Fiji 17-12 Georgia: Rugby World Cup 2023 – live reaction

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An expected result via an unexpected performance from both sides, but in the end Fiji remain in position to progress.

Dragging a win out of a game like this could be just what the Fijians needed as they move forward, as not all tournaments progress and an improving line of best fit in performances. They now need a point from the Portugal match.

Georgia will be heartbroken to have not held on, but can at least leave France justifiably saying they’ve given a good account of themselves in one match, at least.

Updated at 13.47 EDT

FULL TIME! Fiji 17-12 Georgia

80 mins. The last attack from Georgia has two players chasing a kick towards the Fiji line, but Habosi reaches it first to toe-poke it dead on the volley. Game over!

Updated at 13.41 EDT

PENALTY! Fiji 17 – 12 Georgia (Luka Matkava)

79 mins. That three points puts the Lelos in losing bonus point territory

YELLOW CARD! Josua Tuisova (Fiji)

79 mins. Tuisova goes in high on Modebadze, it’s head on head and he’ll be off the field while the bunker takes a look on whether it should be upgraded to red.

78 mins. Fiji are in the Lelos 22 and into double figures in phases. Georgia are defending incredibly well given the stage of the game as they absorb hits from runner after runner before Tela attempts a snap drop-goal that started bad, got worse when he hit it and didn’t get any better in the air. Wide right.

73 mins. A forward pass from Modebadze on a Georgia counter attack results in a Fiji scrum on their own 10m line. Time is ebbing away for the chances of both the Lelos victory and Fiji’s bonus point.

70 mins. Matkava sets off on a glorious stepping run that moves him away from four attempted tackles before he’s eventually stopped in the Fiji half. The ball is spilled at the breakdown and Droasese clears it with the boot.

Updated at 13.26 EDT

TRY! Fiji 17 – 9 Georgia (Vinaya Habosi)

68 mins. Having done the necessary at the other end of the pitch, Botia decides it’s time to show how it’s done in attack as well as he drives forward and throws an outstanding over the shoulder offload to Habosi who races in.

Lomani converts.

Vinaya Habosi takes to the air before landing his try. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Updated at 13.28 EDT

66 mins. Georgia are in a decent position in the Fiji 22, but Levani Botia decides he’s had enough of pretty much everything and takes it upon himself to win a turnover at the breakdown. This allows Tela to boot them into a good position in Lelos territory.

PENALTY! Fiji 10 – 9 Georgia (Frank Lomani)

64 mins. A lot of huff and associated puff from Fiji looks to be going nowhere before Habosi – on for Radrada – cuts an angle to get them deep into the 22. But once more the handling is minging, with Tuisova and Nayacelevu taking turns to drop it.

As the ball is scrapped for, Georgia are too keen and infringe in the ruck which means Lomani can put his side ahead for the first time in the match.

Frank Lomani celebrates after scoring his try. Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 13.27 EDT

62 mins. The Fijian forwards decide it’s time to get amongst it and drive the Lelos pack off their own ball with a huge shove in the scrum. From the penalty lineout, the men in white are on the Georgia 22.

60 mins. A Fiji scrum is won, but as they move it into the backs it’s all over the place; the timing of the runs poor, passes flabby and inevitably it’s knocked on.

MISSED PENALTY! Fiji 7 – 9 Georgia (Frank Lomani)

55 mins. Every carry from Fiji now seems to have a bit more nip to it as they start to get their famous metres after contact ability rolling. Ravai is snagged around the neck in a tackle and Lomani’s penalty kick attempt boinks off the outside of the right post.

Updated at 13.09 EDT

53 mins. Radrada is back on from his bin.

TRY! Fiji 7 – 9 Georgia (Waisea Nayacelevu)

52 mins. Some possession in the Lelos 22 for Fiji has them finally working some sensible phases. The ball is eventually worked left to Nayacelevu who finishes brilliantly, one-handed in the corner as he was being bundled into touch.

Lomani smashes and excellent conversion from the touchline.

Waisea Nayacalevu clatters over in the corner. Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 13.07 EDT

48 mins. Fiji have now lost five of their 12 lineouts, the latest with the increasingly imperious Jalagonia nicking the ball in the air.

The half is spluttering so far, which will suit Georgia as the more the clock and play is stop-started, the better for them to frustrate the more fancied opponents.

