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LENS - Georgia secured their first rugby World Cup win by beating Namibia 30-0 in a one-sided Pool D match played in miserable conditions today.
Tries from hooker Akvsenti Giorgadze, right wing Irakli Machkhaneli and centre Davit Kacharava, as well as 15 points from the boot of first five eighth Merab Kvirikashvili, gave Georgia a comfortable victory on a wet, windy evening in this northern mining town.
"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 Monday (NZ time) 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 Monday's match with the tournament hosts. "This will have freed us mentally and we will give our best against France."
Argentina, France and Ireland are fighting for the group's two qualifying spots.
Suffering in the mauls and lineouts and struggling to hold on to a slippery ball, Namibia were never really in contention but at least 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.
"Now we will regroup. We need assistance and money to keep improving but we will be back," he added.
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 halftime.
Georgia, who had almost pulled off an upset before going down 14-10 to Ireland in their previous match, stayed in control in the second half although the score did not change until 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 intercept try. Both conversions were formalities for Kvirikashvili.
- REUTERS
