That is all from me. New Zealand are through to the quarter-finals where they are likely to face France or Ireland. They’ll have to be better than that though. Cheerio and be sure to join us again for three humdingers tomorrow, starting with Samoa against Japan.
Richie is having a quick word and he says he’s OK. An acknowledgement that New Zealand can get a lot better but McCaw does not look like a worried man. “Hopefully we’re timing our run,” he says, and he may well be right.
Full-time 43-10 Georgia
A couple of late tries, Fekitoa’s was a beauty, put the gloss on a pretty average performance from the All Blacks who will be relieved that Georgia did not put out their strongest XV. The handling errors were far too frequent for Steve Hansen’s liking and they had significant problems at the scrum, even if they will not be the only ones to struggle against Georgia. Dan Carter had an off night and Richie McCaw hobbled off, which will be a concern. Plenty of room for improvement.
Georgia meanwhile, delivered exactly what was expected of them. Bludgeoning at the scrum, a couple of colossal hits and some brutal defence. They scored a try but didn’t offer much in attack. New Zealand missed very few, if any tackles, but Milton Haig will be pleased with his side’s work and confident of victory over Namibia and the third place finish that would most likely bring.
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80 mins: Penalty to Georgia, Malaguradze kicks it deep into New Zealand territory. One last chance but they cannot take the lineout and Vito pounces on the ball before Kerr-Barlow kicks it out. That is that.
79 mins: Georgia keep coming with some big hits, again it’s Malaguradze, but having won the ball back, they lose it almost immediately. Gorgodze has been named man of the match, somewhat surprisingly, and he’s getting a standing ovation.
Converted try! New Zealand 43-10 Georgia
78 mins: That’s try No7. A straightforward scrum and a delightful line from Fekitoa, carving through some tired bodies and ghosting under the posts. Carter can’t miss the conversion.
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76 mins: New Zealand have ramped things up and Mealamu goes bursting down the middle. Cane has impressed since he came on but Georgia intercept, onlt for Kacharava to knock on. Scrum, scrum, scrum …
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Conversion! New Zealand 36-10 Georgia (Carter)
75 mins: Again not an easy one but that’s much better from Carter. A wry smile afterwards.
Try! New Zealand 34-10 Georgia (Savea)
74 mins: New Zealand pinch the lineout though and Cane makes headway. New Zealand looking dangerous here and a massive miss-pass from Fekitoa finds Savea and that’s the hat-trick.
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73 mins: Here comes Vito, he’s beginning to enjoy himself but three Georgian defenders barge Savea into touch again.
72 mins: Another penalty and Carter gets another go. He nails this one so we’ll have a New Zealand lineout about 15m out. It’s stolen by Datunashvili though and Lobzhanidze clears.
71 mins: New Zealand breeze into the Georgia half and win a penalty. Carter kicks for the corner but punts it dead. Very poor.
70 mins: Georgia still have it though, Malaguradze tries something … interesting … looking to expose Vito’s wing. New Zealand get away with it but Lobzhanidze tries again and kicks it out on the full.
69 mins: Georgia take the lineout and Mikautadze bulldozes up the middle. Georgia are into the 22. Sharikadze almost wriggles clear but New Zealand clear their lines.
67 mins: Scrum time. Free-kick to New Zealand, Aaron Smith punts clear and finds touch.
66 mins: That’s a belting kick from Malaguradze. Georgia have a lineout in the All Blacks 22. The throw will be Maisuradze’s first action, coming on for Mamukashvili. Georgia gather it but cannot get the maul going so guess what?
65 mins: This time Georgia get it in and out and make a few dents into the All Blacks defence but it’s a penalty to Georgia, Retallick caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
64 mins: Another scrum to be reset …
63 mins: Well that’s nearly two minutes without a scrum so lets have another one. Vito stays on! SBW comes back on for Conrad Smith. Vito knocks on, hence the scrum.
62 mins: Great scrum from the All Blacks when it mattered and Gauzere awards the penalty. They’re running it from their 22 but again Retallick loses it. Gauzere says it went backwards though.
