Georgia 33-7 Uruguay: Rugby World Cup match report, highlights and scorers

Georgia 33-7 Uruguay

Georgia tries: Todua, Giorgadze, Chilachava, Bregvadze, Kveseladze
Georgia conversions: Abzhandadze (4)

Uruguay tries: Vilaseca
Uruguay conversions: Berchesi

Match report

Georgia bounced back from their opening World Cup defeat to Wales with a comfortable 33-7 bonus-point Pool D victory over Uruguay.

Georgia's superior strength was too much for Uruguay to handle as the Lelos ran in five tries at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, with Uruguay replacement Facundo Gattas sent off late on for another poor high tackle.

It took just eight minutes for Georgia to break through as wing Alexander Todua broke the Uruguay defensive line and and they were awarded a penalty after coming up just short of the Uruguay line. From the resulting scrum, Georgia spun the ball wide and Todua had an easy run in to the line.

Number eight Otari Giorgadze then picked up from the base of another dominating Georgia scrum five metres out and there was no stopping him crashing over the line.

Uruguay immediately hit back from a lineout. Wing Rodrigo Silva burst through a series of Georgia tackles and laid the ball off to inside centre Andres Vilaseca for an easy run under the posts.

Georgia needed just two minutes of the second half to extend their advantage and it was no surprise that it again came from their dominance at the set-piece, Levan Chilachava burrowing over from a five-metre scrum.

Jaba Bregvadze secured the bonus point when he touched down from a rolling maul and moments later Giorgi Kveseladze pounced on a loose ball to add the fifth try after Silva spilled the ball close to his own try line and fly-half Tedo Abzhandadze added his fourth conversion.

Uruguay were reduced to 14 men three minutes from the end when Gattas left English referee Wayne Barnes with little option after a no-arms tackle, with his shoulder making contact with the head of Georgia flanker Shalva Sutiashvili.

Match reaction:

Georgia coach Milton Haig insisted patience was key as his side wore down Uruguay on their way to a 33-7 World Cup Pool D win over Uruguay.

Alexander Todua, Otari Giorgadze, Levan Chilachava, Jaba Bregvadze and Giorgi Kveseladze crossed for tries as the Lelos bounced back from their opening defeat to Wales with a bonus-point victory.

Haig said: "It was a fantastic effort by Uruguay (beating Fiji in their opening match) and we just knew that, with a four-day turnaround, it was always going to be tough to last 80 minutes. We kept doing what we were doing and thought they would tire in the second half.

"I'm really proud of the boys and how we played. It was important for us to get this first win out of the way.

"We've worked so hard over the last four months - even four years really - so (I'm) pretty stoked about getting the job done."

Uruguay coach Esteban Meneses is adamant his side prepared properly for the match but admits his side need to improve at the set-piece.

He said: "We prepared physically, technically and mentally.

"Georgia are very good in the scrum and line maul. We need to improve in these areas."

Meneses believes his side still have the ability to cause another shock in the tournament.

He added: "We're a very good team and we have very good players and they've shocked the world once - why not again against Australia or Wales?"