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. Who needs what in Pool C?published at 13:54 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Wales have already reached the quarter-finals and the other place will be secured by either Australia or Fiji.

    Wales need one point against Georgia to guarantee top spot and set up a quarter-final in Marseille on Saturday, 14 October.

    That will almost certainly be against Argentina or Japan, although Samoa still have a ridiculously bizarre mathematical chance of finishing second in Pool D.

    Fiji need one point against Portugal tomorrow to confirm second place on the head-to-head rule having already beaten Australia.

    If Fiji get nothing from the match, Australia will qualify for the quarter-finals as runners-up.

    Georgia and Portugal cannot qualify for the quarter-finals and cannot gain automatic qualification for the World Cup in 2027 as they are on three and two points respectively with one game to play.

    This means Wales, Australia and Fiji have qualified for the 2027 World Cup.

  2. Wales won't want to 'slip up'published at 13:53 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    You can't hide the fact Georgia beat us 12 months ago but with Wales' momentum they've gathered so far this tournament, there's far too much talent and experience and they will be well aware that they don't want to slip up like they did 12 months ago.

    Hopefully we can get a good win to give us that confidence going in to next week.

  3. How it standspublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Table showing standings in Pool CImage source, BBC Sport
  4. Postpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

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

    Mentally you go in to every game wanting to win, we want to keep the momentum going to make sure we get the performance and the win to be top of the group.

    It's always massive to be the number one going through.

  5. May hay in the sunshine?published at 13:50 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

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

    It is a sunny Saturday afternoon at the World Cup in Nantes. Bad memories for some Wales fans maybe if you go back 16 years ago when Fiji dumped Gareth Jenkins' side out of the tournament in the group stages.

    No repeat is possible today with Wales already assured of quarter-final qualification. They can hopefully enjoy themselves in the Nantes sunshine. Lots of red shirts here again in the crowd among the green and yellow seats of the stadium.

  6. Postpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales are a totally different team than they were back in November when Georgia's pack dominated, winning scrum penalties.

    I think the story will be different today, Wales' development has been huge.

    We have to be at our best, Georgia's back three spread the ball really well, so Wales have to be careful.

  7. 'Great opportunity for players to stamp mark'published at 13:47 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Wales head coach Warren Gatland on S4C: "It's about continuity, not making too many changes, building on what we've achieved so far in the first three games, we saw against Portugal with all the changes we lost some of the squad togetherness.

    "There was a lot of debate about how many changes to make, I wanted to keep the midfield the same, there's been a huge number of changes there over the last few years, and I wanted to build on that partnership.

    "There's a great opportunity for players coming in to stamp their mark on the game without making too many changes.

    "We know Georgia will be physical, we've got to keep our patience, they were 9-0 up against Fiji and could have been 16-0 up which would have changed the complexion of that game.

    "Today could be a real banana skin but we want to finish this group with four wins out of four."

    Warren GatlandImage source, Getty Images
  8. 'There's a lot of quality on show for both teams'published at 13:45 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    There is a lot of quality on show for both teams but compared to when Georgia beat Wales they are not the same team.

    Wales' team are still pretty strong although there's six changes. It's still a quality team and hopefully that momentum will carry on now.

  9. Wales have the movespublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Wales players in trainingImage source, Getty Images

    Looks like Wales have been practicing their line dancing.

    Let's hope they have all the moves come kick-off.

  10. 'Georgia are going to give absolutely everything'published at 13:42 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Georgia want to leave the Rugby World Cup with a win, they've never beaten a country above them in the World Rankings before.

    They want to finish on a high and they are going to give it absolutely everything so we have to play really well today, make sure our discipline is good and keep 15 players on the pitch.

  11. Georgia get their heads togetherpublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Georgia team standing in circle in car park

    Lovely scene here that was captured by one of our reporters in Nantes who was staying next door to the Georgian team.

    A little moment together before heading to the stadium.

  12. Wales put case for the defencepublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Nick Tompkins and George North against AustraliaImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Statistics don't always tell the full story but here's one that sums up what Warren Gatland was just speaking about.

    He wanted to make Wales a hard team to beat.

    Well no other side in the opening three rounds of the World Cup had made as many tackles as his team. I mean, not even close.

    Wales had made 504 tackles in their three games - 100 more than the next side.

