Key events
72 mins: Donaldson makes a half-break with a nice dummy then Wilson hits the line hard. White is careful at the breakdown, piecing the Wallabies downfield on the left. Frost shows good hands again as momentum starts to build but Donaldson gets caught isolate infield and he’s bullied on the ground as Georgia force the turnover.
TRY! Australia 40-29 Georgia (Tabutsandze 70)
Georgia accept the Australian error and kick long to the 22 on the left. The lineout is secured and a slow maul milks the advantage. The Georgian backline then gets to work, Matkava drawing out the blitz defence, with his teammates holding their nerve and creating enough space on the right touchline for the rampaging Tabutsandze to make a mess of Wright’s despairing tackle and cross in the corner!
Matkava can’t add the extras from wide on the right.
67 mins: As replacements flood the field Australia win just the second scrum of the match. The attack off the back to the left is sharp and Ikitau almost frees Lancaster. Play heads back infield and some incredible skill form Frost turns slow ball into a dangerous attack. Wright tries to keep it going near the right touchline but his audacious flick is too much for Paisami.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 40-24 Georgia (McReight 64)
Australia kick long to the right corner yet again. Yet again the lineout is crisp. Yet again the maul forms. Yet again McReight comes up smiling after spinning around the mass of big bodies. This time it counts! Australia’s set-piece play has been outstanding today.
Donaldson continues to rack up the points with a routine conversion.
62 mins: It’s still a nine-point game as Georgia grind through a couple of phases knowing they have another minute with a man disadvantage. The box kick is claimed by Wright but the Wallabies can’t get any go-forward and McDermott is forced to kick in return. The visitors are slow to get bodies to the resulting breakdown and Frost is too big and too strong and he forces the turnover.
60 mins: This time the maul forms. This time there’s a shunt. This time the momentum is irresistible and there’s another forward pack collective try that goes to… McReight! It could have gone to Alaalatoa, it could have gone to Nasser, but in the end McReight pinches the honours.
But there’s a delay awarding the score while the TMO studies the formation of the maul. From the lineout it appears Valetini got on the wrong side a fraction too soon and there’s an obstruction. No try.
59 mins: The kick to the right corner sets up a 5m lineout but the maul is collapsed before the Wallabies can get a shunt forward. We’re back in the same place soon afterwards though with Georgia penalised yet again.
57 mins: It’s the Wallabies now with the man advantage and the momentum in the contest has swung dramatically. There’s another penalty advantage on the play for Australia and it doesn’t take long for the whistle to blow and Georgia receive a stern ticking off for their discipline.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 33-24 (Valetini 56)
But the Wallabies will not be denied a second time! An innocuous lineout near halfway sees McReight break the game wide open off the palm down. He bursts into open field, exchanges passes with Wilson, accepts contact, and Valetini is on the sport to pick and go and crash over from a metre out. Superb broken field footy from Australia’s forwards.
Donaldson swings over another excellent conversion.
54 mins: 14 v 14 and Australia take the quick penalty and pick-and-go for the line. They’re over – Ikitau – but somehow Matkava wrestles the ball free as the Australian tries to spin down.
Yellow Card! Georgia (Niniashvili 53)
The Wallabies need to change the momentum and Valetini does just that, hitting the line hard after the clearing penalty to the right corner. There’s quick multiphase play and Niniashvili accepts a yellow card for interfering in the ruck miles offside.
52 mins: The Wallabies breathe a sigh of relief with an offside penalty near halfway as Georgia step up their intensity, streaming off the line to line up some big hits. Donaldson, who has struggled this afternoon, is caught a couple of times before Australia accept the referee’s whistle.
51 mins: Georgia have busted this game wide open since half-time, taking full advantage of their extra man.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 26-24 Georgia (Tabutsandze 48)
There was an advantage on the play and the Wallabies kick to the right corner. Lineout ball is rapid and McDermott is again the man on the burst wriggling his way towards the line. Georgia stop him in his tracks though, force the turnover, and then they play out from their own line… and how! Two passes sends them from the corner to the posts. One more has them looking at an overlap on the right. A long kick towards halfway sets up a thrilling chase and Tabutsandze wins it! He wrestles possession from Lancaster and charges unopposed under the posts! That must be the greatest moment in the history of Georgian rugby! A 100m try in Sydney against the Wallabies. Wow!
