Australia won their first match of 2023 when they comprehensively outplayed Georgia for a 35-15 win, despite a better performance by Georgia in the second half.
Jordan Petaia opened the scoring for Australia in the corner forcing his way over the tryline. Pataia scored after just two minutes of play in the first half. Luka Matkava converted a penalty closing the gap to 05-03.
A second Jordan Petaia try and two converted penalties by Ben Donaldson extended Australia's lead to 18-03 after twenty minutes of play in the first half. Ben Donaldson added a third converted penalty in the second quarter to lead 21-03 going into the second half.
Georgia started the second half like a house on fire and Luka Ivanishvili scored Georgia's first try of the match in the corner to cut Australia's lead to 21-08. However, Australia struck back minutes later when Ben Donaldson scored in the corner, following a turnover ball from a Georgia mistake made in Australia's half.
Following wave after wave of attacks Ben Donaldson scored his second try extending Australia's lead to 35-08. However, Georgia had the final say when Beka Gigashvili bulldozed his way over Australia's tryline for a "just" reward with time already up on the stadium clock.
Australia secured a very important bonus point with their 35-15 win against a Georgia team that unfortunately was disappointing.
Scorers:
Australia: Tries: Jordan Petaia (2), Ben Donaldson (2). Conversions: Ben Donaldson (3). Penalties: Ben Donaldson (3).
Georgia: Tries: Luka Ivanishvili, Beka Gigashvili. Conversion: Luka Matkava. Penalty: Luka Matkava.
Teams:
Australia - 1 Angus Bell, 2 David Porecki, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Richard Arnold, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Tom Hooper, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Rob Valetini, 9 Tate McDermott, 10 Carter Gordon, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Samu Kerevi, 13 Jordan Petaia, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15 Ben Donaldson. Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Robert Leota, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nic White, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Suli Vunivalu.
Georgia: 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 3 Guram Papidze, 4 Nodar Cheishvili, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 6 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Luka Ivanishvili, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 10 Luka Matkava, 11 Miriani Modebadze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 13 Demur Tapladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 15 Davit Niniashvili. Replacements: 16 Tengizi Zamtaradze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Lasha Jaiani, 20 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Giorgi Kveseladze.