Well my prediction of Georgia by 40 was dismantled by a sublime first half display from USA and an assured performance from Luke Carty pulling the strings in a buoyed USA team. Georgia did not look their usual ruthless selves but Davit Niniashvilli saved his magic till the last minute to ghost past basically the whole USA team to set up the try that made the victory look more comfortable than it was!
Kvatadze I. (2'), Kveseladze G. (21', 33'), Gorgadze B. (29'), Japaridze L. (64'), Aprasidze G. (80')
Tries
Besag D. (7', 18'), Fricker T. (15')
Abzhandadze T. (3', 22', 34', 65', 81')
Conversions
Carty L. (8', 16', 19')
Abzhandadze T. (72')
Penalties
Carty L. (41', 50', 78')
Well my prediction of Georgia by 40 was dismantled by a sublime first half display from USA and an assured performance from Luke Carty pulling the strings in a buoyed USA team. Georgia did not look their usual ruthless selves but Davit Niniashvilli saved his magic till the last minute to ghost past basically the whole USA team to set up the try that made the victory look more comfortable than it was!
From the kickoff, the contest was electric. Georgia struck early: a powerful forward drive saw them over in the opening minutes through Irakli Kvatadze.
The USA responded in kind, showing their attacking intent with a try to Dominic Besag inside the opening ten. USA then scored 2 more unanswered tries taking them to a 7 - 21 lead! Until a moment of madness saw O’Keefe get a yellow for taking out in the air when he was already too late to the tackle.
That Yellow allowed Georgia to reassert control: tries to Giorgi Kveseladze (twice) and Ashton Gorgadze, mixed with precise kicking by Tedo Abzhandadze, pushed the hosts ahead.
Yet the USA never dropped their heads. Besag’s second, a close-range finish by Toby Fricker and consistent goal-kicking from Luke Carty kept them within striking range at the break. The halftime margin – small by Georgia’s standards for dominance – left the door ajar.
As the second half began, Georgia’s machine-like forward platform delivered another tip of the hat: Japaridze crashed over to extend the lead. The home side’s ability to control the collision zone, retain possession and convert pressure into points was evident.
The USA, however, refused to wilt. They found moments of brilliance, attacking with width and purpose, especially when Georgia’s defence wavered. But while the visitors scored three tries in the half and kept the scoreboard ticking via Carty’s boot, the hosts answered back every time. The final quarter turned into a classic attritional battle: Georgia executing, USA scrap-fighting.
When the final whistle blew, Georgia’s physicality and composure had delivered a win – but the USA’s competitiveness signalled hope rather than despair.
Georgia
The forwards once again set the tone: dominant in collisions, steady in ruck speed and adept at converting platform into points.
Abzhandadze’s kicking (both from the tee and in-play) added a crucial dimension of control.
They withstood several periods of USA momentum, showing maturity in closing out the game.
USA managed to frustrate Aka Tabutsadze and stopped his clinical danger. A couple of half chances went his way but otherwise kept quiet.
USA
Their attack showed promise: identifying space, exploiting mismatches, and maintaining intent throughout.
Luke Carty’s goal-kicking (including penalties and a drop goal) kept the scoreboard ticking and provided a backbone for the comeback attempts.
The set-piece and breakdown domains, however, proved costly – Georgia’s physical edge sustained repeated pressure which the USA found hard to shake.
Grit and character were evident, but the result underscored the gap between promising and finished product.
For Georgia, this win is confirmation: they belong at the cusp of the next tier. Their challenge now is consistency — turning wins like this into habits ahead of major tournaments.
For the USA, the match was one of constructive frustration. The positives were there (attack, resilience, kicking), but the areas for development are clear: tighter discipline, stronger set-piece, and sustaining pressure for 80 minutes. As the USA push towards the next Rugby World Cup cycle, they must translate flashes of brilliance into consistent performance.
Tedo Abzhandadze (Georgia) – his control of territory, accurate goal-kicking and ability to steer the platform made a tangible difference.
Luke Carty (USA) - Carty controlled the game the same way for USA and without that magic from Niniashvilli and the yellow card. We could easily be talking about a USA victory instead.
A high-quality test between two nations on upward curves. Georgia displayed why they’re steadily rising; the USA demonstrated potential that, if harnessed, could yield real up-sets. For fans of grassroots and Tier 2/3 rugby — this is exactly the kind of contest that fuels the growth of the game.
