Anxious and error-prone Fiji fought again to beat fading Georgia 17-12 on Saturday and stay on target for the World Cup quarter-finals, pushing Australia to the brink of elimination.
Fiji scored two second-half tries as they rebounded from a nine-point halftime deficit to tighten their grip on second place in Group C, however their failure to gather a bonus level left Australia with a slight hope of avoiding a primary ever group-stage exit.
“If I am being honest we were beaten to the punch in the first half. We knew it was going to be a battle. I am just thankful we have the result,” Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui stated.
Georgia have been eradicated. Australia and Fiji each end the group by dealing with Portugal. Australia want to select up a bonus-point win and hope Fiji lose and not using a level. Even Portugal might sneak in with two exceptional victories.
MATCH CENTRE: Rugby World Cup, Fiji vs Georgia
With a quarter-final place beckoning, Fiji began anxiously in Bordeaux, messing up restarts, shedding lineouts, giving freely penalties and paying the recurring worth for his or her high-risk passing assault and repeatedly dropping the ball.
Yet Georgia additionally confirmed nerves as they blew gilt-edged landing possibilities at every finish of the half.
After two minutes, Akaki Tabutsadze spilt the ball with the tryline calling. The winger was denied on the finish of the half. After Georgia counterattacked greater than 60 metres following a double Fijian fumble, Tornike Jalagonia hurled his go ahead as he discovered the wide-open Tabutsadze.
Georgia did punish Fiji’s indiscipline.
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Luka Matkava kicked a brief penalty and long-range specialist Davit Niniashvili booted one from inside his personal half and one from nearly 50m to present Georgia a 9-0 halftime lead.
But Georgia had additionally misplaced hooker Tengizi Zamtaradze and lock Lasha Jaiani to harm within the first 17 minutes, leaving their replacements to play greater than three-quarters of a ferocious match.
Fiji’s Semi Radradra drew a yellow card for a deliberate knock on within the first minute of the second half.
Down a person, Fiji lastly made their passes stick. Nayacalevu twirled by means of two tackles on the wing to the touch down behind his again.
Frank Lomani transformed from large after which hit the put up with a penalty from proper in entrance however squirted one by means of from just a few yards additional away after 65 minutes to place Fiji some extent forward.
“It was a bit of getting back to basics, we were giving too much ball away in contact. I think we were lucky to be down 9-0 at halftime,” Raiwalui stated.
As the second half progressed, Georgia’s defence started to slacken. Flanker Levani Botia smashed into the Georgian line after which flipped a elegant go to substitute Vinaya Habosi who jagged although an enormous gap to attain.
“I think one thing about us Fijians is we like to keep the ball alive, we trust each other, I saw my teammate and I understand I have to give the opportunity,” Botia stated.
Lomani transformed and Fiji had an eight-point lead and 11 minutes to earn a attempt bonus level and lock up a last-eight place Instead, Josua Tuisova tackled excessive and bumped heads with Miriani Modebadze to earn a card and Matkava transformed the penalty.
Fiji survived one final Georgian thrust to carry on for the victory.
“It was real tight to the end,” stated Raiwalui.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