61 mins: Yep. McCaw makes way for Cane. Limping gingerly off but not before a little word with Gauzere about Georgia’s scrum. Another reset and SBW is about to come back on, much to the relief of Vito.
60 mins: Mchedlidze loses it in contact after a clean lineout but Georgia have it again and that’s a fine box-kick into space from Lobzhanidze and Ben Smith fumbles it in his 22. Unlike him but that’s a scrum to Georgia deep in New Zealand territory. McCaw looks in trouble by the way and Sam Cane is getting ready.
59 mins: Waterboy Ma’a Nonu talking Vito through a few things there. But Georgia win another penalty at the scrum. And New Zealand are bringing on reinforcements in Woodcock and Franks. Malaguradze finds touch.
58 mins: Tsiklauri takes Fekitoa’s towering kick and returns it to Ben Smith. Read gets smashed by two Georgian defenders but Fekitoa makes a break, only for his one-handed pass to go to ground. It was to Vito on the wing who looks a touch bemused about it all.
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56 mins: Good touch from Malaguradze. Victor Vito, the back-row, is on for SBW. This should be interesting.
55 mins: Georgia’s lineout is clean but the maul isn’t really. McCaw almost pilfers it but Lobzhanidze clears. Ben Smith with another fine run but Georgia’s defence is brutal. And Kaino has been penalised for coming in at the side. New Zealand will feel some of these tackles in the morning.
54 mins: McCaw with a big gallop over halfway, have the floodgates been opened? Maybe not, Savea bundled into touch down the left by Aptsiauri.
Conversion! New Zealand 29-10 Georgia (Carter)
53 mins: Carter can’t miss this one, straight in front of the posts and over it goes. Fekitoa is on for Naholo.
Try! New Zealand 27-10 Georgia (Read)
52 mins: Georgia have made a hash of the lineout though. Aaron Smith taps and New Zealand are taking the direct approach and Read is over under the posts. Try No5. Great pick and go.
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51 mins: Savea on the burst now, he finds Ben Smith outside him who in turn finds Naholo but the right wing is smashed into touch by the try-scorer Tsiklauri. Great tackle. Georgia ring the changes up front.
50 mins: Round the scrum goes but New Zealand get the penalty this time and after a dart from Read, Aaron Smith kicks ahead. New Zealand have it back, SBW kicks to Tsiklauri who finds touch with his return kick.
49 mins: Lomidze claims the lineout, Georgia try to get the driving maul going but cannot get it going, scrum to New Zealand. Georgia really are doing this on purpose aren’t they?
48 mins: Gorgodze has gone off, perhaps with Georgia’s must-win game against Namibia next week, but they struggled without him against Argentina. Not at that scrum though, chalk another one up for Georgia. Malaguradze makes decent distance, and this time finds touch, with the penalty.
47 mins: New Zealand are nearing the 22 but Crockett loses it and Georgia turn it over before Malaguradze clears straight down Conrad Smith’s throat. He passes on the Ben Smith who cuts a delightful line but the pass to Coles doesn’t go to hand. Carter receiving a bit of treatment here.
46 mins: That’s better but McCaw forces the penalty by Lomidze who had picked up. Classic McCaw.
45 mins: Chaos again so we’ll reset. You get the feeling Georgia are enjoying this.
44 mins: This is more pragmatic from New Zealand. Not so much offloading but that was a wild pass and the ball bounces of Faumuina. Time for a scrum while Lobzhanidze, just 18, comes on for Georgia at scrum-half.
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43 mins: Georgia claim the lineout and Gorgodze blasts into heavy traffic. And they’ve won a penalty after Aaron Smith is adjudge offside. Malaguradze clears but does not find touch.
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42 mins: SBW smashes into the Georgian wall, he can’t get the offload away but New Zealand are threatening. Naholo dots down in the right-hand corner but his left foot clipped the line.
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Peep!
41 mins: Carter gets us back underway. Georgia have 40 minutes to save their unbeaten run against the All Blacks. Read almost claims the kick-off but he can’t hold it and straight into touch. New Zealand have it again though, up to the 22.
Oh. And Dan Carter has missed three out of four kicks. None of them straightforward but concerning nonetheless.
