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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Pool C clash between Namibia and Georgia!
You can read the preview HERE.
Georgia XV: Merab Kvirikashvili, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Davit Kacharava, Merab Sharikadze, Alexander Todua, Lasha Malaguradze, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Mikheil Nariashvili, Jaba Bregvadze, Davit Zirakashvili, Giorgi Nemsadze, Konstantine Mikautadze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Viktor Kolelishvili, Mamuka Gorgodze (captain). Replacements: Shalva Mamukashvili, Karlen Asieshvili, Anton Peikrishvili, Levan Datunashvili, Lasha Lomidze, Giorgi Begadze, Giorgi Aptsiauri, Beka Tsiklauri
Namibia XV: Chrysander Botha, David Philander, Danie Van Wyk, Darryl De La Harpe, Russel Van Wyk, Theuns Kotze, Eugene Jantjes; Johnny Redelinghuys, Torsten Van Jaarsveld, Raoul Larson, PJ Van Lill, Tijuee Uanivi, Jacques Burger (captain), Tinus Du Plessis, Renaldo Bothma.
Follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from Exeter.
Also see…
- South Africa vs. USA match report from earlier
- Nonu winning his 100th All Blacks cap
- England's training ground row
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| 1 |
0 - 3 |
Namibia - in the blue - have kicked us off here at Sandy Park and Georgia have already been penalised for being offside. Bit of miscommunication between the forwards. Namibia's Kotze, who has 324 international points, is lining up for the first three...
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| 2 |
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And he's made it! Good start for the men in blue.
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| 3 |
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Georgia have bounced straight back from that little set back by dominating the possession since. They're bruising their way into the Namibian 22 and have made some good ground. Try looming, perhaps?
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| 4 |
0 - 3 |
Nope. Tackling off feet from Georgia's Davit Zirakashvili has gifted the ball back to the African side. Penalty, which is kicked into touch.
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| 5 |
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Namibia's Kotze attempts the drop kick and has it way off. Poor decision really, lots of time left in this game and opportunities will be there. Gifted it back to Georgian hands.
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| 7 |
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Namibia lineout, penalised for not being thrown straight. We've got the Georgia scrum now. Interesting to see set the tone and emerge victorious from the first scrum of the evening...
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| 8 |
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Easily done by Georgia, brute force and Namibian pack is gone! Lobzhanidze kicks and chases, making a quick break for the line but he's out paced by Bothma who collects for Namibia before passing to Philander. Nice idea.
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| 9 |
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Play has been stopped for Burger, who's lying on the floor injured. This is huge if he goes off.
He's off for a moment with concern for head injury. He is up and walking though...
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| 11 |
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TMO RULES GEORGIA NO TRY!!!
Namibia look like they've restarted the game well with their scrum holding strong, but they're soon nailed back down and Georgia win the turnover. Mistake from Namibia as de la Harpe has it ripped from his hands before Georgia's Todua runs home down the left win. That could have been avoided for Namibia BUT fortunately for them, the TMO has found a knock on and it's no try!
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| 12 |
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Georgia lineout on the five metre mark looks like it was just seconds away from a try thanks to there driving maul but Namibia somehow pulled it together at the last second and barged them out and to the floor. And then they were awarded the penalty! Feel as if Namibia are riding their luck - how long can they hold out?
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| 15 |
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Some more Georgian pressure here. Driving maul is looking like a serious weapon as they just pushed that one a good 10-15 metres from half way. Penalised for a knock on again though.
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| 17 |
0 - 6 |
Another penalty against Georgia - that's the fifth so far this game.
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| 19 |
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Georgia lineout along their left flank. Worked well into the centre finding their captain Burger, but he fumbles and the ball is given back to the Lelos.
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| 21 |
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Some more good defence from Namibia. They're doing well to soak up the Georgian pressure.
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| 22 |
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We've got another scrum, the fourth so far, with Namibia's No.9 to feed.
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| 23 |
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The men in blue have been rocketed backwards from the scrum and Georgia have over run Namibian defence. Some great work from Georgia's Merab Kvirikashvili - extremely quick feet - but his forward pass has meant that potential try can't stand.
Georgia once again imposing themselves well and looks like it's just a matter of time before they start racking up the points. How long can the Namibian defence hold out?
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| 26 |
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Another driving maul courtesy of the Georgian forwards down the left flank doesn't pay much this time and Namibia retrieve the ball kicking it high and long and successfully release the pressure from the Lelos.
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| 27 |
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Bit of a captain's talking to here. Ref: "There's a lot of tension in the game. You need to speak to your team and get them to turn it down.."
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| 28 |
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Namibia penalty from their 22 and an absolute monster of a kick from Kotze to force the lineout back in Georgia's 22.
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| 29 |
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The strength of the Georgian pack is just of another level here. Namibia try their own version of the Lelos driving maul - doesn't work at all. Pushed right back. Need a change in tactic.
