Georgia 10-45 Fiji: Rugby World Cup match report, highlights and scorers

Georgia 10-45 Fiji

Georgia tries: Gorgodze
Georgia conversions: Matiashvili
Georgia penalties: Matiashvili

Fiji tries: Nayacalevu, Lomani, Tuisova, Radradra (2), Kunatani, Ratuniyarawa
Fiji conversions: Volavola (5)

Match highlights

Match report

Fiji finally found their flair as they bounced back from their shock World Cup defeat by Uruguay with a resounding 45-10 win over Georgia that sent a warning to their next opponents Wales.

Back-to-back defeats at the hands of Australia and Uruguay had left Fiji bottom of Pool D but a bonus-point victory over Georgia boosted their hopes of a top-three finish that would guarantee automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

Winger Semi Radradra was the star of the show, helping create his side's first three tries before going on to claim two of his own as Fiji cut loose with 28 points in the last 20 minutes of the match at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka..

Fresh from a 33-7 win over Uruguay, Georgia rattled the Pacific Islanders with their physicality and a penalty from Soso Matiashvili kept them in touch by half-time, when they trailed 7-3.

Fiji, unhinged by the difficult handling conditions caused by pouring rain, scored their only try of the first half through centre Waisea Nayacalevu.

They extended their lead within four minutes of the re-start when scrum-half Frank Lomani finished off Radradra's touchline break and the left winger was again heavily involved as right winger Josua Tuisova finished off a classic crossfield passing move to make it 17-3.

A try from a driving maul by veteran Mamuka Gorgadze briefly gave the Georgians renewed hope but that was extinguished on the hour when Radradra scored a deserved try that brought up the bonus point.

The Islanders then cut loose, scoring three further tries in the last 12 minutes through openside flanker Semi Kunatani, replacement Api Ratuniyarawa and Radradra, with Ben Volavola taking his goal tally to five.

Match reaction

Fiji coach John McKee was delighted his team were finally able to parade their talents on the big stage as they stormed to a face-saving 45-10 win over Georgia.

Back-to-back defeats at the hands of Australia and Uruguay had left Fiji bottom of Pool D, but a bonus-point victory over the Georgians boosted their hopes of a top-three finish that would guarantee automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

McKee said: "That was a great effort by the boys and a real arm-wrestle for the first, probably, 45 or 50 minutes, but to come home so strong and score some really good tries is very pleasing.

"It's great to see us scoring some tries out wide and showing our talents to the world."

Winger Semi Radradra was the star of the show, helping create his side's first three tries before going on to claim two of his own as Fiji cut loose with 28 points in the last 20 minutes of the match at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka.

Radradra said: "We had a licence to roam around the field and we took the opportunity today and I scored a couple of tries."

Georgia, fresh from a 33-7 win over Uruguay, trailed only 7-3 at half-time and veteran Mamuka Gorgodze kept them in the game with a second-half try but coach Milton Haig admitted his side had no answers when Fiji went up a gear.

"Once you let them offload the ball and they get it behind you with their line breaks, they're pretty hard to stop," he said.

"They're the best in the world at open play. Once they get their tails up, they're pretty good at throwing that ball around and running at you."

Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze was proud of his team's commitment could not hide his disappointment over the outcome.

"I want to apologise to our supporters," he said. "We know how much this game means for them. And we're very sorry that we couldn't make them happy.

"All the commitment does nothing unless you get some points."