46 mins. Another strong scrum allows Lobzhanidze to spray the ball out to the backs, with Modebadze floating a big pass out to Niniashvili who attempts to dance in on the left but is shut down by Ravataumada.

Kurivoli is off for Frank Lomani.

Updated at 12.58 EDT

44 mins. A lazy attempt to pick up the ball from a long Georgian kick has Tagitagivalu fumbling the ball forward. This gives the Lelos an attacking five metre scrms that splinters the Fiji pack.

Penalty Georgia and they opt for another scrum.

YELLOW CARD! Semi Radrada (Fiji)

42 mins. A strong chase from Ravataumada puts Tagitagivalu on the ball from the restart. But, again, the passes are hurried and handling not great as the ball is fumbled by Tuisova.

From the scrum Jalagonia picks and goes from the base of the scrum on halfway and as he attempts to find Tabutsadze, Radradada slaps the ball down. The Fiji winger will have ten minutes to reflect on that stupidity.

SECOND HALF!

Tela kicks us back underway

“It’s amazing how much time and attention is given to reviewing possible foul play,” says James in Amsterdam, “but double checking a try scoring pass that apparently only looked forward to the ref? Nah, they can call that in a split second with no need to check. If he had referred that to his TMO, I reckon it would be 16-0 to Georgia at half-time.”

I think you could be right, James. I said at the time it could be Very Important Moment, and it feels even more so when you consider how marginal it was.

Updated at 12.47 EDT

Hands up if you saw that half-time scoreline coming?

Everyone with their hand up is a liar.

Half Time!

40 mins. Not much else happens and the ref calls time.

Updated at 12.35 EDT

39 mins. Suddenly Droasese is clear and bearing down on the fullback, who nails him and dislodges the ball. Lobzhanidze hacks it on, Tuisova can’t tidy it and the Lelos have it in the Fiji 22! Jalagonia finds Tabutsadze who is over to score.

BUT WAIT! The pass was forward!

Oh lord, what a let off for Fiji! That could be a Very Important Moment for later.

37 mins. Niniashvili starts another Lelos attack and the ball is kept alive with a few offoads as they move into 22. Fiji are literally walking in defence, and Matkava calls for the ball to attempt a failed drop-goal.

34 mins. Lobzhanidze clears to touch, and then Matavesi throws a horrible squint ball into the lineout. This prompts lots of dropped heads in the Fijian ranks.

I covered the Uruguay game in 2019, and the Flying lads would do well to remember how bad this could get if they don’t have a very strong word in their own shell-likes soon.

32 mins. Fiji’s energy on the restart is frankly appalling. Simon Raiwalui will be praying for half-time so he can address whatever is infecting his side.

Georgia will be praying nothing changes.

PENALTY! Fiji 0 – 9 Georgia (Davit Niniashvili)

30 mins. Credit to Georgia who are taking an Ali-Foreman rope-a-dope approach here, inviting Fiji to punch themselves out with lots of runs for little result, and forcing them to make lots of tackles with high pace phases of their own when in possession.

The latest period of busy Lelos possession has Fiji offside again, which leads to Niniashvili teeing the ball up once more for another three points.

Updated at 12.24 EDT

25 mins. It’s difficult to infer too much from this distance, but Fiji look like their heads are in completely the wrong place for this match. When in possession, there are lots of solitary runners and not a great deal of pattern, like they convinced themselves that their individual ability alone would be enough. So far it really isn’t.

21 mins. Fiji finally start to flex their ability in the Lelos 22, Ravataumada off his wing on an outside arc as part of a move off the scrum. The winger is held up short, but Georgia are offside as they desperately attempt to contain this first sustained attack on their line.

The penalty is tapped and Tagi has a huge carry from a few metres that is stopped sturdily by Matkava and Gachechiladze before Kurivoli knocks-on trying to pick up the ball.

PENALTY! Fiji 0 – 6 Georgia (Davit Niniashvili_

18 mins. Play restarts with a Fiji scrum in the middle of the Lelos 22. Tuisova comes flying in on an angle to take the ball off a Tela pass and reacts with fury as it bounces off his hands and goes to ground. Georgia waste no time running the ball out and Fiji are penalised when scrambling in defence just inside the Lelos’ half.

Niniashvili calls for the tee and absolutely blooters it over from 60 metres. What a kick!