Half-time! New Zealand 22-10 Georgia
Well, well, well. New Zealand have already secured the bonus point but there has also been a litany of handling errors. Georgia have got the edge at the scrum and while there has been some ruthless finishing, none more so than from Naholo after just 73 seconds, New Zealand will not be pleased with themselves whereas Georgia will be. Steve Hansen will be tearing into his players you feel.
40 mins: Chilachava receives a bit of treatment in preparation for another scrum. Another shambles but Georgia do have it. Chilachava picks and goes before Begadze kicks to touch.
39 mins: Georgia have it, not quite at their 10m line. Penalty to New Zealand and again Aaron Smith takes it cleanly and AGAIN SBW knocks a poor pass on. Very scrappy indeed.
38 mins: That’s a lovely break clear from Aaron Smith, with a little help from Carter. Smith really is a classy operator. New Zealand were under pressure there and now their up in Georgia’s half.
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37 mins: It’s scrappy and the ball bounces lose but Begadze could not gather the ball cleanly. That’s a shame but while it’s New Zealand’s put in, it’s in a good position for Georgia.
36 mins: We’re going to have another scrum after another knock-on from New Zealand. Gorgodze loved Malaguradze’s hit. Absolutely loved it. And that’s a lovely kick from Georgia’s scrum-half Begadze, New Zealand will throw in on their 22.
35 mins: Coles hits Read at the back but SBW can’t take Aaron Smith’s pop pass and Georgia boot up field. Georgia do a good job of slowing the ball down before a monster hit from Malaguradze on Ben Smith.
34 mins: Penalty for a collapsed maul taken quickly by Aaron Smith. The forwards fancy a try and although they can’t get through it’s another penalty. Gauzere having another word with Gorgodze for taking too long to roll away. New Zealand opt for a lineout.
33 mins: Georgia almost escaped there – New Zealand left the maul en masse and Georgia could have mauled a mile up field but the forwards broke apart and fell towards touch. New Zealand lineout in a dangerous area.
32 mins: Georgian lineout but New Zealand have pilfered it, Ben Smith is stepping down the right then SBW punctures up the middle and, you guessed it, offloads. It’s worked to Conrad Smith who stabs it towards the righthand corner but Coles can’t catch it. Lineout to Georgia on their own five-metre line.
31 mins: New Zealand get the ball out and try and move it quickly but Kacharava puts a massive hit on opposite number Conrad Smith then looks up at the big screen to catch the replay.
30 mins: The first attempt at the scrum flops to the ground. We’ll reset. Feet not close enough apparently.
29 mins: That’s a waste. The Georgian lineout is thrown nowhere near straight by Mamukashvili. Perhaps it was on purpose. Another scrum, Georgia’s front row licking their lips.
28 mins: This time they get the penalty they wanted. The Georgian pack are celebrating like they’ve squad a try. Richie’s having one of his wee words with Gauzere …
27 mins: A Georgian scrum on their own five-metre line, carnage. We’ll go again.
The Mexican wave has started already as we have a brief stoppage but that allows me to show you some suggestions as to what looks wrong with New Zealand’s kit.
@gerard_meagher Re: The AB's strip: it's the grey numbering that's odd isn't it? Looks like they've been washed and the black's run!
— Jamie Gordon (@jamiegordon21) October 2, 2015
26 mins: Not clean but New Zealand have it five metres out, right in the middle of the pitch. The All Blacks are ruthless from here but Read loses it. That’s another handling error from New Zealand. Hansen will not be pleased.
24 mins: Kaino takes the restart and bullocks into the middle. Aaron Smith’s box-kick is perfect and Tsiklauri can’t gather. New Zealand have another penalty on half way after Chilachava goes off his feet. More lineout practice.
23 mins: Another tough conversion for Carter and he’s pulled it again. Worrying form.
Try! New Zealand 22-10 Georgia (Coles)
21 mins: Down the short side they go but Aaron Smith’s grubber is useless. Malaguradze clears to touch but New Zealand take it quickly, work it to the left, SBW produces a delicious offload to Conrad Smith, back the ball comes to the left and McCaw puts Coles in down the right. A fantastic try and that’s the bonus point.
