CARDIFF -Alternative flyhalf Luka Matkava, a 21-year-old enjoying his second worldwide, grew to become an instantaneous nationwide hero when he landed a 77th-minute penalty to earn Georgia a 13-12 victory over Wales on Saturday within the biggest second of their rugby historical past.
Having crushed Italy earlier within the 12 months for his or her first win over a Tier One nation, it was a surprising outcome for Georgia, who will face Wales once more within the World Cup subsequent 12 months.
“Our second win over a Tier One nation this 12 months — we’ve proved lots of people incorrect,” stated captain Merab Sharikadze, who additionally voiced his frustration at his group’s lack of alternatives.
“We need to proceed this — we made historical past at this time. We’re not the group folks assume we're. We’ve crushed world-class groups and World Rugby must pay extra consideration to us and lots of people must be pondering that one thing has to alter.”
Wales led 12-3 at halftime through two Jac Morgan tries halfway by means of the half however the conversion was the final factors they managed.
Georgia defended brilliantly, grew in confidence and power as their massive bench added actual energy, and, after an Alexander Todue strive, received it with Matkava’s testing kick.
It sparked wild scenes of celebration among the many Georgians. “We really feel so proud. I'm happy with the group and all of the Georgian folks in rugby,” stated man-of-the-match scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze
“All of us believed we might win, from the primary minute to the final. We’ve made historical past. We're so happy with ourselves.”
Wales had the most effective of the early exchanges however struggled to run their possession into harmful conditions. Finally flanker Morgan peeled around the blindside from a lineout with a neat sidestep for the primary strive after 21 minutes.
Three minutes later he received a second and although the gang settled again for extra, it proved the high-water mark of their day.
Winger Josh Adams, again within the facet after breaking his hand, thought he had a 3rd after chasing his personal kick from midway nevertheless it was chalked off for a ahead go, leaving Wales 12-3 up on the break.
The third quarter adopted an identical sample to the primary as Wales had a lot of the possession however appeared unstructured and infrequently entered the 22 within the face of some dedicated Georgian defence.
They then misplaced winger Alex Cuthbert to the sin bin after a harmful aerial problem and Georgia took full benefit, increase some stress earlier than Tedo Abzhandadze kicked into acres of area for Todue to gather and rating after an hour.
Abzhandadze added the conversion to his earlier penalty to deliver it again to 12-10 however then missed with one other kickable penalty because the Georgians loved an extended spell of dominance.
Wales lastly roused themselves however a 3rd strive for Morgan was dominated out for a knock-on and it was the guests who surged once more to earn the all-important scrum penalty.
“We hoped to place extra tempo into the sport however all credit score to Georgia, they did effectively within the set piece and got here out on prime,” stated Wales captain Justin Tipuric.
“It's a blow, we will’t disguise it, particularly with Georgia arising within the World Cup, however we simply must bounce again towards Australia subsequent week.”
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