    That included a national record 253 tackles against Fiji as well as a rare try shut-out against Australia.

    Captain Jac Morgan led the individual charts with 44, while prop Gareth Thomas was not far behind with 37.

    No wonder then that defence coach Mike Forshaw says Wales deserve credit for their efforts

    "We've had a lot of tackling practice and you've got to give the boys a bit of credit," said Forshaw.

    "There are good teams in this tournament so there are going to be times when you're under the pump.

    "But we want to manage games better so we get a bit more time to express ourselves with the ball.

    "Even without the ball, it's about how good we can be in transition. The defence is the start of our attack, and we've had quite a bit of practice at that over the last three weeks."

  13. Hard work key to World Cup progress - Gatlandpublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Warren Gatland with Wales players in huddleImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    From Carwyn James to Sir Alex Ferguson and Bill Belichick, everyone always wonders whether these top coaches in sport have some sort of magic wand that gets the best out of their players.

    But sometimes - as in Warren Gatland's case - it's just purely down to hard graft.

    Gatland has once again made Wales bloody minded, stubborn and just downright hard to break apart.

    Now he's getting ready to take Wales to a fourth World Cup quarter-final in as many tournaments.

    "It's just hard work," he said.

    "We've all spoken in the past about the opportunities in World Cup years, with the extended preparation and time you get with the players, and the detail you can put into things.

    "These guys have worked extremely hard in the (training) camps we've had, which has put us in good shape in terms of being able to take our game forward, being confident and comfortable playing for 80 minutes.

    "We are excited about where we are, and we are looking forward to going deep into this tournament.

    "The message has been about continuing to improve as a side, taking one game at a time.

    "We know we are in the quarter-finals, but we want to finish top of the group and it is trying to win four from four."

  14. Costelow will 'flick the switch'published at 13:35 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

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

    I don't think it will phase Sam Costelow too much. I think he will flick the switch now, he knows he is starting, it has been a long couple of weeks so he has had the reps in the bank to get through today.

    There's going to be a lot of pressure on him but I'm pretty sure he won't feel it and will just do his job today like he needs to.

  15. Postpublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Former Wales wing Shane Williams on ITV: "For Sam Costelow the role has changed from playing 15-20 minutes at the end of the game and looking to make things happen as is his game.

    "But now Warren Gatland has had a word in Costelow's ear and he now has to do what Gareth Anscombe did last week, pulling the team around the field and controlling the play."

  16. Change at 10 - Costelow startspublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Sam CostelowImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Sam Costelow has been promoted to the number ten jersey for his first World Cup start.

    Dan Biggar, who has been nursing a pectoral strain, takes his place on the replacements bench.

    Latest news is that Gareth Anscombe has damaged his groin while kicking in warm up... but really sad scenes for him. He was almost in tears as he trudged off the pitch.

    He's had such a tough time with injuries.

    Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Costelow, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Francis, Rowlands, D Jenkins, Wainwright, Reffell, Faletau.

    Replacements:Dee, Smith, H Thomas, Tshiunza, Basham, G Davies, Biggar, Grady.

  17. 'Sad to see' for Anscombepublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies on S4C: "Gareth Anscombe was kicking here just behind us and the way he's walking it doesn't look good.

    "He's come back and he played well last week against Australia, he was playing with confidence, leading the team and making good decisions.

    "The pictures tell the whole story, after the video we saw with him and his family this week it's sad to see."

  18. 'Devastating Blow'published at 13:27 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    A devastating blow for Anscombe and the whole of Wales.

    It's a great opportunity for Sam Costelow to start perhaps, just looking at the way Anscombe has gone off he's visibly upset.

  19. Postpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Former Wales captain Sam Warburton on ITV: "Gareth Anscombe's definitely not playing.

    "I was excited to see him play because I don't think there are many selection debates in the side currently but 10 was one of them.

    "He was considering retirement a couple of years ago but now he's on the cusp of being Wales' number 10 for the knockout stages and I think that's why he's so disconsolate."

  20. Anscombe outpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

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

    Oh dear, Gareth Anscombe looks like he has injured himself in the warm-up.

    He has his head in his hands after he limps off the field.

    Wales team manager Martyn Williams and Neil Jenkins have given him a hug as he leaves the pitch. It looks bad.

    Warren Gatland has just a word with Dan Biggar who is now out training. We wait and see what happens.