16 mins. Slowly, Fiji are starting to dominate at the breakdown and it’s showing in the penalty count. The latest is put in the corner for Fiji to win a lineout and go to work moving the ball across their backline, but play is rightly called to a halt as Lasha Jaiani is down and in pain after what looked like his leg bending very much the wrong way at a ruck.

The stretcher cart is on, and the second row is off, replaced by Nodar Cheishvili

MISSED PENALTY! Fiji 0 – 3 Georgia (Simione Kuruvoli)

13 mins. Georgia are caught the wrong side at the ruck and Kurivoli calls for the tee then slices it quite horribly right of the posts. Place kicking: yet another thing going badly for Fiji thus far.

Luka Nioradze is on early to make his RWC debut at hooker for Tengizi Zamtaradze, who appears to have knacked his wrist.

12 mins. Tela finally finds touch from a penalty, but Matavesi’s throw is high, wild and incredibly unhandsome to give the ball once again to Georgia in the Fiji half. This time the Lelos have some imprecision of their own to allow Droasese to clear.

8 mins. Fiji have had a terrible start through a combination of poor restart drills and missing touch twice, the latest of which has the Lelos returning to the 22. They are up to 13 phases before Matkava fumbles the ball to relieve the Fijian defence of any further consequences of their own self-injurious behaviour.

PENALTY! Fiji 0 – 3 Georgia (Luka Matkava)

5 mins. The early Georgian pressure is rewarded as the halfback kicks his side into the lead.

3 mins. An early lineout for Georgia after Fiji clear their lines comes to little more than a mark called by Droasese. But the clearance is not the best from the Fijian fullback and this invites the Lelos back into the half on the right as the ball is worked swiflty through hands.

The Fiji defence looks in real trouble, but Niniashvili’s final pass is just behind Tabutsadze who cant’s grab it with a try looking odds on.

The action gets under way in Bordeaux. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/ReutersKick Off!

Ref Karl Dickson blasts his whistle, prompting Luka Matkava to punt the ball towards the Fijian 22 to start us up

The teams vacate the tunnel to be greeted by swirling cheers in this tight and atmospheric stadium in Bordeaux. The sun continues to beam in the glorious early evening near the Biscayan coast and after the anthems we’ll be all set to go.

Pre-match reading

Fiji are looking locked-on for a quarter final encounter with England. Former England attack coach Nick Evans takes a look at the options in that game.

Let me know your reflections on this match, or the wider Pool C scenario on the Email

Teams

A bonus point win for Fiji will see them qualified for the knockouts while also ending Australia’s tournament. Coach Raiwalui is going all-in on this outcome by naming a full-bore side with just one injury replacement; Selesitino Ravutaumada coming in for Jiuta Wainiqolo on the wing.

Georgia top man Levan Maisashviki has made seven changes to his starting line-up, including in the half-back with Vasil Lobzhanidze and Luka Matkava in for Gela Aprasidze and Tedo Abzhandadze after the disappointing game management vs Os Lobos.

Fiji: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi

Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Vinaya Habosi

Georgia: 15 Miriani Modebadze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Lasha Jaiani, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Tengizi Zamtaradze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (c)

Replacements: 16 Luka Nioradze, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Irakli Aptsiauri, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Tornike Kakhoidze

Preamble

Welcome to the latest installation in the rollercoaster of surprises that is Pool C.

Australia are pretty much already on the Quantas flying tube of misery back home, Wales have qualified at a 200-plus tackles a game canter, and Portugal have not lost every game while delighting everyone in the process. Which leaves Fiji and Georgia, the two sides facing up today.

Fiji took their defeat vs Wales in the opening weekend and shaped it into an utterly dominant performance in the defeat of the Wallabies; they are now poised to finish second in the Group to face England in the quarters. Head Coach, Simon Raiwalui, is so at ease with his squad’s situation he even finds time to accurately sum up Piers Morgan.

Georgia meanwhile are in the running with Italy and Australia for a wholly unwanted title: that of most disappointing team of the tournament. Despite the constant references to their frightening scrum and set-piece, those days have been gone for some time, and in its stead has come a frailty at the heart of their play that was so very nearly exposed by Portugal last week.

Is another Pool C shock in the offing? Not likely; the Fijians should have too much power, craft and organisation for the Lelos – expect qualification to be confirmed with a decent win.