Georgia 17
Naminia 16
GEORGIA SKIPPER MAMUKA Gorgodze guided his jittery team to an error-ridden 17-16 victory over Namibia on Wednesday which all but guaranteed their place at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Georgia had to come from behind to narrowly thwart the African nation’s effort to win their first ever World Cup game. But they did get their first ever point — a bonus for coming so close to Georgia’s score.
Namibia have now lost 18 straight games over five World Cups, although the lowest ranked team in the tournament remained competitive throughout the match at Exeter’s Sandy Park.
New Zealand must beat Tonga on Friday to confirm Georgia’s third place in Pool C, which would mean the east Europeans miss the arduous qualifying process for the next World Cup in Japan.
But the first-half would have had Georgia coach Milton Haig pulling his hair out, his team failing to convert their superiority in all facets of the game into points.
Namibia lost inspirational skipper Jacques Burger to concussion in the 10th minute and somehow led 6-0 at half-time — despite missing 33 tackles — thanks to two Theuns Kotze penalties.
But Gorgodze crossed for a try early in the second-half to settle nerves, with Lasha Malaguradze also going over, Merab Kvirikashvili kicking two conversions and a penalty.
Kotze ensured a tight finish with a third penalty and his own converted try with five minutes to play.
- Scrum disarray -
Kotze had Namibia off to a flying start, kicking a penalty after Georgia infringed from the kick-off. But Georgia showed off their set-piece power at the first scrum, forcing Namibia into a fast retreat to allow scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze to scoot dangerously down the wing.
As the ball was recycled left, there was a disaster for the Africans as Burger caught his head on the hip of outstanding centre Merab Sharikadze.
The Namibian scrum was in disarray, Georgia unlucky to be denied tries by winger Alexander Todua and prop Davit Zirakashvili as a result.
Kotze hit his second penalty after 17 minutes when Clermont flanker Victor Kolelishvili caught Renaldo Bothma with a high forearm in the face.
There was further disappointment for Georgia when Sharikadze’s try-giving pass was harshly deemed to have gone forward with the line beckoning.
Namibia winger David Philander then produced an outstanding try-saving tackle on Davit Kacharava as the Lelos pressed.
But ill-discipline undid Georgia. Former Toulouse hooker Jaba Bregvadze was yellow carded in the 34th minute after smashing his elbow into the face of replacement back Heinrich Smit.
And then came 11 minutes of extra-time after Georgia kicked for touch, lost their ball, but won it back. A series of scrums followed, with predictably Namibia prop Raoul Larson and then his replacement Johannes Coetzee both yellow-carded, Gorgodze pleading for a penalty try.
It was all set up for Georgia to score, but from an uncontested scrum, Gorgodze’s pass inside to Kolelishvili was adjudged to be forward and Namibia could breathe again after leading at half-time of a World Cup match for the first time.
Stripped of their scrum dominance, Georgia opened the second period with the ball in hand.
Despite a number of errors, the ball was finally worked to Gorgodze, the Toulon No 8 powering over for a welcome try.
Referee George Clancy dished out a third yellow card to Namibia, sending Bothma to the bin for a chokehold tackled on Malaguradze, the fly-half promptly crossing for a second try following a fine Gorgodze charge and offload.
Kvirikashvili nailed the two conversions and a 65th minute penalty to pull Georgia out to 17-6 before Kotze kicked his third penalty.
It was not over, however, as a woeful clearance kick by replacement forward Lasha Lomidze was recycled and worked to Kotze who dived in at the corner, nailing the touchline conversion with aplomb to make for a nervy run-in.
