What an atmosphere and stadium to hold the REC Final today.
Karkadze (21', 33', 48'), Tabutsadze (36', 50', 72'), Abuladze (44'), Lobzhanidze (65')
Tries
Cian (24'), Santamaria (69'), Bontempo (79')
Papunashvili (37'), Niniashvili (45', 66')
Conversions
Bontempo (25', 79')
Penalties
Bontempo (3', 18', 41')
What an atmosphere and stadium to hold the REC Final today.
The sun is shining to cover these 2 attacking Rugby teams!
Georgia take the kick off, which is safely secured by the Spanish. allowing Tani Bay to make a clinical escape. Georgia take their obligatory clinical line out, and go through the phases to attack. Until a unusual kick over from Georgia goes out on the full and puts Spain back on the halfway line.
Spain have their attacking phases tagged together, and manage to win a kickable penalty on the Georgian 10m line. Where Bontempo slots the kick effortlessly, Spain are 0-3 after 3 minutes. That boot is going to be crucial today for Spain.
Spain win another penalty from the restart for a Georgian obstruction, just inside the Spanish half at half way. Bontempo goes for goal again, but unfortunately drags it wide. No issue with the distance, as he was slotting them from 60 metres in the warm up yesterday.
Spain are unlucky in a unforced knock on by Tani bay at the breakdown, giving Georgia a scrum around halfway. Which they manage to win a scrum penalty from, Niniashvili misses the kick for the corner and gives Spain the scrum back in the same spot. Spain win the scrum penalty this time for wheeling around.
Spain put themselves on the Georgian 22, which Georgia steal. Giving Georgia the platform to plan their escape, where a accurate kick from Vaso Lobzhanidze puts them on halfway. Spain manage to execute this lineout, but the Georgians are too quick at the breakdown and win the ball back.
10 minutes in and Georgia fluff another lineout on Spain 22 for not straight put in. Spain opt for their own lineout attempt and get the drive on in the maul. Georgia collapse the maul and give Spain another attempt to take some metres up the park. They get themselves onto the Georgian 22, and go for another maul attempt but Matt Foulds knocks on in the air. Georgia get to go after Spain at scrum time again, but Spain win the scrum pen for wheeling. A quick tap and go puts, Georgia on the back foot. Spain go for the pick and go but Titi Futeu knocks on in contact to give Georgia the ball back on the Georgian 5m line. Another scrum in the shadow of the posts, but Georgia manage to get the scrum penalty this time as the scrum collapses.
Georgia put themselves in the Spanish half, the line out goes to the front. With Lobzhanidze sneaking through the gap in the lineout, into open space. Little offload to Davit Niniashvili looked to put Georgia ahead. But after the TMO intervened the Georgians were pulled back for a obstruction where Mario Pichardie was held back.
Bontempo was going for the sticks from the halfway line again, which he effortlessly converts. Spain 0 - 6 after 18 minutes.
Georgia manage to win a penalty of their lineout maul, which gives them the platform to get through the backs. Putting themselves onto the Spanish 22, and going through the phases, waiting for the gap to appear but the Spanish stay strong. It comes back for the lineout maul penalty. Niniashvili makes he kick stick this time, and put Georgia on the Spain 5m line. The lineout is clean and the maul is rampant, they don't miss those from there. Vano Karkadze was the one holding the ball but Papunashvili couldn't make the conversion. Spain stay ahead 5 -6 after 23 minutes.
Spain start to string a number of phases together from the restart, but spill up the ball giving Georgia a chance to escape. The ball gets stripped again by Tani Bay, and allowed Martiniano Cian to dive over in the corner. Bontempo slots the conversion again. Spain are 5 -13 to the good now after 26 minutes in Tbilisi.
Spain are now in the ascendancy, Georgia give Spain a easy chance to escape. After a high tackle on Nieto. Spain march the Georgians back to halfway. A great lineout puts the maul on wheels and Tani Bay a platform to get the ball away. A messy period of giving the ball back to each other, finds Spain with the ball and put a grubber into the corner and a Georgian lineout.
Spain mistime the attempt to hit the maul early, and hand back the ball to Georgia. The exit puts the Georgians on halfway. But a lineout steal, gives Spain the ball back. Spain are on the way forward now. But Tani bay gets caught sneaking on the blind and knocking the ball on. Georgia dominate the scrum and get the option for the easy exit.
8 minutes of the half, and Georgia put themselves back in the Spanish half. Another Spanish infringement at the lineout maul, finds Tani Bay in the book and 10 minutes on the naughty step. Can Georgia now turn the screw?
Georgia on the 5 metre line again, and the same result from that lethal driving maul. Georgian hooker dominates across the line again. Papunashvili doesn't make the conversion. 10 -13 to Spain now with less than 5 minutes of the half.
Georgia have the wind in their sails, and it ends up in that mans hands, Akaki Tabutsadze in full flight. There is not many that can stop him when he has space, breezing through the defence to get the try and takes him past O Driscoll. Papunashvili makes the conversion this time, and Georgia put themselves ahead after 37 minutes, and 17 -1 3 to the good.
Georgia are finding plenty of space now and weaving through it. They manage to put Spain back in their own 22 with a minute of the half to go, Georgia will want to rob the lineout but in their attempt they give Spain the penalty back. Spain exit towards halfway, which Georgia pip the lineout but Matt Foulds retrieves the loose ball. A few scrappy phases end with a knock on. But a breakdown overturns the knock on and Bontempo the attempt slots the penalty again. Spain are back to 17 -16 at half time. Spain will definitely be the happier at half time.
This 2nd half has all the hallmarks of a classic! Will Spain manage to keep Georgia on the back foot and frustrate them? Will Georgia go through the gears and finish the job, or will they lose their heads and suffer the discipline errors of the past?
