Georgia clash with Fiji in the Rugby World Cup at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka on Thursday. Georgia are looking to take their play off bid to the final round of Pool D matches whilst Fiji are still looking for a first win of the tournament.
Georgia v Fiji, Thursday 3rd October, Higashiosaka, KO 07:15 (South African time)
Weather Forecast – Higashiosaka
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Matthew Carley
TMO: Graham Hughes
All the nations in Pool D have played 2 games and Wales have the only 100% record. Wales have 9 log points, 3 clear of Australia and 4 better off than Georgia. Uruguay are fourth with 4 points and Fiji are bottom with 2.
Georgia
After losing their opening match of the tournament 43-14 to Wales (half time 29-0) Georgia put themselves on the board with a 33-7 bonus point victory over Uruguay last time out, covering a minus handicap of 15.5 points in the process.
Georgia's 2 tries against Wales came in a much improved second half display and they picked up where they left off with an early score against Uruguay, a game they led 12-7 at half time. Georgia went on to score another 4 tries in the second period to bring Uruguay back down to earth after the South American's had sprung a major surprise in beating Fiji in their tournament opener. If Georgia are to make it out of this pool they will need to win here and then turn Australia over.
Going back to RWC 2015 Georgia won 2 and lost 2 of their pool matches with the victories coming against the 2 supposed weaker nations they faced, Tonga (17-10) and Namibia (17-16) .
Fiji
Fiji's hopes of an extended stay in the tournament look over after they lost 30-27 to Uruguay in their second match in this pool. Fiji made wholesale changes for the game and they started as 30 point favourites but found themselves 24-12 down by half time. There was a fightback of sorts but Uruguay were more than a converted try in front by the time Fiji scored the final try of the game after the hooter.
Fiji had started their campaign against the Wallabies and for an hour they threatened a shock result of their own. They led the match 14-12 at half time and stretched the lead 21-12 early in the second half. However the Wallabies finished the stronger and came out on top 39-21, crossing the Fiji line 4 times in the final 24 minutes.
In RWC 2015 Fiji also came up against Australia, Wales and Uruguay in the pool stage (along with England) and their only victory had arrived against Uruguay (47-15).
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Line Ups
Georgia: 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Giorgi Kveseladze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Otari Giorgadze, 20 Beka Saginadze, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Miriani Modebadze
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Peceli Yato, 7 Semi Kunatani, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c), 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Campese Ma’afu
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 20 Viliame Mata, 21 Nikola Matawalu, 22 Jale Vatubua, 23 Josh Matavesi
Head to Head
Of 3 previous head to heads Fiji have won 2 and Georgia 1.
In Suva in June 2018 Fiji won 37-15
In Suva in June 2016 Georgia win 14-3
In Tbilisi in November 2012 Fiji won 24-19.
This will be the first RWC meeting between the teams
Betting - Handicap
Georgia +7.5 points at 9/10
Fiji -7.5 points at 9/10
Quotes are an average of what was on offer from a selection of bookmakers at the time of writing and are subject to change.
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Betting Angle
Fiji will be very disappointed to have fluffed their lines against Uruguay and while a bounce back is possible I think their morale may have dropped a bit as this tournament initially saw them touted as quarter-final outsiders.
Conditions may not be great for the Fiji running game and I am in agreement with Hanrick in the Forum who has taken the Georgia plus and in his case he is backing them to win the game.
Bet: 3 units Georgia +10.5 at 17/20 at Sunbet
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