Wales 43-19 Georgia: Louis Rees-Zammit scores hat-trick as Warren Gatland’s side secure top spot in Pool C at the Rugby World Cup

• Wales beat Georgia 43-19 as they managed to finish in top place in Pool C
• Louis Rees-Zammit scored a hat-trick of tries in the second half for Wales 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

The sight of a disconsolate Gareth Anscombe heading down the tunnel before a ball had been kicked at the Stade de la Beaujoire was the only real negative for Wales as they sealed top spot in Pool C, exorcised their past demons of Nantes, and got revenge over Georgia. First, the good news. 

This was a fourth successive World Cup win for Warren Gatland’s side and a bonus-point success. Louis Rees-Zammit scored a second-half hat-trick.

Rees-Zammit now has five tries at this World Cup. He is in fine form. Wales scored six tries in total and will face either Argentina or Japan in the quarter-finals. 

The bad news surrounded fly-half Anscombe, who was due to start here but tweaked his groin in the warm-up and left the field in tears. Sam Costelow came in to replace him at No 10. Anscombe has the worst luck. 

His career has been ravaged by injury since he missed the 2019 World Cup and spent two years on the sidelines recovering from a severe knee problem. He deserves better and his emotion was entirely understandable. 

Louis Rees-Zammit scored a second-half hat-trick as Wales secured top spot in Pool C

George North is congratulated by his team-mates after he scored a try against Georgia

Davit Niniashvili scored an impressive try for Georgia, who caused problems for Wales

Wales’ last meeting with Georgia saw them suffer a shock 13-12 loss to the Lelos in Cardiff last November, a result which hastened the departure of former head coach Wayne Pivac. 

This was only the fifth time the two countries had met and it came at a venue which doesn’t have fond memories for Wales fans. In 2007, Fiji knocked Wales out of the World Cup here. There looked a small chance of another humiliating Welsh defeat at one point in the second half as Georgia scored two quick tries, but Gatland’s side did enough. 

MATCH FACTS 

Scorers

Wales 

Tries: Francis 16, L Williams 23, Rees-Zammit 43, 67, 74, North 80 

Cons: Costelow 17,24, 44, 69, 81

Pen: Costelow 27

Georgia 

Tries: Sharikadze 35, Karkadze 59, Niniashvili 62 Cons: Matkava 36, 60

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Attendance: 33,580 

Star man: Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)

Wales: L Williams (Grady 69); Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Costelow, T Williams (Davies 61); G Thomas (Smith 52), Lake (capt) (Dee 52), Francis (H Thomas 52), Rowlands, Jenkins, Wainwright (Basham 62), Reffell, Faletau (Tshiunza 69)

Replacement not used: Biggar

Georgia: Khmaladze (Tapladze 40); Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze (capt), Niniashvili; Matkava (Abzhandadze 69); Lobzhanidze (Aprasidze 58); Gogichashvili (Abuladze 40), Mamukashvili (Karkadze 40), Gigashvili (Aptsiauri 50), Cheishvili (Chachanidze 49), Mikautadze, Gachechiladze (Tsutskiridze 69), Saginadze, Jalagonia

They kicked a mammoth 29 times in the first half and in the second, the fact they were always comfortable counted against them. Wales were a bit sloppy and far from perfect, but again sealed five points. And frankly, that is all that matters at World Cups. Promoted from the bench for his first World Cup start at the 11th hour, Costelow had a poor start but also produced some nice moments. A mixed bag was probably to be expected given he is still only 22.

Costelow claimed an early high ball and made yards. But he also kicked too long, produced a poor pass which was dropped by Nick Tompkins, and then kicked away possession with Rio Dyer in space. Costelow also opted for a long pass when Wales would surely have scored had they put the ball through the hands. At that moment, the television pictures cut to Anscombe in the stands.

Anscombe looked calm on the outside but he must have been devastated internally. After a sloppy start, Wales slowly got up and running. With Rees-Zammit an unusual presence at a line-out, Gatland’s side rumbled forward. 

Prop Tomas Francis eventually went over. Then, Costelow opted for the long ball at just the right moment. His pass to Liam Williams was perfect and the full-back scored easily, not needing Rees-Zammit who was free outside him. Costelow converted both tries and kicked a penalty. 

Still, Gatland wasn’t happy. He slammed his hand on his desk in the coaching box at one point, just before Georgia launched their first real attack. Gatland’s mood wouldn’t have been improved by what happened next, Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze crashing through red shirts to score between the posts. Wales seemed like they’d switched off after moving 17-0 up. It was no surprise Gatland was angry. His team only lead by 10 at the break. 

Wales’ start to the second half couldn’t have been better, a loose Georgia pass in midfield handing a try on a plate to Rees-Zammit. The flying wing was never going to be caught as he raced away. Rees-Zammit benefited from Georgia shooting themselves in the foot after being found by George North. Costelow added the extras. Georgia had their chances and never went away as Wales dozed, but they were hindered by a poor line-out. Welsh locks Will Rowlands and Dafydd Jenkins stole Georgian set-piece ball with regularity. 

Wales flanker Tommy Reffell celebrates with Sam Costelow after the win was secured

Taulupe Faletau of Wales was seen with his arm in a sling after he went off injured

Gareth Anscombe wasn’t able to feature for Wales after tweaking his groin in the warm-up

Rees-Zammit made a major impact in the second half as he helped Wales to secure victory

A better side than the Lelos would have punished Wales more for not being totally at the races, but they still had enough in the locker to score from close range. Replacement hooker Vano Karkadze was the man to go over before it soon got even better for the Lelos. In Davit Niniashvili, Georgia have a wonderfully talented back. He showed his ability here. There looked nothing on when he got the ball in midfield, but when Wales replacement scrum-half Gareth Davies attempted to tackle him high, Niniashvili brushed him off with ease.

On Niniashvili went, scything into space to score with an acrobatic celebration. The fact Costelow opted for three points from range in response showed how much pressure Wales were under, but his effort fell short anyway. The class of Williams then shone through. Wales’ crucial fourth try again came from Zammit, but it was Williams’ kick assist that created the score. There was still time for both teams to come to blows in a huge scuffle.

After a tasty brawl, the end result was Wales replacement Taine Basham and Niniashvili being yellow carded. The handbags was caused by a high tackle by Basham on the Georgian star. The two sin bins gave the express pace of Rees-Zammit extra space and he made the most of it, kicking ahead and winning the race to the line to just about get downward pressure.

Rees-Zammit could have had four but after Mason Grady failed to pass to him, the Gloucester man showed how it should be done to allow North to wrap up the scoring. Anscombe was on the field at the final whistle but Wales will have to hope his injury isn’t too bad and the same applies to Taulupe Faletau who was also substituted. 

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