Matkava continues his solid afternoon with two more points. Georgia can sniff an upset.
46 mins: Just as with the first half, another sharp Australian attack ends with a spillage. McDermott turned stodgy ball into something dangerous with a couple of quick steps, but with Donaldson on his shoulder the pass goes to ground.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 26-17 Georgia (Niniashvili 42)
Both sides make heavy work of possession either side of halfway but then Georgia pinch a turnover and quickly get to work. Niniashvili is central, hitting the line hard and finding a quick offload. The white shirts stream forward as Georgia enjoy a couple of strokes of luck, first somehow not knocking on when they lose possession in contact, then benefiting from Niniashvili kicking on straight into a gold jersey, collecting the ricochet, and jogging under the crossbar. Could we have a game on this second half with Australia a player down?
Matkava dabs over a couple more points.
41 mins: Australia get us back under way in Sydney.
20-Minute Red Card! (Daugunu 36)
Daugunu is done for the day after his yellow card was upgraded during half-time. Australia will remain at 14-men for another 14 minutes.
Here’s the set-piece try just before the break. Excellent work from Australia’s pack.
Elsewhere in the world of international rugby the All Blacks hammered Fiji in San Diego to continue their winning start under Scott Robertson.
Half-time: Australia 26-10 Georgia
The Wallabies take a healthy lead into the break courtesy of a promising four-try opening half.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 26-10 Georgia (McReight 40)
Lovely set-piece try from the Wallabies. That will delight the backroom staff. A short sharp throw Blyth who is then swarmed on by gold jerseys who get forward momentum and drive their way over the line in the blink of an eye. McReight is credited with the five points, but that was a classic team effort.
Donaldson swings over a beautiful conversion from the touchline.
37 mins: Matkava misses the long range penalty. Australia clear their lines and Lancaster capitalises on some poor Georgian defence to run the Wallabies into attacking territory. The 14-men take their time, setting up a long slow series of phases, grinding their way towards the line, enjoying a long penalty advantage on the play. Eventually the ball goes to ground, the penalty is awarded and McDermott kicks to the left corner.
Yellow Card! Australia (Daugunu 36)
The TMO is having a good luck at Daugunu for charging the Georgian kicker. It was innocuous in its action – just the winger leaping to try to smother Todua’s chip and chase – but it’s a horribly mistimed effort and the Australian’s momentum takes his raised knee into the cheek of the Georgian. It looks uglier with every replay and soon a yellow card looks inevitable. The referee announces that while the sin-binning is taking place the offence could yet be upgraded.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 19-10 Georgia (Babunashvili 34)
Finally, finally Georgia get over! From the umpteenth pick-and-go under the posts the massive frame of Babunashvili touches down. That was a long spell of concerted possession and Australia rode their luck to hold out for as long as they did.
Matkava turns a hardworking five into an easy seven.
33 mins: Another butchered try! This time from the foundation under the posts the ball comes to the right but Tabutsandze spills with a try at his mercy. But again there’s a penalty to Georgia. Australia are at risk of conceding a yellow card with all these repeat infractions.
32 mins: Georgia make the most of a poor throw but are unable to form a maul. A series of pick-and-gos inch the ball towards the Australian line and after five phases there’s a penalty advantage. Liberated, the visitors cut to the left, go through hands, exploit a two-man overlap and jog over into the left corner! But no! Unforgivably there’s a forward pass on the play and play returns to the penalty advantage.
31 mins: Another breakdown penalty goes against the Wallabies, who are starting to rack up errors on the ground. Georgia again kick long to the left.
29 mins: For the second or third time today Australia almost work their way through the Georgian defence with short passes only to spill the ball on the cusp of the breakthrough. Kailea was the guilty party on this occasion, but it augurs well for the future.
A soft breakdown penalty in midfield invites Georgia to kick to the 22 on the left. The lineout is sharp and Tapladze hits the ball on the burst to set up good attacking field position. McReight is industrious on the ground though and wins a vital turnover. Lots of backslapping and high-fiving for that effort.
27 mins: Georgia win their 5m lineout and set up to maul their way over the line. Australia’s counter is good though – an area that was under heavy scrutiny following the double-header against Wales – and momentum is soon over. A couple of plays later and the Wallabies have the breakdown turnover. Excellent defence from the home side.
