In no uncertain terms, JOB DONE. Georgia are through to RWC 2027 in Australia.
Kakhoidze (8'), Lobzhanidze (10'), Tabutsadze (36'), Mamaiashvili (55'), Saginadze (63'), Javakhia (67')
Tries
Jong (83')
Matkava (8', 11'), Niniashvili (55', 64', 68')
Conversions
Meijer (84')
In no uncertain terms, JOB DONE. Georgia are through to RWC 2027 in Australia.
With many expecting another Georgian demolition job, after their record win last week. The Netherlands turned up with a point to prove after their below par performance defensively last week against Spain, and the first 8 minutes were fiercely contested. Netherlands were fronting up against the Georgians, but the ill discipline of last week began to creep back in. When under penalty advantage, less than 5m out, Kakhoidze hit a phenomenal line to run through untouched and score under the posts. Matkava ensured the extras were added too.
Only a couple of minutes later, after switching off at the breakdown the Netherlands let Davit Niniashvili pick up from the ruck and cover 50 metres untouched. Before a sublime offload to Vaso Lobzhanidze, who touched down for a kick fire Georgian double. Matkava made sure with the conversion too, to give Georgia a 1 point lead after 10 minutes on the clock.
It looked like it would become a long day at the office for the Dutch now!
However, the game seemed to hit a lull. Georgia didn't take their chances, and the Netherlands gave Georgia the ball back far too often than they would have. The tie got fiery at times with some Front Row dark arts employed to trigger a sizeable kerfuffle and handbags.
Netherlands were pinged for a team yellow ending with a collapsed maul and debutant Joris Smits taking his 10 minute spell on the side lines. It took Georgia until the 36 minute to break the dogged Dutch defence again, where Georgia managed to get it through the hands and allow Akaki Tabutsadze dive into the corner. Akaki Tabutsadze scored his 44th test try to bring him level with Jeff Wilson on the all time try scorers list.
Davit Niniashvili stepped up to take the conversion after Luka Matkava went off after a heavy knock. This time, Niniashvili was unable to add the 2 from the conversion out wide.
Georgia go into halftime 19-0 to the good but Richard Cockerill would have probably been the unhappier of the two coaches for that score line. Georgia butchered a number of chances and the Netherlands rode their luck. Will Georgia repeat their devastating second half display against Switzerland?
The second half did not start how the Netherlands wanted it to. Tim de Jong found himself spending 10 minutes in the bin after a charge down attempt found him colliding with Davit Niniashvili. The TMO called over Benoit Rousselet to review and the slowed down replay made it look a lot worse than it was. No argument that de Jong made contact with Davit Niniashvili, however, there was no where else for him to go. But in the name of player safety it was dealt with in the guidelines. After 42 minutes, the Dutch had received their 2nd yellow of the match.
However, the Georgians must have said 'hold my beer!'
On the 49th minute, Beka Gorgadze found himself red carded for a high tackle with contact to the head of Robbie Coetzee. Beka Gorgadze latched with Giorgi Mamaiashvili to stop Coetzee dead in his tracks but the timing was off and none of the three dropped their height. Rousselet had his work cut out with the camera angles to choose from but following the directive, there was no other outcome. Gorgadze went over Coetzee to shake hands and apologise in a true rugby standard, once his punishment was confirmed.
Could the Netherlands have a glimmer of hope? Georgia down to 1 but only 19-0 to the good after 49 minutes.
But the card fest continued, the Netherlands ill discipline continued with another yellow card, just as Tim de Jong returned to the pitch. Amir Rademaker was sent for 10 mins in the bin after a deliberate knock on stopped a dangerous Georgian attack.
Giorgi Mamaiashvili managed to force himself over from a metre out while under a double tackle attempt for his first try for Georgia. Davit Niniashvili slotted the conversion to give Georgia further daylight on what could have become a huge chance for Netherlands to cause a upset against 14 men.
The usual spurt of subs were dispatched from the benches and on the other side. Georgia managed another try through Beka Saginadze. The captain found himself out wide and in open space after another expansive back move managed to stretch the Netherlands the width of the pitch. Niniashvili added 2 more to the board to stretch the lead to 33-0 after 67 minutes.
After another penalty close to the Georgian try line, Georgian opted for the tap and go penalty. First wave was halted but on the second go, Giorgi Javakhia was forced over under the posts. Allowing Niniashvili the easy opportunity to add the final Georgian points of the day.
After 2 Georgian tries disallowed, the Netherlands got themselves on the board in the 83rd minute. Having covered 50 plus metres through Georgian ill discipline awarding them multiple penalties. Tim de Jongh managed to force himself over to put the first points against Georgia in the tournament so far. Conversion made in the 84th minute, the whistle ended the 40-7 victory for Georgia.
Georgia and Richard Cockerill won't be happy with the result and the performance after what they did last week. But the better sides, find ways to win even when they aren't at their best. The Netherlands will be wondering if they had managed to keep their discipline in line, what could have been.
Next week, turns to Georgia visiting Spain in Madrid for what is lined up to be the top of the table clash. The Netherlands host the Swiss ahead of their target of ensuring a home tie for the 5th place play off semi finals.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Georgia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 |  Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 05 |
| 3 |  Netherlands | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -62 | 0 | 00 |
| 4 |  Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -110 | 0 | 00 |
