Canada Outmatched by Georgia in World Rugby Nations Cup

Canada was outmatched by Georgia in the World Rugby Nations Cup in Tbilisi on Saturday. Playing in red, the Lelos underlined their status as tournament favorites by completing a comprehensive 59-14 win over Canada. The nine tries to two victory featured a double to right winger Akaki Tabutsadze.

The game had varying periods with Georgia’s dominance not being immediate. The opening quarter was a competitive period. Both teams scored one try each. The Lelos were the first over with Dachi Papunashvili scoring in just the 3rd minute. Canada responded through veteran center Ben Lesage on 10 minutes.

Georgia had the better of play thereafter. The second quarter featured four tries with the Eastern Europeans scoring three of them. Akaki Tabutsadze scored his first to open the second quarter. It came out wide after space opened following raids on the try line.

Izaak Kelly responded for the North Americans. The second-rower scored after Georgia though they had halted an advancing maul. Kelly broke off and ran left to score. Georgia captain and star fullback Davit Niniashvili  responded on 29 minutes by slicing through and side-stepping his way over for a try.

Georgia extended their lead two minutes from half-time. Left winger Dachi Papunashvili broke free and skillfully off-loaded to center Luka Tabatadze to score in the corner.

Canada were ten points behind at half-time. They needed to start the second half strongly but they failed to score any further points. Meanwhile, the Georgians went about their business to wrap up the result. A penalty try on 44 minutes was the beginning of the end with Georgia four further tries to win comfortably.

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, November 14. Georgia remain in Tbilisi where they await Tonga. Canada travel to France to face Hong Kong in Chambery.

GEORGIA (59)
TRY – D Papunashvili (3′), A Tabutsadze 2 (20′, 71′), D Niniashvili (31′), L Tabatadze (40′), Penalty Try (44′), B Gigashvili (55′), T Kakhoidze (67′), V Karkadze (78′)
CON – L Matkava 6 (31′, 41′, 56′, 68′, 72′, 79′), No Kick (44′)
YC –

CANADA (14)
TRY – B Lesage (10′), I Kelly (26′)
CON – T McMullin 2 (11′, 27′)
YC – N Benn (19′), L Rumball (44′)

 

GEORGIA
1 Giorgi Akhaladze, 2 Vakhtang Jintcharadze, 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 4 Lado Chachanidze, 5 Giorgi Javakhia, 6 Luka Ivanishvili, 7 Beka Saginadze, 8 Beka Shvangiradze, 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze, 10 Luka Matkava, 11 Dachi Papunashvili, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 13 Luka Tabatadze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 15 Davit Niniashvili (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Vano Karkadze, 17 Sergo Abramishvili, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Gagui Margvelashvili, 20 Mikheil Shioshvili, 21 Ilia Spanderashvili, 22 Gela Aprasidze, 23 Georges Shvelidze

CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Foster DeWitt, 3 Kyle Steeves, 4 Daragh Doyle, 5 Izzak Kelly, 6 Matt Beukeboom, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Tyler Ardron, 9 Jesse Kilgour, 10 Spencer Jones, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Ben LeSage, 13 Jacob Ince, 14 Kyle Tremblay, 15 Takoda McMullin

Replacements: 16 Austin Creighton, 17 Sam Miller, 18 Tyler Matchem, 19 Barnaby Waddell, 20 Sion Perry, 21 Stephen Webb, 22 Jack Gore, 23 Liam James

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistants: Federico Vedovelli (Italy) & Filippo Russo (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)