Georgia Complete Historic Win over Tonga

A lot of the pre-World Cup hype centered on whether or not Samoa would be able to trouble and defeat Scotland. Such was the search for an upset that Georgia had been considered substandard to defeat Tonga. The Mamuka Gorgodze led Lelos had other ideas and their post match victory celebrations underline just how important winning games are.

Georgia entered what is its fourth Rugby World Cup with two prior wins – against Namibia in 2007 and Romania in 2011. Now the Eastern Europeans can make history by winning two and qualify directly for Rugby World Cup 2019.

The importance of the win goes beyond the World Cup though as Georgia are a team in the dark similar to what Argentina had been until entering the Rugby Championship in 2012. Georgia are European Nations Cup winners but have no path to the Six Nations. Today’s result over Tonga may be able to influence change.

The Pool C win at Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium means Tonga’s World Cup is, in effect, over. The qualification system for Rugby World Cup 2019 will come under scrutiny as a result with Fiji also unlikely to earn direct qualification. Georgia, in other words, tore up the script.

Fiji’s recent dominance of Tonga’s scrum appears to have been studied well by Georgia who took the highly-regarded Pacific Islanders apart today. The superiority of the Lelos in the scrum and around the park was what set up today’s win.

Tonga opened the scoring in the 10th minute with fly half Kurt Morath landing a penalty. Georgia hit back shortly thereafter through the boot if Merab Kvirikashvili. The 3-3 scoreline would become 10-3 with Gorgodze underlining his reputation as being Georgia’s best player when he powered over for the game’s opening try.

Touching down beside the post the back-rower had his try converted by Kvirikashvili which gave Georgia a lead they would hold onto until the final whistle.

The Tongan’s scored in response, though, only for it to be denied. Replays confirmed that Viliami Ma’afu’s try had come from a Nili Latu forward pass. The half ended with Tonga requiring improvement but the second half did not start well as a struggling forward pack was on the back foot throughout.

Georgia missed the opportunity to expand their lead but inaccurate goalkicking let them down. It mattered not as back-rower Giorgi Tkhilaishvili went over down the left touchline to give Georgia a 14 point lead heading into the final quarter.

Tonga fought back but it was too late as they needed a point a minute. With nine minutes remaining Fetu’u Vainikolo crossed for the Pacific Islanders to set-up a thrilling finish. Georgia, though, held on, to complete their most significant World Cup win to date. Next up is Argentina in Gloucester next weekend. Tonga, meanwhile, will face Namibia.

Scorers

Tonga
Try: Vainikolo
Conversion: Morath
Penalty: Morath

Georgia
Tries: Gorgodze, Tkhilaishvili
Conversions: Kvirikashvili (2)
Pen: Kvirikashvili

Tonga
1 Tevita Mailau, 2 Elvis Taione, 3 Halani Aulika, 4. Tukulua Lokotui, 5 Sitiveni Mafi, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Nili Latu (Captain), 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 12 Siale Piutau, 13 Will Helu, 14 Telusa Veainu, 15 Vungakoto Lilo

16 Paula Ngauamo, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Hale T Pole, 20 Jack Ram, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Latiume Fosita

Georgia
1 Mikheil Nariashvili 2 Jaba Bregvadze 3 Davit Zirakashvili 4 Kote Mikautadze 5 Giorgi Nemsadze 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili 7 Vito Kolelishvili 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (captain) 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze 10 Lasha Malaguradze 11 Giorgi Aptsiauri 12 Merab Sharikadze 13 Davit Kacharava 14 Tamaz Mchedlidze 15 Merab Kvirikashvili

16 Shalva Mamukashvili 17 Karlen Asieshvili 18 Levan Chilachava 19 Levan Datunashvili 20 Shalva Sutiashvili 21 Giorgi Begadze 22 Giorgi Pruidze 23 Muraz Giorgadze