White scores in Wallabies win
By Mark Stevens
11/10/19
Exeter Chiefs star Nic White grabbed his first-ever Rugby World Cup try as Australia were made to work hard by a stubborn Georgia in their final game of the opening round at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopay.
Scrum-half White bagged the Wallabies opening score in their 27-8 win with Marika Koroibete, Jack Dempsey and Will Genia also crossing, alongside kicks from the boot of former Leicester Tigers back Matt Toomua.
In reply, Alexander Todua claimed Georgia's only try with Soso Matiashvili slotting a first half penalty.
The bonus-point win means Australia move to the top of Pool D table with 16 points but Wales have a chance to surpass them as they face Uruguay on Sunday, while Georgia, who were impressive today finished fourth with a solitary win from four games.
Australia should face England in the quarter-final in Oita on October 19 provided Wales win their final game against Uruguay.
Already, though, Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika is cranking up the pressure on Eddie Jones and comments he made on Thursday after England's clash with France was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.
"I saw he was saying that that would be an advantage and the typhoon gods were smiling on him," said Cheika. "So I suppose they'd better win. They've had the best preparation, according to the coach, so they'd better go out there and win. If that's the best possible preparation. We'll see how we go."
Jones was bullish about the changed circumstances, gloating that his team had prepared for just such a contingency.
"It is a great opportunity for us to regenerate, refocus and put a bit more petrol in the tank, so we’re really happy with it," he said.
"We had an idea before we came that it could happen and therefore, in case it does, you have to accumulate points in your games to put yourself in the right position. We’ve been talking about it all the time, about the possibility this was going to happen."
Cheika would not be drawn on who went into the match favourites, adding: "Mate, I don't know the relevance of it. I don't really care, to be honest, because the only relevance is Saturday.
"That's pretty much about it. It doesn't matter, all the different things, who's had a week off, who's had a week on, who's been resting, who hasn't. It's going to come down to who's ready on kick-off."
As for his own side's display against the Georgians, Cheika continued: "The hit-out was good, having to dig in, work hard, get up off the ground, get into some tough stuff.
"It's how we wanted the game to go, we wanted to work like that.
"Our forwards stepped right up to it. We handled the Georgian scrum well, we scored a maul try... and the line-out worked.
"We did drop a bit too much ball. But I thought our carrying was strong, we just didn't have the finishing touch on a lot of stuff so we'll definitely put that on and we'll prepare that and be ready to finish the opportunities that will come next weekend."