Spain make the restart, and Georgia return it deep for Spain to start their way of attack in the second half. Another bang to Nieto, ends with a bit of claret drawn from his head. But after the return to play, Spain have the scrum put in, but the Georgians were having none of it. They put the scrum on wheels and hit Spain into full reverse. Georgia put Spain in their 5 metre line. The lineout is executed and the maul is off again. The hat trick was in sight for Karkadze but he knocks it on a metre away from the line. Spain have a scrum on their 5 metre line, they have to stay strong here. They save the ball after the front row collapsed, but Nieto was drove back over his own line. Giving Georgia the put in from a 5 metre scrum, can the Georgians drive this over.
They it back winning the scrum penalty but not enough to get over the line. A couple of pick and goes follow with the Nika Abuladze driving over under the sticks, which is easily converted. Georgia now stretch to 24 -16 after 45 minutes.
Spain manage to get themselves into space and go forward off a great offload by Nieto. But Spain manage to spill the ball and give Georgia the knock on scrum. Scrum penalty goes tot Georgia again on the Georgian 10 m line. Niniashvili put the kick into touch on the Spanish 5 m line. What a Kick!!
The lineout is executed, lineout maul rolling and finally the Hat trick for Georgia hooker! They do not miss from these spots. Papunashvili can’t oblige with the conversion but Georgia are now 29 -16 to the good at the 50 minute mark.
Niniashvili finds space in a phone box and runs into open field, a nudge over the top finds Tabutsadze in full flight, again. He had to battle to ground the ball. That’s 49 tries now! 7th in the world records. No conversion made again puts Georgia at 34 - 16 after 51 minutes. They are clearly going through the gears now, and they reach to the bench to put the pressure on again. 6 Georgian tries on the board now.
Spain are heavily back peddling and making errors to keep giving the ball back to Georgia at every opportunity. Its another 5 metre lineout for Georgia, but the maul is static this time. Spain manage to strip the ball as it hits the backline. A period of territory kicking puts each other back into their own halves. The official calls both nines over for a cuddle to apologies for their little scrap under the main stand earlier. And the game goes on.
Spain go to the air for the exit from their half, and force a lineout on halfway. The ball ends up in Georgia 14 hand but his kick goes out on the full, ending up with Spain back near the Georgian 22. Some scrappy phases of attack sees Spain gain metres but ends with a Spain penalty on the Georgian 22. Niniashvili kicks the ball away and gets a few friendly shoves for his efforts. Spain have to throw everything at the wall now, to get anything out of this. They go to the 5 metre lineout, they win the penalty and go back again. Can they get this maul over the line?
But Georgia steal at the lineout, knocking it back into the try area. Dotted down by Georgia, gives Spain a scrum on the 5 metre line. They hold strong, manage to get a penalty advantage on their way to the line. The ball finds it dotted down in the corner by Gauthier Minguillon, in a Superman try. The TMO reviews it and steals the most dramatic dive of the tournament for being just in touch. Spain set for another scrum on the 5, Tani Bay goes to sneak the blind but they can’t find the space in the corner and driven into touch.
Georgia have a easy exit into the sunset. Spain get to finds themselves back in Georgian territory and win a penalty from an Georgian offisde. The handbags return from Madrid but the officials nip it in the bud easily. Spain go to the corner, and execute the lineout. Tani Bay spills the ball in the breakdown again and gives Georgia a scrum again on the 5.
16 minutes remain of the game, but Georgia look to be firmly in control in the Tbilisi sun. Even with a shanked clearance, Georgia make metres in their exit. Spain get another opportunity to come forward but once again its spilled forward. Georgia kick clear, Spain don’t clear well enough. Niniashvili retrieves the ball in the air, a easily offload to Georgia 9 on the inside and dives under the post. Niniashvili makes the conversion under the post. 41 - 16 now to Georgia after 66 minutes. Georgia have now scored 24 unanswered points in this half.
Spain end that period with a pick and go try in the 69th minute, their lineout maul nearly got over the line but wheeled the wrong way. They set to the pick and go and finally broke the Georgians down. The conversion was not made and Spain are now 41 - 21 behind on 70th minute.
Georgia win a penalty on the Spain 22 from the restart and go for the 5 metre line again. This time the lineout maul was stopped legally, so Georgia have to go through the hands and end out out wide with Tabutsadze to score his 50th try with a dive into the corner. Another hat trick hero on the day, looks like the rest of the Georgian team won’t be paying anything at the bar tonight. Niniashvili doesn’t make the conversion but they are now 46 - 21 to the good after 72 minutes. 8 tries scored now.
Spain manage to get themselves onto the Georgian 5 metre line for another line out but gift the ball back again. They have really struggled to execute anything in this second half after an amazing first half. Spain get themselves back on the Georgian 22 after the return, and a chance to go forward again. A number of georgian breakdown penalties find Spain camped on the Georgian 5 metre line. They then opt for the 5 metre lineout, which Georgia steal but straight out of the dead zone. Spain have one last go with a 5 metre scrum in the 79th minute.
A great scrum, allows the ball to be pinged out and a great line from Bontempo puts him next to the posts. The conversion is good and Spain are back to 46 - 28, Spain are going for it from the restart though and finding space, They get a penalty for a no arms tackle on the Georgian 22, they go to the corner and get a 5 metre lineout. Its stolen by Georgia and put into touch, Georgia have won the title for their 8th consecutive time!
Spain have played so well in the first half and the rest of the tournament but gutting to see the last hurdle was a bit too much. Georgia had gears left to go, so they deserved to win in the end and how long will this consecutive title run continue?