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| 30 |
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Scrum smack bang inside the centre of Georgia's 22.
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| 31 |
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Penalty to Georgia as Namibia are penalised for standing. Kicked for the lineout down their right flank.
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| 32 |
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Merab Kvirikashvili's kick lands deep in the Namibian 22, and it's then returned by Namibian's respective number in similar fashion.
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| 33 |
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Georgia still piling on the pressure but struggling to make much of it. They're just missing that final spark. Very close to making something happening but it's either a knock on or a handling error that's messing up their rhythm.
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| 34 |
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TMO review for a tackle lead with the elbow from Jaba Bregvadze on his opponents neck. This could see a sin binning here...
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| 35 |
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Yep, he's off. Georgia will see out the half with a man down. The last time Georgia had someone binned (against Argentina) they conceded three tries on those 10 minutes. Will we see a similar scenario here?
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| 36 |
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Things are going from bad to worse here for the Georgian's too as Karlen Asieshvili is on to replace the injured Mikheil Nariashvili. No 1 and 2 off.
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| 37 |
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Finally have a bit of rugby under play again after that sub and sin binning. Back to how we were though, Georgia on the attack with the brief moment of Namibian play...
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| 39 |
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Namibia cross kick into the Georgian left corner but it's collected by Tamaz Mchedlidze who decides to run it out instead of kick despite the couple of incoming Georgia forwards. He does so successfully before being chopped down on the edge of his 22. Nice stuff from the winger, good to see him taking on defenders.
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| 40 |
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Very poor Namibian lineout on the half time mark and the ref is insisting it be taken again...
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| 40+1 |
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Georgia edging closer and closer to the try line from the driving maul, can they make it?!
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| 40+2 |
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Nope, not yet! Namibia penalised for coming in at the side. Still very close for Georgian try here...
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| 40+3 |
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This could not be closer to a try. Inches away and Namibian are JUST about keeping them at bay. Everybody chucking in the tackles and the Lelos just can't find that gap. What will come of this?!
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| 40+4 |
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They fumble it! Knock on! All their hard work ruined! Referee coming back to check a couple of things...
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| 40+5 |
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Raoul Larson has been sent to the bin for a cynical infringement. This first half, including stoppages, has gone on for an hour and we're still not done...
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| 40+6 |
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We've got the scrum now with Georgia to feed. It's been reset twice. What's is the longest ever half of rugby? This must be up there!
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| 40+7 |
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Yes, the clock is saying 47 minutes...
Georgia penalty again as Namibia are penalised for boring in.
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| 40+8 |
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The fourth version of this scrum isn't good enough, and now we're into the fifth. Ref giving another talking to with regards to the sin bin. Surely not...
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| 40+9 |
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Coetzee has just been binned for infringements in the scrum. The fifth scrum isn't good enough. Time for the sixth...
We've resorted to an uncontested scrum and it looks like we're off to the TMO as Vito Kolelishvili crosses the line but there's debate over the forward pass beforehand.
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| 40+10 |
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Well, there we have it. Forward pass was found, no try and... HALF TIME!
HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Rob Barlett had this to say:
"The first half at Sandy Park went as expected: a tense and tight opening 40 (or rather, 60) minutes with both Georgia and Namibia clearly feeling intense pressure. There is an awful lot at stake in this match - for the Lelos, victory would pretty much seal automatic qualification for Japan 2019 but their opponents are as determined as they've ever been to earn that elusive first World Cup win. Despite leading through two Theuns Kotze penalties, Namibia looked up against it when influential captain Jacques Burger departed for a head injury assessment - somehow they kept the Georgians, who clearly let their emotions get the better of them, away from the try line. Referee George Clancy had his work cut out warning both sides to calm down, issuing yellow cards to both Georgia's Jaba Bregvadze and Namibia's Raoul Larson. After a frantic finish to a half that lasted over an hour, we'll have the biggest 40 minutes of both Georgian and Namibian rugby history to follow. Namibia finally lead a World Cup match at half-time at the 18th attempt. "
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| 40 |
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Georgia kick us back into play and their up field kick is swiftly collected and subsequently returned by Namibia.
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| 41 |
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Positive start from Namibia. Keeping their width and their eye firmly on getting over the gain line, and they're slowly getting there.
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| 42 |
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| 43 |
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Namibia pressure still firmly on but we've gone back to a bit of a back and forth kicking game for a brief moment. Georgia lineout along their right flank.
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| 44 |
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They've shifted it well along the lineout, but for the second time this half already they've made a handling error and fumbled it, this time 'thanks' to their captain Gorgodze.
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| 45 |
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Well, that was easy. Rather than the six required attempts needed before the half time whistle, the two sets of forwards have managed that scrum in just one. Nothing significant results though.
