Rugby World Cup: Australia-Georgia 35-15. Ireland, rain of goals on Romania

After 5 consecutive defeats, Australia finds their first victory of 2023, and they do so on the most important occasion, that of their world debut in France: they beat Georgia 35-15 at the Stade de France in Paris. More was expected from the Lelos, who showed up in France with the desire to demonstrate that they can sit at the big table, but they only managed to worry the Wallabies at times. Ireland’s World Cup also started off very well, as they got rid of Romania without too many problems in Bordeaux and beat them 82-8. Despite the Romanians’ initial advantage, the top players in the world ranking never gave the impression of being in trouble. It was also the match of Jonathan Sexton’s return to the field, who after the 3-match disqualification for having railed against the referee after the Champions League final lost by his Leinster against La Rochelle, redeemed himself with a performance worthy of his class, despite the initial error on Rupanu’s try.

Australia-Georgia 35-15

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Australia immediately tries to shake off the rust and toxins of a very complicated preparation process. Great kick from Nawaqanitawase to bring his teammates into the 22, prolonged action thanks to the work of the forwards and in the end Petaia breaks Tabutsadze’s tackle, resists Niniashvili and scores. As often happened during the summer, however, the Wallabies put their opponents back into the game immediately after scoring: Carter Gordon had his free kick blocked by Lobzhanidze, in an attempt to remedy this he hit him while he was in the air and conceded the free kick 5-3. Matkava scores from the pitch. Georgia, however, suffers from the long and fast sequences of Eddie Jones’ team, who scores again in the 11th minute: Koroibete and Kerevi build the action, then Petaia serves Nawaqanitawase with a splendid offload for the goal at the flag. Donaldson converts and in the following minutes scores two more free kicks to make it 18-3. The Australian fullback repeats himself again on the half hour mark, Georgia is increasingly in trouble and Modebadze gets a yellow card for an avoidable foul on Nic White, who replaced the injured McDermott. The first half ends 21-3. In the second half, despite the numerical inferiority, Georgia manages to appear in the Australian 22 for the first time: a clearly advancing maul that forces Australia into a foul, then Matkava widens very well for Ivanishvili who closes the gap to 21-8. The Australian mechanisms jammed, Georgia understood that it was the right moment and in the 52nd minute they came close to scoring the second goal, but Will Skelton performed a miracle by single-handedly defusing an advancing maul. 3 minutes pass and Georgia causes disaster: an amazing run by Niniashvili who takes the ball halfway across the field, is tackled and instead of keeping the ball he throws it away looking for a teammate who isn’t there. Australia recovers and finds the Georgian defense completely exposed, Tupou – with an unusual one-handed pass for a prop – serves Donaldson, who flies down the left side and scores the third try. The ending is an Australian monologue, and in the 68th minute the offensive bonus goal also arrives, again with Donaldson, well served by Carter Gordon for 35-8. In the final Gigashvili closes the gap with the goal to make it 35-15, which however only serves to make the score less bitter.

Ireland-Romania 82-8

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Strengthened by a predictable prediction on paper, Ireland takes the field too lightly and is surprised by a willing Romania. Vaovasa recovers a bad kick from Sexton, finds a highway in front and serves Rupanu for the goal to make it 5-0. The same scrum half then misses the very easy conversion. Farrell’s team, however, takes little time to find the right mentality again: Aki takes the stage with his physicality and opens the way for Ringrose’s run, who receives and serves the goal ball between the posts at Gibson Park. Sexton converts for the overtaking. The first in the ranking begin the usual show of very long and exhausting actions, they move the ball from one side to the other and continue to advance, then Ryan finds the gap to serve Keenan for the second try. At 17′ the third score also arrives, inspired by the great intelligence of James Lowe: first an almost “football” assist for Earls, who however misses the oval, then the action continues and Lowe again splendidly widens, this time with his hands, for Tadhg Beirne’s goal. Romania tries to limit the damage and closes the gap with a free kick from Rupanu, 19-8. A quarter of an hour passes without any particular jolts, then Ireland accelerates again and Simionescu is forced to intervene irregularly in the match point: yellow and 10 minutes in the penalty box for the Romanian. Farrell’s team takes advantage of this and scores the offensive bonus goal with Aki’s splendid personal action, who skips 3 opponents with impressive ease and smashes for 26-8. Aki himself takes center stage once again at the end of the first half: another broken tackle and pass for Sexton’s easy goal. The first half ends 31-8. The second half was basically a walk in the park: Romania had already run out of fuel, Ireland continued to charge forward and move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other at a pace that was impossible to sustain. After 4 minutes Herring scores, after another 5 O’Mahoney does the same. There is also glory for Sexton, who scores his personal double with the goal to make it 54-8 after yet another very long Irish action, and shortly afterwards comes out accompanied by a standing ovation from the Stade de Bordeaux. McCarthy, O’Mahoney, Bundee Aki again and finally Beirne (with a splendid play as time expired) set the score at the final 82-8.