24 mins: Georgia finally demonstrate their forward power, winning their first lineout throw then milking a penalty with a rolling maul. With the advantage the visitors enjoy their first multi-phase play of the afternoon. Another advantage for a high tackle extends the pressure, but as the attack splinters to the left play is called back to the right to allow the visitors to kick to the corner.
22 mins: Another excellent lineout from the Wallabies allows Valetini and Paisami to connect. Lancaster accepts the ball on the left touchline as the move reaches halfway, and he does well to stay in touch. All the while McDermott is busy keeping the game moving at speed – but there’s a knock-on near halfway and the move breaks down.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 19-3 Georgia (Kailea 20)
Another good lineout and this time McReight peels off and drives like a bulldozer into white shirts. McDermott is on the scene in a flash, jinking his way deeper into Georgian territory. This is irresistible from the Wallabies and a try is there for the taking. Which forward will pick and go? Kailea it is, surging forward with all the momentum, linking arms with Valetini and Wright to crash over. There’s a mass of bodies around the ball, so the decision to award the try has to go upstairs, but it’s confirmed quickly.
Donaldson doesn’t miss this time from under the crossbar.
18 mins: The Wallabies win their first lineout ball of the afternoon but the set play off the back is sloppy. Georgia soon kick possession back to Australia, and gift an offside penalty just on halfway. The visitors are already struggling with the speed of McDermott around the breakdown and his willingness to take the game on at all costs.
16 mins: Australia win the breakdown penalty on halfway, demonstrating the ability of the Wallabies forwards to neutralise the powerful Georgian pack. McDermott continues his vibrant start, taking the quick tap and chipping into space. Wright chases hard and lays an excellent tackle but Georgia do just enough to hold their ground and Matkava kicks clear.
TRY! Australia 12-3 Georgia (Valetini 13)
Australia are getting quick ball and using it to their advantage to find short pop up passes to powerful straight runners. The centre pairing is busting the game open at every opportunity, forcing Georgia onto the back foot and scramble defence. After a few quick phases Valetini picks and rolls and spins over the line for the second try of the afternoon.
Donaldson’s poor game with the boot continues with an awful miss from point blank range.
10 mins: Another poor field kick from Donaldson stymies a good Australian attacking platform. Still, Georgia are forced into a drop-out under their posts that the Wallabies quickly turn over. Not for long though with a Georgian kick smothered allowing the home side to go through hands to the right wing. Valetini is busy again hitting the defensive line and popping up an inside ball but as play spreads to the left Daugunu throws a horrible ball that Lancaster can’t deal with.
8 mins: More good signs for the Wallabies and McDermott in particular, encouraging his backs to get into the game and run the big Georgian pack around the field. Ikitau and Paisami are again the dangermen as the Wallabies earn a breakdown penalty.
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 7-3 Georgia (Paisami 5)
Good scrum from the hosts allowing quick ball to the left. Kailea hits the line at speed, then Valetini crosses the gainline. McDermott is lively, connecting his runners and inviting Ikitau into the fray – and he pops up a lovely short ball to his centre parter Paisami to barge his way through a hole and over the line. Excellent front-foot try.
Donaldson strokes over an extra couple of points.
5 mins: Sloppy free-kick concession from Georgia with Alania pinged after failing to take action despite being given an age to play the ball behind the stationary ruck. Australia with the attacking scrum feed.
GOAL! Australia 0-3 Georgia (Matkava, 3)
From 25m out, just to the left of the posts, Matkava kicks the visitors into an early lead.
2 mins: Not a great start for the Wallabies. A couple of slow plays inside their own 22 go nowhere before Donaldson stabs an ugly kick that does goes nowhere. Georgia run straight back with intent and win a quick breakdown penalty off Tapladze’s carry.
Kick-off!
Georgia kick us under way in Sydney.
As the camera pans along the Georgian players belting out their national anthem, you realise none of the visiting team skipped neck day. Australia did the classic put-the-scrumhalf-next-to-the-second-rower gag, making the camera operator jolt up and down like they were on a rollercoaster.