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20 mins: It’s not gathered cleanly but it’s because Gorgodze knocked on when smashing Aaron Smith. Another scrum in another threatening position.
19 mins: Another penalty to New Zealand at the breakdown. Datunashvili was the offender. Again Carter goes for the corner. Lineout practice for the All Blacks this.
18 mins: Carter tugs the conversion again.
Try! New Zealand 17-10 Georgia (Savea)
17 mins: In and out and wide to the left and Savea is over in the left again for his 34th New Zealand try in his 38th match. Georgia went too hard at that scrum, their back row was neutralised and New Zealand, as they do so often, ruthlessly exploited the overlap.
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16 mins: Georgia put in and the ball comes out but more aggressive work from McCaw and co wins the penalty just in front of the posts. McCaw calls for another scrum though. Bullish.
15 mins: Naholo had eyes on a second their but not his eyes on the ball. Instead it bounces off SBW. Scrum time.
14 mins: Some pretty aggressive work from New Zealand there wins the penalty at the breakdown. Carter is going for the corner. The All Blacks have been sluggish so far but are eyeing a third try.
13 mins: New Zealand go wide, Conrad Smith crops up on the left wing, but Georgia have a lineout after the referee Pascal Gauzere gives Gorgodze a little talking to.
Penalty! New Zealand 12-10 Georgia (Malaguradze )
12 mins: Malaguradze has a go from pretty much halfway and it’s good. Georgia back to within two.
11 mins: And the Georgian forwards win a penalty on halfway – Gorgodze got over the ball and there is no moving him in that situation.
10 mins: Again Retallick cannot gather Malaguradze’s restart cleanly, this won’t be pleasing Steve Hansen. Georgia have it, just inside their half. The forwards are, if nothing else, getting stuck in.
9 mins: Carter drags the conversion, a tough one from right on the touchline, just wide.
Try! New Zealand 12-7 Georgia (Savea)
8 mins: But now there is. New Zealand go through the phases, through the hands towards the left and Savea shows incredible power to force his way over. That’s one apiece for the Kiwi wings.
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7 mins: Read takes matters upon himself and barges towards the touchline but leaves the ball on the floor so New Zealand have the lineout. SBW has his first bash into the Georgia defence. No way through just yet …
Conversion! New Zealand 7-7 Georgia (Malaguradze )
Malaguradze makes no mistake and we’re level again.
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Try! New Zealand 7-5 Georgia (Tsiklauri)
5 mins: Naholo fancies another run but he’s turned over and after a messy passage of play Tsiklauri hacks on, runs on to gather and dots down. New Zealand have been punished for a scrappy opening.
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4 mins: I’m not sure Ben Smith has ever panicked in his life on the rugby field and his cool head allows Carter to clear his lines after Georgia apply some pressure with the boot.
3 mins: Again New Zealand can’t gather the restart cleanly but they have the ball and a diagonal kick almost puts Savea clear, but the wing Aptsiauri scrambles back.
Converted try! New Zealand 7-0 Georgia (Naholo + Carter)
2 mins: My word! That didn’t take long. Naholo announces himself to the World Cup in sensational style, romping through the heart of the Georgian defence. Turning on the afterburners to scorch in under the posts. Blimey.
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Peep!
1 min: Malaguradze gets us underway and Retallick fumbles the kick-off. A bit of early possession but New Zealand turn them over and Savea has a dash down the left but the ball is ripped and Georgia kick it out on half-way
Haka time! TJ Perenara’s eyes are about to bulge out of his head. Georgia’s first taste of it, Gorgodze shuts his eyes and drinks it all in. Game on shortly …
Anthems alert! Then the haka. New Zealand first. Players a little subdued. Quiet introspection from SBW*. Georgia’s is more upbeat and the players are belting it out. First blood Georgia.
*A quick housekeeping note. I will refer to him as SBW throughout as Williams doesn’t sound right and I’m not typing out his full name all match.