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| 47 |
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Just as Georgia looked to make a try, they've screwed it up again! Chrysander Botha makes a great interception running back towards his own try line denying Georgia of their first points.
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| 48 |
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Tempo is rising here! Georgia pushing hard but just can't find it. Look like they're trying TOO hard to be honest, handling errors proving that.
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| 49 |
5 - 6 |
Gorgodze - try
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| 50 |
7 - 6 |
GEORGIA TRY!!!
Gorgodze try!
Namibia's tackling just couldn't hold out the No.8. Some really great robust stuff to begin with from the African side but it was only a matter of time before the Lelos unlocked the path to the try line. Brute force bundles it over.
On the other side, Renaldo Bothma's been binned for an earlier high tackle. Rightly so.
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| 52 |
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Georgia penalised in the scrum just inside and Namibia have taken quickly - their turn to attack it seems.
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| 53 |
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Not for long though as the ball is back in Georgian hands. Namibian penalised for not moving away too. Penalty is definitely within kicking distance, but they've opted for the lineout, which is not a bad shout considering how much stronger their forwards seem to be in the scrum and maul - will it pay this time though?
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| 54 |
12 - 6 |
GEORGIA TRY!
Yes it will!
Great work from Giorgi Tkhilaishvili. Lineout proves fruitful as they manage to catch well before swiftly offloading to their supporting backs. It finds Tkhilaishvili who carries it well before performing a nifty little offload to the incoming Lasha Malaguradze. The fly half doesn't have much to do besides slide it home.
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| 55 |
14 - 6 |
Kvirikashvili - conversion
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| 58 |
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Pretty scrappy past couple of minutes from both sides here. Stalemate on the half way is one way to describe it.
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| 60 |
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| 61 |
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Finally a bit of territory as Georgia find their way into their opponents 22. Georgia on the front foot, but only slightly. Can they make this pay?
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| 62 |
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No, they can't. Botha manages to collect the ball and kicks straight into the Georgia half. Great kick to release the mounting pressure.
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| 63 |
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They take the lineout well and Georgia have managed to maul from the half way to the 22 in a diagonal direction - what a drive that was! Namibia clearly very tired.
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| 66 |
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Georgia given the penalty now as Namibia fail to move away. Georgia eyeing the uprights here rather than the lineout as they probably would've done in the first half.
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| 67 |
17 - 6 |
Makes it. Georgia stretch their lead and it must be said it has been coming.
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| 68 |
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Georgia the ones who continue their offensive work as they look to add even more points to their tally.
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| 69 |
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I take that back, Namibia have been awarded the penalty and are going for the uprights... Peculiar decision given that three points doesn't do a lot.
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| 70 |
17 - 9 |
And we're back to scrums! Uncontested mind you, just outside the Namibia 22 and it's Georgia's ball.
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| 71 |
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Knock on straight after the scrum and we've got another edition...
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| 72 |
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Namibia's attack have found some energy from somewhere and Renaldo Bothma is at the fore. Some real brutal hits from the No.8 which don't seem to be affecting him at all but his opponents are falling like flies.
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| 73 |
17 - 14 |
NAMIBIA TRY!
Botha's carrying is a highlight of that try. Real monster with the ball in hand. But, nevertheless, the whole team to combined well and Kotze's finish was also impressive. He also showed he's a strong ball carrier. He just about manages to ground it amid a number of Georgia tackles before a sumptuous conversion kick courtesy of himself, too. Great stuff.
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| 75 |
17 - 16 |
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| 76 |
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Georgia need to steady the ship a bit as we come into the closing moments of play as Namibia have the momentum and they're still attacking. Wonder what this game would've have been like if it was XV v XV the entire time?
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| 77 |
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Georgia have been awarded a penalty to briefly stop the Namibian onslaught... Botha penalised for coming off his feet.
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| 78 |
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Georgia kicked for the lineout and they're quite happy to stroll for the lineout. No rush for them, a few moments and they have the victory they're after.
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| 79 |
17 - 16 |
The inevitable driving maul is working well again, Namibia just can't stop it. We're into the African 22 now, how much further can they push this one?!
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| 80 |
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Well, not much further!
FULL TIME!
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| 80+1 |
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say:
"What a second half of rugby. Thrills, spills, edge of your seat stuff - it was like Spielberg had written the script. And how fitting that both Georgia and Namibia each earned their slice of history. Georgia have won two matches at a World Cup for the first time - which should see them qualify automatically for Japan in four years' time - while Phil Davies' side earned their first ever tournament point. The damage was done from Bothma's early yellow card - Georgia took advantage of the head count as Gorgodze and Malaguradze both wen over. But, with less than 10 minutes left, Sandy Park erupted when Kotze dived into the far left corner. Georgia held on - just. There won't be a dry eye - or glass - in Tbilisi tonight"
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