Wales 12-13 Georgia: Visitors stun hosts with historic victory

Georgia shocked Wales with a win in Wales.

The Georgian hero was proved by Luka Matkava's 78th-minute penalty.

Wayne Pivac's side had built up a big lead.

In the second half, Georgia responded with a try by Alexander Todua and a boot by Matkava to create history.

Less than a year before the World Cup in France, Pivac's position will be under intense scrutiny after the loss to Italy.

Georgia defeated Italy at home in the summer and this result will strengthen their case for inclusion in the Six Nations.

It is hard to see where Pivac goes. Wales finish the Autumn Nations campaign against Australia next Saturday after a disappointing performance against Georgia.

A 55-23 hammering by the All Blacks in the opener was followed by a hard fought 20-13 victory over Argentina.

The hope of a more coherent Pivac outfit was dashed by this display.

The Wales attacking unit was not able to break down the Georgian defense consistently.

The hosts failed to score in the first half and were beaten by a better team who dominated Wales.

Wales lost to Canada in 1993 and to Italy earlier this year. This result is better than previous losses.

It was Georgia's first win in four tries against Wales and it came 11 months before the World Cup match between Georgia and Wales.

Consistency in selection

In their last two visits to Wales, Georgia was defeated by the home side in both cases.

Six changes were made to the side that defeated Argentina, two of which were due to injury.

Josh Adams, Owen Watkin, Ben Carter, Morgan, and Josh Macleod were included in the pack.

Macleod, normally a flanker, made his Test debut at number eight and got his first cap after a long time.

He had been selected to start against Scotland in the Six Nations in 2021.

Wales made a poor start from the Georgia kick-off and conceded an early penalty with Tedo Abzhandadze slotting over the kick.

Morgan scored his first international try after the hosts replied from a training ground move involving locks Adam Beard and Carter. There was a conversion from the touchline.

Morgan popped up on the right-hand touchline for a second try after benefiting from build-up work from North and Tomos Williams.

Williams was almost involved in a brilliant third try for Wales when his overhead pass found Adams who sprinted away.

They would have been annoyed that they were not further ahead at the half.

There was a reliance on a formulaic attacking approach and some opportunities were not taken advantage of.

Winger Cuthbert was shown a yellow card for an aerial challenge on Todua while chasing a high ball, as Wales continued to be unconvincing.

The crowd of 63,585 in Wales gave their verdict on the entertainment value of the show.

Faletau was making his 99th international appearance for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

The 19-year-old lock won his first cap after Faletau.

Georgia took advantage of their numerical advantage from a well- worked try for wing Todua who took a clever kick from Abzhandadze who also converted to reduce the deficit to two points.

Wales took off Adams and brought on Halfpenny because of a serious knee injury.

Georgia dominated the aerial battle and Abzhandadze missed a penalty chance that would have given Georgia the lead.

Morgan thought he had scored a hat- trick, but Faletau knocked the ball on in the build-up.

Matkava made the final penalty after the Georgia scrum dominated.

The visitors celebrated what they deserved and Pivac pondered what his future might be.

Georgia will be the one to get the praise. That's right.

Wales: North, Watkin, Adams, Priestland, G Thomas, Owens, D Lewis, Carter, Beard, J Morgan, Tipuric, J Macleod.

Replacements: Blacker, Costelow, Halfpenny.

Niniashvili, Modebadze, Tapladze, Todua, Abzhandadze, Lobzhanidze, Gogichashvili, Papidze, Cheishvili, Mikautadze, Gorgadze, Saghin are Georgians.

Replacements are Mamukashvili, Abuladze, Kuntelia, Chachanidze, Mamamtavrishvili, Matkava, Khmaladze, and lomidze.

There is a referee and anFIR.

The assistant referees are Pierre and Gnecchi.

The person is Brendon Pickerill, from New Zealand.