Summary

  • Wales eventually run out comfortable winners against Georgia at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes

  • Bonus point win secures top spot in Pool C for Wales after four wins from four games

  • Gareth Anscombe injured in warm-up so Sam Costelow starts at fly-half for Wales

  • Tomas Francis scores the first try of the game after 16 minutes before Liam Williams adds second soon after

  • Merab Sharikadze shrugs off George North's tackle to score Georgia's first try of the game

  • Wales start second half with breakaway Louis Rees-Zammit try before losing all momentum

  • Vano Karkadze crosses to keep Georgia in touch before Davit Niniashvili reduces Wales' lead to five points

  • Second Rees-Zammit try seals try bonus point which ensures Wales finish top of Pool C before the wing scores hit hat-trick

  • George North gets his first try of the game in the final minute as Wales finish strongly in Nantes

  1. Postpublished at 43 mins

    Wales 24-7 Georgia

    Former Wales wing Shane Williams on ITV: "I didn't have to say anything there on commentary, from the moment the ball was in Louis Rees-Zammit's hands it was try time.

    "It couldn't have gone into a worse pair of hands from a Georgian perspective."

  2. try

    Converted try: Wales 24-7 Georgiapublished at 42 mins

    Louis Rees-Zamitt, con Sam Costelow

    Louis Rees-Zammit runs away to scoreImage source, Getty Images

    Loose pass in midfield, George North scoops up and the wing is clear... no one is going to catch him.

    Costelow converts and that is the perfect start for Wales.

  3. Replacement: Georgiapublished at 41 mins

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Changes by Georgia at half-time.

    Hooker, Vano Karkadze, prop Nika Abuladze and Demur Tapladze are all on for the last 40 minutes of Georgia's World Cup.

  4. Kick-offpublished at 41 mins

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Second half under-way in Nantes.

  5. Rock on Tommypublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    HT: Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Gareth Griffiths
    BBC Sport Wales at Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

    Wales co-captain Jac Morgan was brilliant in the first three games. He was rested for this Georgia game and Tommy Reffell has shown Warren Gatland has another magnificent seven at his disposal.

    He has already had two turnovers. Flankers Morgan and Reffell proving there is life after the brilliant Justin Tipuric.

    Tommy reffellImage source, Getty
  6. 'Anscombe would have shown better control'published at 14:55 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    HT: Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Gareth Anscombe's injury shook Wales because he controls the game really well.

    Sam Costelow has made some incorrect decisions, kicking a little too much and perhaps Anscombe would have made a few better decisions.

    However, we've also seen Costelow's skill and vision with his pass for Liam Williams.

    He's also ensured Georgia have had to do a lot of running which will pay off for Wales in the second half.

  7. 'Did I stop him?'published at 14:53 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    HT: Wales 17-7 Georgia

    George North crushed until tackleImage source, Getty Images

    Afraid not George...

  8. Wales need to get back on trackpublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    HT: Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales controlled the game and possession for the middle 20 minutes of that half and looked very clinical.

    Tommy Reffell stole a few turnovers and looked good.

    But since then Wales lost their way a little. They know the win is coming but they've let Georgia back in the game and Georgia are a team who will put everything into this game.

    It was important Wales didn't concede again before half-time and overall I'm happy with how the half has gone.

    Wales have put pressure on Georgia's set-piece and are keeping the ball on the field.

  9. More of the same from Walespublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    HT: Wales 17-7 Georgia

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    Tactically Wales will be exactly the same in the second half, just keep the kicking game going.

    The only way Georgia are going to score is if they get entries into the 22 and their pick and go gets going. If Wales can avoid that they'll be ok.

  10. Collectors itempublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    HT: Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Gareth Griffiths
    BBC Sport Wales at Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

    Prop Tomas Francis does not get many tries. It was only his third for Wales in his 76th international - and first at a World Cup.

    It will have been a length of the field effort by tomorrow!

    Tomas Francis tryImage source, Getty Images
  11. Half-time: Wales 17-7 Georgiapublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales will be satisfied with that following tries from Tomos Francis and Liam Williams.

  12. Postpublished at 40+2 min

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    They go for it, make some yards but another penalty for a neck roll brings the attack to an end... and the half.

  13. Postpublished at 40+1min

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Georgia have scrum right in the middle of the pitch... will they go for another go or kick out?

  14. Postpublished at 40 mins

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row on Scrum V

    Liam Williams has been wicked this first half, nice little breaks, nice little plays, he's been outstanding.

  15. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    After a lively ten minutes from Wales, they have just slipped off the pace slightly.

    Sam Costelow thought he had a perfect 50-22 kick but the bounce was not kind.

  16. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half on BBC Radio Cymru

    The one thing Wales didn't want there was to concede a try because it will give a huge boost to Georgia.

    It's a weak tackle in the Welsh midfield which gives Merab Sharikadze the try and Georgia a chance to get back in this game.

    I'm sure Wales' defence coach Mike Forshaw will be disappointed how easy that was for Georgia to score after the forwards did so well to push the maul backwards.

  17. Postpublished at 37 mins

    Wales 17-7 Georgia

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    A patient build up from Georgia but Wales will be disappointed with that.

    They fell off a few tackles even though defensively they were in position. That's what Georgia will do if you give them the opportunity.

  18. try

    Converted try: Wales 17-7 Georgiapublished at 35 mins

    Merab Sharikadze, con Luka Matkava

    Georgia go for the driving lineout after Dewi Lake gave away a penalty.

    Tomas Francis took up a great position to hold them out.

    But the captain stretches out of the tackle to score close to the post.

    Not even George North could hold him out - and Georgia are back in it.

    Merab Sharikadze scores first Georgia tryImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 33 mins

    Wales 17-0 Georgia

    They are hammering away but that Welsh defence is holding like a solid red brick wall.

  20. Postpublished at 32 mins

    Wales 17-0 Georgia

    Chance for Georgia to have a crack at the Welsh line.