Wales v Georgia LIVE: Result and reaction as Louis Rees-Zammit scores hat-trick to confirm top spot in group
Wales 43-19 Georgia: Warren Gatland’s side top Pool C as Rees-Zammit’s hat-trick eased any late nerves
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Your support makes all the difference.Winger Louis Rees-Zammit scored a hat-trick of tries as Wales rugby beat Georgia rugby 43-19 to secure first place in Rugby World Cup Pool C on Saturday and a quarter-final against Argentina or Japan.
Wales, who lost their last match against Georgia 11 months ago, went into halftime with a 17-7 lead after tries by prop Tomas Francis and fullback Liam Williams but then faced a spirited fightback from the Georgians. They had crossed the Wales line before the interval through captain Merab Sharikadze and stunned the Welsh with successive tries after the hour mark from replacement prop Vano Karkadze and wing Davit Niniashvili.
Rees-Zammit and centre George North scored late tries to extend the Welsh lead. Flyhalf Sam Costelow, a last-minute replacement for Gareth Anscombe who was injured in the warm-up, kicked 14 points for Wales. Georgia finished fourth in the pool with no wins and one draw against Portugal despite spirited performances against all their opponents including Australia and Fiji.
Follow all the reaction as Wales defeated Georgia in their final Pool C match plus get all the latest Rugby World Cup odds and tips here:
Wales 24-7 Georgia
54 mins: No! The ball comes loose and it recovered by Wales. Tomos Williams kicks it away from his over try line and Warren Gatland decides the time is right to switch out the forward line.
Gareth Thomes, Dewi Lake and Tomas Francis all go off with Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Henry Thomas brought on.
Wales 24-7 Georgia
52 mins: A collapsing scrum leaves Tornike Jalagonia on the floor clutching his right arm. Georgia are awarded a penalty and kick the ball into the corner for better field position.
Jalagonia is okay and will play on. Can Georgia get over the line here?
Wales 24-7 Georgia
49 minutes: Konstantine Mikautadze drops the ball when a simple pass comes across to him. He’s thinking about the next phase of play and takes his eyes off the ball.
Georgia win themselves a scrum in a dangerous area to limit that mistake but it keeps turning before the ball is fed into it.
Wales 24-7 Georgia
46 minutes: Georgia had just created a touch of momentum either side of half-time but that loose pass have sent them back. They’ll want to respond positively but a 17 point gap is tricky to overturn.
TRY! Wales 24-7 Georgia (Louis Rees Zammit, 43 minutes)
Try time! A misplaced, loose pass from Giorgi Kveseladze gifts the ball back to Wales who quickly flick it out to Louis Rees Zammit. The winger flies into the open space and sweeps down the pitch to go over for Wales’ third try of the match,
One more and Pool C top spot is theirs.
Second half! Wales 17-7 Georgia
Georgia get the match restarted with hopes of overturning the deficit and defeating Wales. Replacement Vano Karkadze is on the field too.
Matthieu Jalibert’s magic touch leads France into Rugby World Cup quarter-finals
Antoine Dupont’s absence was barely felt as Matthieu Jalibert produced plenty of magic to help France punch their ticket for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by crushing Italy 60-7 on Friday.
Flyhalf Jalibert’s lightning quick passing and inspired try lifted Les Bleus to the top of Pool A with other tries by Damian Penaud (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Peato Mauvaka, Yoram Moefana (2) and Thomas Ramos, who also scored 15 points from the tee.
Fabien Galthie’s team, without Dupont as the mercurial scrumhalf recovers from cheekbone surgery, won all their group games and are likely to face defending champions South Africa on October 15, even if Ireland and Scotland are still possible opponents for a place in the last four.
Matthieu Jalibert’s magic touch leads France into Rugby World Cup quarter-finals
France 60-7 Italy: The World Cup hosts reach the quarter-finals with emphatic win over Italy
Half-time! Wales 17-7 Georgia
41 minutes: The whistle goes to end an fascinating first half in Nantes.
Wales have a 10-point lead but Georgia proved that them have the ability to challenge the Welsh defence when they get good field position.
The real question now will be if Georgia can maintain this pace of play or will their energy levels dip as the match goes on?
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