Georgia beat Romania 25-9 in their World Cup Pool B match yesterday to triumph in what was the first ever World Cup clash between two teams from eastern Europe.
In a penalty strewn encounter, flyhalf Merab Kvirikashvili grabbed 17 points with the boot as flanker Mamuka Gorgodze scored the only try of the match early in the second half.
It was just the second time that Georgia had won a World Cup match after they defeated Namibia four years ago in France, and it sent Romania home with four straight defeats.
PHOTO: AFP
“It was really the game we wanted to win,” Georgia skipper Irakli Abuseridze said.
“It was very hard. I understand that for the Romanians it was really very hard, after only three days rest after England, and hopefully it will be better for the next time,” he added.
Romania captain Marius Tincu agreed that his side had been penalized by the quick turnaround from the England game.
“But I congratulate Georgia, who played well and were very physical,” he said.
Romania made 10 changes to the side that lost heavily to England, sending out 14 of the players who started against Scotland.
Georgia made three changes to the team which went down 41-10 to England, with David Zirakashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze and Lasha Khmaladze promoted to the starting line
Romania started the stronger, but it was Georgia who opened the scoring when flyhalf Kvirikashvili nailed a 48m penalty kick.
Three minutes later, Marin Dumbrava leveled for the Oaks with his second penalty attempt after a Georgian offside.
With the penalty count spiraling, Kvirikashvili kicked three more and Dumbrava sent over a second as they turned at halftime with Georgia 12-6 ahead.
Georgia took command of the match as the second half got under way and they went 19-6 ahead after 56 minutes, when powerhouse flanker Gorgodze bulldozed his way over at the end of a 15-phase drive.
Watched by Prime Minister Nicolaz Gilauri, Georgia withstood some fierce Romanian pressure after which Kvirikashvili kicked his fifth penalty to seal the victory.
Georgia finish their third World Cup campaign by taking on Argentina in Palmerston North on Sunday, while Romania will head home winless.
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