Everyone had not finished digesting the introduction from the day before. Saturday September 9, in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), in a Stade de France once again full and bathed in sunshine, the teams may have changed on the lawn, some remained fixed on the confrontation won by the Blues against the All Blacks (27-13). The first period between Australia and Georgia had not ended when La Marseillaise had sounded twice in the enclosure. For their entry into the competition, the Wallabies got the better of the Georgians (35-15), winning their first success since Eddie Jones coached them again.
“What’s stopping us from dreaming? “, questioned the third line Beka Gorgadze, quoted by Midi Olympique. Part of the Georgian selection, the player from the Pau Section (Top 14) highlighted “this excitement, this dynamic” which has surrounded the Lelos for several years. A team in full progress, which regularly pins “tier 1” nations (the ten best countries in the World Rugby rankings) to its hunting table, such as Wales and Italy in 2022, Georgia is advanced with ambition against Wallabies in doubt.
They didn’t stay that way for long. Like the day before, less than three minutes had passed before a South Pacific nation scored a try on the pitch at the Stade de France. Center Jordan Petaia aerially completing a sequence of his forwards. Enough to ideally launch the double world champions (1991 and 1999), especially as another try followed seven minutes later, also on a pirouette, from Mark Nawaqanitawase – already a scorer on this lawn two weeks ago against the Blues.
Less noisy than Friday, the French team obliged, but enthusiastic at the time of bouncing an “ola” for long minutes around the pitch, the public at the Stade de France saw the Georgians trying to react, often in a muddled manner .
Georgia still tender
Asked during the week about Georgian players playing in France, Wallabies captain Will Skelton cited Lyonnais Davit Niniashvili. “Very dynamic at the back, he is very dangerous,” he said. But the La Rochelle second row expected to face “a team which, historically, places a lot of emphasis on static phases, scrums and mauls”. The public too: largely committed to the cause of the Caucasian players, the Dyonisian stands have never been as enthusiastic as during the balls carried by the Lelos.
If they found the fault just after the break, through third row Luka Ivanishvili, Georgia still remained tender. Like the yellow card received by winger Mirian Modebadze at the end of the first period, for preventing an Australian from playing quickly, a few seconds after being penalized, or this breakthrough from Davit Niniashvili in the middle of the second half. After taking a good number of Australian defenders from behind and bringing the stadium to its feet, the spinning Lyonnais sent a random back pass, falling into Australian hands. At this level, it’s not forgiving, and Ben Donaldson didn’t have to be asked to score his team’s third try. The Australian full-back even scored twice at the end of the match, completing his team’s success.
More attacking in the second half, and clumsy several times when it came to flattening, the Georgians were rewarded for their efforts at the very end of the match, the substitute prop Beka Gigashvili crowning a final carried ball. Enough to soften the final note.
Accustomed to living in a separate reality, the Australian coach, Eddie Jones, may have succeeded in taking his young group on board his adventure. Repeating throughout the weeks, despite the negative results, his faith in the brilliant destiny of his team, the experienced technician won, nine months after his appointment, his first victory with the Wallabies.
“We’re not here to drag ourselves out of our hen. For all Australians, succeeding in the World Cup means winning it,” said Australian scrum-half Tate McDermott this week. If they have cleared the Georgian obstacle without firing a shot, they are not there yet. Fiji and then Wales advance to challenge them in an uncertain Group D. As for the Georgians, this first defeat in the World Cup does not condemn them to stop dreaming. But they will have to level up if they want to compete with the rest of the group.
