Georgia 30, Namibia 0: Georgia secured their first World Cup win by beating Namibia in a one-sided Pool D match in miserable conditions in Lens yesterday.
Tries from hooker Akvsenti Giorgadze, right wing Irakli Machkhaneli and centre Davit Kacharava as well as 15 points from the boot of outhalf Merab Kvirikashvili, gave Georgia a comfortable victory on a wet, windy evening.
"Our goal was to win a match and the players gave it absolutely all they had," said Georgia coach Malkhaz Cheishvili. "They made Georgia proud and showed that Georgian rugby has a future.""
Georgia, taking part in their second World Cup, will meet France in their last group match on Sunday in Marseille while Namibia, still without a win from three tournaments, will go home after shipping 212 points in four matches.
"There's no question of letting go," Cheisvili said about Sunday's clash with the tournament hosts. "This will have freed us mentally and we will give our best against France."
Suffering in the mauls and lineouts and struggling to hold on to a slippery ball, Namibia were never really in contention but defended bravely under sustained pressure.
"Georgia just played better rugby on the day," said Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman. "We did not have that possession and the little we had, we did not use."
Kvirikashvili had put over two penalties and missed one when a collective effort from the Georgian pack was rewarded by Giorgadze's try, which Kvirikashvili converted to put his side 13-0 up at half-time.
Georgia stayed in control in the second half and an offside enabled Kvirikashvili to kick another penalty on 68 minutes.
Namibia collapsed after that, Machkhaneli touching down between the posts after a darting run and Kacharava then doing the same with a late a late intercept try. Kvirikashvili made no mistake with the two conversions.
GEORGIA: Urjukashvili, Machkhaneli, Kacharava, I. Guiorgadze, Shkinin, Kvirikashvili, Abusseridze, Shvelidze, A. Guiorgadze, Zirakashvili, Datunashvili, Gorgodze, Labadze, Urushadze, Chkhaidze, Khinchagishvili. Replacements: Gigauri for Urjukashvili (69), Khamashuridze for Shkinin (47), Samkharadze for Abusseridze (56), Khinchagishvili for A. Guiorgadze (55), Didebulidze for Gorgodze (19), Udesiani for Urushadze (51), Kopaliana for Khinchagishvili (72).
NAMIBIA: Namibia: Bock, Witbooi, van Zyl, Powell, Langenhoven, Schreuder, van Tonder, Lensing, Horn, Visser, Kazombiaze, Senekal, Nieuwenhuis, Burger, du Plessis, du Toit. Replacements: Africa for Schreuder (59), Jantjies for van Tonder (44), Meyer for Horn (70), du Toit for Visser (41), Kamonga for Senekal (72), Esterhuize for du Plessis (41), Redelinghuys for du Toit (51). Att: 25,500
Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand).