Before we start, just a quick word about New Zealand’s kit. Something just doesn’t look right. Yes, they’re all wearing black boots which in itself doesn’t look usual these days but there’s something else. Are the socks too small. Are the shorts too black? Answers welcome.
Just to recap, New Zealand will qualify for the quarter-finals with victory this evening, Georgia meanwhile, are doing their utmost to finish third and as a result qualify for the 2019 World Cup in in Japan. The haka is almost upon us. We’ve all seen it before but just a reminder that things are not like they used to be.
So, as already mentioned, it was in this very stadium that France beat New Zealand 20-18 in a stunning quarter-final eight years ago with Thierry Dusautoir making 1,334, 444, 099 38 tackles. Don’t believe me, have a look at every single one here …
So, things to look out for in the forthcoming 80 minutes:
- A performance from Dan Carter to assuage any doubts that he is not the force he once was
- Waisake Naholo and his miracle recovery from a broken leg
- Mamuka Gorgodze versus Richie McCaw at openside
- Mamuka Gorgodze versus the other 14 All Blacks
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We’re up and running on ITV but unsurprisingly, Pool A is dominating the discussion. Graham Rowntree’s ears are currently being shown before the watershed. Not sure about that.
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If this doesn’t stoke the fires in anticipation of an upset, I don’t know what will.
87% win percentage and over 2000 points scored. But will #NZL be thrown off course by @georgianrugby this evening? pic.twitter.com/77ueSmmhWE
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 2, 2015
I’ve only managed to win one bet so far this tournament, Fiji to beat England at +25 (very pleasing indeed) and lost plenty. My luck is almost certain to change though – that’s what the law of averages and all smart gamblers say. Five of my English pounds have just been staked on Aaron Smith to score the first try. You heard it here first …
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Team news
As promised, here is how both sides line up. Georgia take aim at the world champions with a largely second string. Considering Milton Haig’s nationality, he may be accused of making life too easy for New Zealand - contrary to what I said earlier - but then the All Blacks would stand to benefit more from facing Georgia’s strongest XV. Anywho, here they are …
New Zealand: Ben Smith; Waisake Naholo, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea; Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 TJ Perenara, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.
Georgia: Beka Tsiklauri; Giorgi Aptsiauri, David Kacharava, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Alexandr Todua; Lasha Malaguradze, Giorgi Begadze; Karlen Asieshvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Levan Chilachava, Levan Datunashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Shalva Sutiashvili, Mamuka Gorgodze (capt), Lasha Lomidze.
Replacements: Simon Maisuradze, Mikheil Nariashvili, Anton Peikrishvili, Konstantin Mikautadze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Merab Sharikadze, Murazi Giorgadze.
Preamble
Hello! History is in the making ladies and gentlemen. Never before have Georgia faced down the haka or felt the might of the All Blacks - this is the first ever time these two sides have met and it promises to be ferocious. New Zealand are free-wheeling towards the last eight overcoming Argentina in their first match but supporters want to see some conviction at Cardiff, not least from Dan Carter at fly-half. We also get to see the miracle man Waisake Naholo, who broke his leg playing against Argentina back in July and was subsequently ruled out of the tournament only for a quick trip to his native Fiji and some traditional treatment to accelerate the healing process.
New Zealand’s pack will certainly be tested in Cardiff, even though Georgia have made wholesale changes to the side that fell to pieces in the second half against Argentina. Their captain, Mamuka Gorgodze, remains though, switching to openside flanker ensuring he locks horns with the All Blacks’ skipper Richie McCaw in what promises to be a titanic tussle. Georgia are coached by a Kiwi, Milton Haig, who will enjoy making his countrymen sweat but the Kiwis will have too much firepower today.
They do however, have unhappy memories of the Millennium Stadium, having lost 20-18 in the 2007 quarter-final to France. Only Carter and McCaw - as well as Tony Woodcock on the bench - remain from that side and defeat today is unimaginable. New Zealand are though under pressure to perform as the usual accusations of taking it too easy before the knockout stages begin is being levelled at them.
The roof is on ladies and gentlemen. Here’s hoping the All Blacks raise it. Teams coming up shorly …
Kick off: 8pm BST
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