Georgia run Wales close
In an attritional match that did little to suggest Wales can trouble the All Blacks next weekend, Georgia had the chance to win the game in the final minutes.
From a line-out, Georgia were driving towards the Welsh line when Welsh prop Tomas Francis had a rush of blood to the head and was yellow-carded for a foul.
But Wales were handed a lifeline when the lack of enough fit props meant the scrum had to be uncontested.
Georgia continued to press for the try and then the conversion that would have levelled the scores but despite their valiant efforts, the referee whistled for a penalty and Wales were saved.
Warren Gatland's team had gone into a 10-0 lead through Hallam Amos' try, the only one of the match.
But the Georgians, who have still not beaten a Tier One nation in 17 attempts, stood firm and had closed to within four points after 50 minutes thanks to the boot of Soso Matiashvili.
A Rhys Priestland penalty gave Wales some breathing space until the final minutes that were punctuated by lengthy debate among the officials over the prop issue.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Try: Amos
Con: Priestland
Pens: Priestland 2
For Georgia:
Pens: Matiashvili 2
Yellow Card: Tomas Francis (Wales – foul play)
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Seb Davies, 7 Sam Cross, 6 Dan Lydiate (captain), 5 Cory Hill, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Josh Navidi, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Owen Williams.
Georgia: 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Giorgi Koshadze, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Mirian Modebadze, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Bitsadze, 7 Vito Kolelishvili, 6 Lasha Lomidze, 5 Giorgi Nemsadze, 4 Kote Mikautadze, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Kakha Asieshvili, 18 Soso Bekoshvili, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 Revaz Jintchvelashvili, 23 Merab Kvirikashvili.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Shuhei Kubo (Japan), Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Agence France-Presse
