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Wales managed to put a tricky week behind them to get their Rugby World Cup campaign off to a winning start against Georgia in Toyota.
First-half tries from Jonathan Davies, Justin Tipuric, Josh Adams and Liam Williams wrapped up the bonus-point in a near-perfect 40 minutes.
However, the second-half was a messier, scrappier affair – with Georgia and Wales running in two scores each. Shalva Mamukashvili and Levan Chilachava for Georgia and Tomos Williams and George North with the Welsh efforts.
Despite the second-half display, Warren Gatland will be pleased to get through a difficult week with five points on the board.
You can follow all the post-match reaction from Gatland and Georgia coach Milton Haig below.
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Gareth Thomas on limited chances for George North
Here’s the view from Gareth Thomas.
“There are games like that. I played on the wing in international rugby and the more you chase the ball the more it goes to other wing.
“It was almost a sense of relief when he (George North) scored because he finally got a chance to touch the ball.
“As a winger your job is to score tries. When you come off the field and you’ve scored and won, that means it has been a fulfilling day for you. ”
The important things from Wales’ World Cup win over Georgia
Wales opened their World Cup campaign with a 43 – 14 bonus point victory over Georgia at the Toyota Stadium today.
Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas analyzes the key issues and talking points to emerge from the Pool D clash.
Ben James
AWJ’s verdict
Alun Wyn Jones spoke to the ITV cameras after full-time. Here’s what he said.
“We came out of the blocks as we wanted in the first half. We are disappointed if I’m honest with the second half. We didn’t really continue in a similar vein and we let a couple of tries in.
“It’s a result but there is plenty to work on. The overall feeling is that we took our foot off the gas in the second half.
“It was great to be at a stadium with lots of Wales, Georgia and Japanese fans. ”
(Ben James)
Shane’s view on victory
Here ‘s Shane Williams speaking on ITV about the win.
“The first half was great. The public all wanted a good start from Wales and they did that.
“It was nice simple play and they had good options and the tries were great. They were cruising at half-time and we were talking about record scores but in the second half they were a little bit disjointed.
“Georgia played far better in the second half and were more organized and got the two tries. But it’s a win for Wales and there are lots to improve on. ”
(KEY EVENT)
FULL-TIME: Wales 43 – 14
Georgia’s attack breaks down and Patchell kicks it dead to end things in Toyota.
A winning start to the World Cup and a bonus point.
Very different halves but five points is just what was needed after the last week.
80 minsBen James
One last chance for Georgia to get a score as the gong sounds.
Can they take it?
(mins)Ben James
Jake Ball named man of the match.
Good shift from the Scarlets lock in the boiler room.
78 minsKEY EVENT
TRY WALES! 43 – 14
It’s been a frustrating night for him but North does get his try.
Brilliant work by scrum-half Williams and the wing dances and stretches his way over.
70 minsKEY EVENT
Try Georgia! 36 – 14
The Welsh scrum is creaking again and Georgia go quickly.
Eventually they force their way over through Levan Chilachava.
69 mins(Ben James)
Patc hell on and he’ll have just over 10 minutes to show what he can do.
Wales could do with a little more spark after a dull second-half performance.
They won’t worry if it doesn’t come, mind.
67 mins(KEY EVENT)
TRY WALES! 36 – 7
Wales go over for their fifth as Tomos Williams latches onto a kick to score.
Was he ahead of the kick? Did he even ground it?
The referee doesn’t check either.
64 mins(Ben James)
Georgia having joy at the breakdown as they force another turnover.
Another concern that Wales will look to iron out this week.
64 mins(Ben James)
Wales get the scrum penalty and go to
Worth noting that Navidi is still packing down at 8 even though Moriarty has come on.
62 mins(Ben James)
Nice little break down the blindside after some chaos at a lineout threatens to break down Wales.
But they scramble well as always and earn a scrum.
60 mins(Ben James)
This match has turned very messy.
Wales have yet to punish Georgia for going down to 14.
In fact, they’ve yet to punish them in this second-half.
**************************************************
58 minsBen James
How is that not a Welsh penalty?
Modebadze chases a kick, but opts to run beyond the ball and clatters into North.
Honestly, that’s a shocker by the officials.
57 mins(Ben James)
Owens is back on his feet. Phew.
Scrum does still get decimated. Another concern.
55 minsBen James
Big concern for Wales.
Ken Owens is down injured. It’s his knee and that’s a massive worry.
This doesn’t look good.
53 MINSBen James
Wales looking a little loose as they look to add some variety.
Georgia starting to find some big hits in defense and Wales are finding it hard to make yards as a result.
51 minsBen James
Wales go through the phases but it doesn’t really go anywhere.
Biggar tries a speculative pass over the top, but Modebadze somehow picks it off from pointblank range.
49 mins(Ben James)
Few changes for Wales.
Dillon Lewis is on for France, while Tomos Williams is on for Gareth Davies.
(mins)Ben James
It could be a penalty try.
The maul was speeding towards the line when it was pulled down by Jaba Bregvadze.
He’s sent to the bin, but it’s just a penalty.
No try
Have Wales scored?
A massive maul puts Wales close, but it’s dragged down.
Biggar chips over but Liam Williams can’t grasp onto it to score.
We come back for the penalty then.
47 minsBen James
Lovely offload from Liam Williams gets Josh Adams on the outside and the wing chips behind.
He’s blocked off late but nothing given.
44 minsKEY EVENT
Try Georgia! 29 – 7
Georgia force their way over from a lineout through hooker Shalva Mamukashvili and that zero on the scoreboard is gone.
Perfect start for them in the second-half and completely deserved .
43 mins(Ben James)
Early pressure from Georgia.
*** Shaun Edwards will be keen to keep them scoreless.
KICK-OFF!
We’re underway for the second-half …
Ben James
What we want from the second-half?
First of all, get George North on the ball.
Wales want him firing ahead of next week and waiting 30 – odd minutes for his first carry while Josh Adams is being given line breaks on a silver platter will hardly do *** for him.
Then it’s a case of getting key men off to protect them, as well as give some bench players a run out.
Distraction for viewers at home
If you’re watching the game on TV, you might just have noticed the sound of people screaming over the commentary.
Viewers watching the game live on ITV have been airing their annoyances over screaming and shouting close to the crowd microphone during the game, which can be heard over the commentary.
One woman seems to have been particularly vocal duri ng the first half.
Ben James
A pleasing first-half
That score brought an end to the first-half and W ales will be delighted with it.
Bonus point wrapped up at the half-way mark. No points conceded.
Perhaps best of all, they haven’t shown their hand ahead of Australia next week.
They’ve shown glimpses and moments but they’re holding something back for the Wallabies.
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