Georgia beat Wales (13-12) for the first time in rugby history on Saturday in Cardiff.
The Georgians came back from a 9-point deficit at the break and won thanks to a penalty from Luka Matkava two minutes from the end of the match.
«It’s incredible. It’s the second time this season that we beat a first category team (the six selections of the VI Nations tournament and the four of the Rugby Championship, editor’s note) after Italy (last July, Ed)”, rejoiced the Georgian captain Merab Sharikadze at the microphone of Prime Video. “We are not world champions, but we made history“, Continued the three-quarter center.
Led 12-3 at the break, the Lelos, the nickname of the Georgian XV, perfectly exploited their numerical advantage after the temporary exclusion of winger Alex Cuthbert at the start of the second period.
Winger Alexander Todua allowed the Georgians to come back a few lengths from the Welsh (12-10) twenty minutes from time. A try preceded by the penalty scored by substitute Luka Matkava, in the 78th minute, following a new fault by the Welsh.
The Welsh are going through a delicate period
This meeting served as a test less than a year before the World Cup in France, where the two teams will compete in a homogeneous Group C, with Australia and Fiji.
Beaten by New Zealand on November 5 (55-23), then barely victorious over Argentina (20-13) last week, Wayne Pivac’s men are going through a delicate period. And Australia is looming on November 26 as the ultimate test match. Far from being a gift to revive.
