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. Team news - Georgia captain returns to lift Lelospublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Georgian players walk out at Principality StadiumImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Captain Merab Sharikadze returns for Georgia's final World Cup pool game against Wales in Nantes.

    Sharikadze missed the Fiji defeat through injury but the centre is back as one of five changes made by head coach Levan Maisashvili.

    Guram Gogichashvili and Shalva Mamukashvili return to the front row and Nodar Cheishvili comes into the second row.

    Full-back Lasha Khmaladze makes his first appearance at this World Cup.

    There are 15 survivors in the matchday 23 from Georgia's 13-12 victory in Cardiff last year, including 11 in the starting side.

    Fly-half Luka Matkava played just seven minutes off the bench in that game, but kicked the winning penalty from 45 metres.

    Georgia: Khmaladze; Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze (capt), Niniashvili; Matkava, Lobzhanidze; Gogichashvili, Mamukashvili, Gigashvili, Cheishvili, Mikautadze, Gachechiladze, Saginadze, Jalagonia

    Replacements: Karkadze, Abuladze, Aptsiauri, Chachanidze, Tsutskiridze, Aprasidze, Abzhandadze, Tapladze.

  2. Team news - Lake returns in six Wales changespublished at 13:20 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Dewi Lake against PortugalImage source, Gett

    Fly-half Gareth Anscombe is limping in Wales' pre-match warm-up so he is now a big doubt to start this afternoon.

    Dewi Lake leads out Wales amid six changes from the victory over Australia a fortnight ago.

    The Ospreys hooker is squad co-captain but has played just 51 minutes so far and will be busting a gut to make an impression for the quarter-final.

    He replaces Ryan Elias while Gareth Anscombe starts in the number ten jersey with Dan Biggar rested after recovering from a chest injury.

    Wing Rio Dyer, scrum-half Tomos Williams, lock Dafydd Jenkins and flanker Tommy Reffell all start.

    Number eight Taulupe Faletau and wing Louis Rees-Zammit will have started all four matches.

    Lake's fellow skipper Jac Morgan is rested after starting the first three games.

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

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

  3. Bonjour, prynhawn da and welcomepublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 7 October 2023

    Wales v Georgia (14:00 BST)

    Stade Stade de la BeaujoireImage source, Getty Images

    Hello and welcome to Wales' final match of the World Cup pool stage here in Nantes.

    Warren Gatland's side have the luxury of having a quarter-final spot already safely tucked away.

    And after two weeks preparation and a relatively clean bill of health so it's all looking rosy, right?

    Let's not forget history is not necessarily on Wales' side.

    The last time they were here at Stade Stade de la Beaujoire, Wales were sent packing by Fiji and head coach Gareth Jenkins got his marching orders.

    And the last time Wales faced Georgia, they lost!

    So there can be no room for complacency this afternoon.

    First up, let's have a look at the teams.

    Welsh and Georgian flags in stadiumImage source, Getty Images