Rugby World Cup 2019 – Georgia vs Fiji: Result and reaction from Pool D fixture
Re-live all the action from the Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fiji finally found their flair as they bounced back from their shock World Cup defeat by Uruguay with a resounding 45-10 win over Georgia that sent a warning to their next opponents Wales.
Back-to-back defeats at the hands of Australia and Uruguay had left Fiji bottom of Pool D but a bonus-point victory over Georgia boosted their hopes of a top-three finish that would guarantee automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
Winger Semi Radradra was the star of the show, helping create his side's first three tries before going on to claim two of his own as Fiji cut loose with 28 points in the last 20 minutes of the match at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka. Re-live the action below:
What time is it?
Georgia vs Fiji kicks off at 2.15pm Japan Standard Time, which is 6.15am BST, on Thursday 3 October.
Where can I watch it?
ITV4 will be broadcasting the clash. Alternatively, you can live stream the match via the ITV Hub on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
48 minutes
Lomani at the other end! A try-saving tackle!
Brilliant from Soso Matiashvili, sending Josua Tuisova to the corner shop with a dummy and vibrant step, and haring away down the touchline until Lomani launches at the legs, and takes him over the touchline.
50 minutes
Another turnover penalty for Fiji, Sam Matavesi this time. He played flanker growing up, but almost every Fiji player is a capable breakdown operator, possibly due to the abundance of sevens played in the country honing raw skills like jackaling.
TRY! Perfectly executed and a set-piece strike for Fiji!
Magnificent. Fiji throw to the back of the lineout and play off the top, Waisea Nayacalevu as a ball handler with Levani Botia on the hard line, pulled back to Ben Volavola who has the same options.
Kini Murimurivalu holds the defence with a fine dummy line and that opens a soft shoulder for Semi Radradra looping around the back, taking Volavola's brave pass as the fly-half is clattered.
Radradra has the gas to get to the outside and draw the last man, passing to Josua Tuisova who is able to rumble home for the try.
Georgia 3-17 Fiji
TRY! But Georgia strike back immediately!
Who else? It's Mamuka Gorgodze!
This all comes from a brilliant restart, though, with Lasha Khmaladze hoisting for Giorgi Kveseladze to take beyond the lifted Fiji catcher, and he's five metres out when he is finally pulled down.
It threatens to stall for Georgia but Gorgodze has the pure power to burrow his way over and ground over his shoulder.
Soso Matiashvili moves his side to within seven with the conversion.
Georgia 10-17 Fiji
56 minutes
Fiji will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the Australia performance, where they completely ran out of steam in the last quarter.
They win a turnover in the Georgian half and have quick ball thanks to a fine carry from Levani Botia...
57 minutes
Another drop with try line in sight!
Waisea Nayacalevu in the first half, Josua Tuisova in the second. Looshead prop Peni Ravai is on from the bench and shows agility and strength to shimmy out of a tackle to keep momentum, and when the ball is worked wide to the right Waisea has a sliver of a gap through which to dart.
His left-hand fend takes him to it and forces the winger to bite in to take him in the tackle, but Waisea keeps his right arm free and gets the offload away to Tuisova...
Who drops it...
59 minutes
Georgia win a penalty at the scrum and clear to beyond the halfway line.
But Peni Ravai atones for his transgression at the set piece and weevils his way up to the ball, clinging on to win a scrum for his side as the maul comes to floor. Superb defensive work from the replacement.
TRY! Another fine Fijian score!
Pure pace from Semi Radradra to finish it, but that's beautifully worked again.
Their scrum is under pressure but Frank Lomani manages to get the ball away quickly, and it is a similar play to the one from which Josua Tuisova scored, with wing looping around the back to take a pull back pass. It is executed slightly wider on this occasion after a miss ball from Volavola, with Waisea Nayacalevu as a ball-handler finding Tuisova charging around from the right side to get to the edge of the Georgian defence.
He finds Radrada who has too much gas for the recovering defence, and a dramatic left-footed step beats the last defender easily and allows the left wing to canter away.
Bonus point score for Fiji, and the conversion is added, too.
Georgia 10-24 Fiji
64 minutes
This game is threatening to break out into complete chaos. Clean breaks from both sides before Ben Volavola adds a degree of calm and thumps a raking punt into the corner.
It stays infield and the chase is good from the impressive Waisea Nayacalevu, and Fiji win the penalty with a huge counter-ruck.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments