Australia fullback Ben Donaldson scored 25 factors to assist earn a primary win in six video games beneath Eddie Jones as they beat Georgia 35-15 of their Rugby World Cup opener on Sunday morning AEST.
Donaldson, 24, making simply his fourth Test look, ensured former England and Japan coach Jones ended his poor run of outcomes since returning as boss in January and began their Pool C marketing campaign on a optimistic word.
“We’ve been building for a long time now and the boys executed really well for the full 80 minutes,” Donaldson mentioned.
“In the end it made me look half-decent so I put that on all the boys.”
MATCHE CENTRE: Australia vs Georgia rating, stats
Flanker Luka Ivanishvili had given Georgia hopes of a late comeback with a second-half attempt however the Lelos failed to assert a sixth victory within the competitors.
Jones, 63, introduced again winger Marika Korobeite and inside centre Samu Kerevi into his aspect after damage absences.
The two-time World Cup winners opened the scoring after lower than two minutes as Kerevi’s midfield accomplice Jordan Petaia crashed over in entrance of greater than 75,000 spectators in Paris.
Donaldson missed the conversion, having been handed the goalkicking duties from fly-half Carter Gordon, who missed 10 factors from the tee in final month’s warm-up loss to France, in the identical floor.
Gordon’s destructive expertise on the Stade de France continued 5 minutes into this sport as he was penalised for a harmful deal with after having had his clearance kick charged down and opposition fly-half Luka Matkava minimize the deficit to 5-3.
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Four minutes after crossing, 23-year-old Petaia turned supplier as his delicate offload arrange winger Mark Nawaqanitawase.
Donaldson made up for his earlier error to make it 18-3 with a conversion and two penalties earlier than the primary water break of the sport, with the temperature reaching 35 levels.
Petaia proved his value in defence after 22 minutes with a dominant deal with on Georgia winger Miriani Modebadze earlier than Donaldson made it 21-3 after half an hour with a fourth three-pointer.
With 5 minutes of the half remaining Jones misplaced his influential beginning scrum-half Tate McDermott to concussion, with skilled Nic White approaching.
Kerevi’s work for the day was carried out as he was changed by Lalakai Foketi on the interval and it was Georgia who began the second half the higher.
They have been rewarded as flanker Ivanishvili crossed within the nook from a pleasant Matkava go, slicing out three would-be defenders.
Matkava missed the conversion nevertheless it did not dampen his teammates’ wild celebrations with the rating 21-8 with half an hour to play.
Georgia’s dim hopes of a win have been short-lived as Donaldson added a transformed attempt, assisted by prop Taniela Tupou on his fiftieth Test appearances, with 25 minutes to play to make it 28-8.
With 1 / 4 of the sport remaining Petaia adopted Kerevi to the bench, with subsequent Sunday’s sport with Fiji on Jones’ thoughts, earlier than the Waratahs’ Donaldson claimed his double and the bonus level for his aspect in a formidable show.
Donaldson was named man of the match as Georgia discovered a comfort attempt by way of substitute Beka Gigashvili.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
