Australia faced off against Georgia in a thrilling encounter at the Stade de France. The Wallabies emerged victorious with a final score of 35-15, but it was a hard-fought battle that saw both teams displaying their prowess on the field. They wasted no time in asserting their dominance on the field, with Jordan Petaia crossing the try line just minutes into the game. Petaia showcased his blistering pace and powerful running as he sliced through the Georgia defence to touch down for the first try of the match. Ben Donaldson calmly slotted the conversion to give Australia an early 7-0 lead.
Despite the early setback, Georgia responded with a penalty from Matkava to put themselves on the scoreboard. However, it was clear that the Wallabies were in control. Their forwards dominated the set pieces, providing a solid platform for the backs to work their magic.
Mark Nawaqanitawase extended Australia’s lead with another try, showcasing his ability to finish off flowing attacking moves. Donaldson’s accurate kicking continued as he added a couple of penalties to stretch the lead to 18-3 by halftime.
Georgia entered the second half with renewed determination, determined to mount a comeback. Their efforts were rewarded early in the half when Ivanishvili crossed the try line, narrowing the deficit to 18-8. Abzhandadze added the conversion to give Georgia a glimmer of hope.
However, the Wallabies remained composed and focused on maintaining their lead. They continued to apply pressure on Georgia’s defence, and it was Ben Donaldson who once again stepped up. Donaldson, who was having a remarkable game, scored two tries of his own in quick succession. His ability to read the game, find gaps, and execute under pressure was on full display. With successful conversions, Australia pushed their lead to 32-8.
Georgia didn’t give up and kept pushing forward. They managed to breach the Wallabies’ defence in the dying minutes of the game, with Gigashvili scoring a late try. Abzhandadze added the conversion, bringing Georgia’s score to 15 points.
Australia had one final say in the match, as Donaldson added another penalty to secure the much-desired bonus point for the Wallabies. His impeccable kicking performance throughout the game was a major factor in Australia’s victory.
In the end, it was a hard-fought victory for the Wallabies in their Rugby World Cup opener. They displayed their attacking prowess early in the game, with Petaia and Nawaqanitawase setting the tone with their tries. Ben Donaldson’s exceptional performance, earning him the Man of the Match award, cannot be overstated. His two tries, conversions, and crucial penalties were instrumental in Australia’s win. Georgia showed resilience and determination, especially in the second half when they managed to score two tries. However, they were unable to overcome the Wallabies’ dominant performance.
Top 3 players from the Wallabies Week 1 match-up v Georgia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup from Paris’s Stade De France
Taniela Tupou has been back in shape just in time to kickstart the World Cup campaign for the Wallabies on the No.3 front row at tighthead. He has loads of physicality to plow his way past the Georgians while running a bit that got the best out of his attacking skillsets – such a dynamic player indeed. There’s another player who was also dynamic is none other than Ben Donaldson from the back this time at No.15. He has demonstrated more than just a 10 player where he can run with explosive pace as well as making kicks in order to get out of trouble or help crack that gap past the opposition blocks.
