North 8, Tompkins 6, Dyer 6; Costelow 8, T. Williams 7; Thomas 7, Lake 7, Francis 8; Rowlands 7, Jenkins 7; Wainwright 7, Reffell 8, Faletau 6
Replacements: Dee 6, Smith 6, H. Thomas 6, Tshiunza 6, Basham 5, Davies 6, Grady 6
GEORGIA: Khmaladze 6; Tabutsadze 7, Kveseladze 6, Sharikadze 7, Niniashvili 7; Matkava 6, Lobzhanidze 6; Gogichashvili 6, Mamukashvili 5, Gigashvili 6; Cheishvili 6, Mikautadze 6; Gachechiladze 6, Saginadze 7, Jalagonia 6
Replacements: Karkadze 8, Abuladze 6, Aptsiauri 6, Chachanidze 6, Tsutskiridze 6, Aprasidze 6, Abzhandadze 6, Tapladze 6
Match highlights
17’ TRY! WALES 7-0 GEORGIA (FRANCIS)
The line-out is gathered and the maul gradually edges forward before the ball is fizzed out to North. He's dragged down, but a couple of phases later the ball is worked to Francis, who barges over the try line from close range!
24’ TRY! WALES 14-0 GEORGIA (L. WILLIAMS)
Two in a row! The line-out is secured, the maul formed, and the ball fizzed out to Williams, who skips inside a defender to dot down and give the Welsh a strong lead. Two from two off the tee for Costelow.
36’ TRY - WALES 17-7 GEORGIA (SHARIKADZE)
Georgia go through a couple of phases before spinning it out to captain Sharikadze, who bursts through a gap to stretch over the line and get one back. It's converted by Matkava - game on!
44’ TRY! WALES 24-7 GEORGIA (REES-ZAMMIT)
They call him Rees lightning for a reason...One handling error from Georgia is all it takes as a loose ball is scooped up and shovelled out to the wing in space, and there's no catching him as he hares under the sticks.
64’ TRY! WALES 24-19 GEORGIA (NINIASHVILI)
What a try! Niniashvili with a moment of individual brilliance brings Georgia right back into this! The wing picks up a pass 10 metres into the Welsh half, hands off one defender, skips through a gap and eats up the grass to dive over in style. Georgia's fightback has made this a five-point game all of a sudden!
69’ TRY! WALES 31-19 GEORGIA (REES-ZAMMIT)
Williams knocks an inviting kick over the top of the last defender and Rees-Zammit goes haring after it. The ball pops up nicely for the wing to grab it and dot down in the corner for a nerve-settling score that earns the bonus point that will ensure Wales will win Pool C.
Key stats
- Wales have won 14 of their last 15 pool stage matches at the Rugby World Cup, including each of their last eight, their longest ever winning run at this stage of the competition
- Wales have scored at least three tries in each of their last five pool matches
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