Out march the two sets of players into a blustery, half-full Allianz Stadium. With watery winter sunshine leaking onto a ropey-looking surface this feels like an old fashioned afternoon of footy, not the floodlit made-for-TV blockbusters we’ve become accustomed to.
The two sides are now lined up in the tunnel. The Wallabies in gold jerseys and green shorts, Georgia all in white.
The teams are just making the final touches to their uniforms in the sheds. Our advertised start time of 3:45pm looks to be out by at least 10 minutes.
It is blowing a mighty gale in Sydney this afternoon, which will make for treacherous kicking and handling conditions. It is dry though, and the temperature is comparatively mild considering how frigid it is further south along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Georgia are coached by former England hooker Richard Cockerill. He’s no mug either, with Premiership success in his homeland with Leicester, and plenty of experience on the international scene.
“We’re happy where we are at,” he told the host broadcaster. “We’ll see how good we are today.
“We want to make sure we get our game right. We knew Australia were going to make lots of changes. We are focused on our game. We know we have to be physical, very good defensively, but we have come here to put our best game on the field and we have come here to win.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has made wholesale changes to his team for the rugby Test against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday. Veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa will become the third captain in three weeks, starting in the front-row alongside rookies Isaac Kailea and Billy Pollard.
The trio are among 10 changes to the starting side as Schmidt rotates his squad after the tough 2-0 series sweep over Wales. Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright are the only remaining faces in the starting 15 from last week’s second Test win against Wales.
Georgia XV
There’s a big late change for the visitors with Georgian skipper Beka Gorgadze failing to pull up after collecting a knock against Japan. Giorgi Tsutskiridze comes off the bench and Beka Saginadze takes over the captaincy.
15. Davit Niniashvili, 14. Aka Tabutsandze, 13. Demur Tapladze, 12. Giorgi Kveseladze, 11. Alexander Todua, 10. Luka Matkava, 9. Milkheil Alania, 8. Tornike Jalagonia, 7. Beka Saghinadze (c), 6. Giorgi Tsutskiridze , 5. Mikheil Babunashvili, 4. Lado Chachanidze, 3. Alexsandre Kuntelia, 2. Vano Karkadze, 1. Giorgi Mamaiashvili
Replacements: 16. Luka Petriashvili, 17. Luka Goginava, 18. Irakli Aptsiauri, 19. Lasha Jaiani, 20. Luka Ivanishvili, 21. Tornike Kakhoidze , 22. Vasil Lobzhanidze, 23. Tedo Abzhandaze
Australia XV
1. Isaac Kailea, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Nick Frost, 5. Angus Blyth, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. Darby Lancaster, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Jeremy Williams, 21. Nic White, 22. Noah Lolesio, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Joe Schmidt took on the Wallabies job aware of the monumental challenge that awaited him but back-to-back victories over Wales ensured a case of so far so good. A back-to-basics approach, focusing on the fundamentals, is in keeping with Schmidt’s style and while there is a long way to go before the Wallabies are anywhere near to dining at the top table again, there are grounds for optimism with the New Zealander at the helm. At the very least he gives the impression of the Wallabies having a grown up in charge after endless Eddie Jones tantrums and, in Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Schmidt has a second-row around whom he can build a formidable pack. Hunter Paisami, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright all performed impressively in the backs, too.
Pragmatic, accurate, efficient. Those aren’t necessarily traits that compel youngsters to turn their backs on other football codes, but they are traits that win Test matches. And, for so long, these are traits that have been absent from the Wallabies as they sunk to previously unimaginable lows. Two wins on the bounce for the first time in three years and a series victory against a team that spanked them 40-6 at the World Cup 10 months ago points to progress.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Georgia. Kick-off at Allianz Stadium in Sydney is 3.45pm (AEST).
This afternoon marks the latest step in the evolution of the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt, and after back-to-back wins over Wales there is some rare optimism in rugby circles.
Today is an opportunity for Schmidt to take a look at the wider pool of talent at his disposal, against an opponent Australia are expected to beat comfortably. The real measure of any progress comes next month when the Springboks roll into town.
But while Georgia are not yet a top tier rugby nation, they will be no pushover. Ranked 12th in the world (Australia are not far off in ninth) they upset Eddie Jones’ Japan last week, and before that lost narrowly to Fiji.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to [email protected].
