Firstly apologies for the delay in this report, but work got in the way. Still, game 11 was the first I hadn't managed to see live at the time of the game, so I couldn't really be too upset!
Scotland having struggled past a rugged Romania, the last team they would have wanted to face would be an even more rugged side. Andy Robinson's men took to the field for the third and final game of Day 6 against the combined -ashvilis and -adzes of Georgia.
Having struggled for 75 minutes on Saturday, Scotland found themselves in the unusual position of being top of the Group with maximum points thanks to Danielli's late double. Danielli had apparently impressed some of the bigger named pundits, but to be honest, I thought his 2 late tries papered over massive cracks in both his and Scotland's performance. If anything was going to be able to exploit cracks, it was this immense Georgian pack though.
The Invercargill weather was not good, and left much potential for puns given the opposition. A Rainy Night and Georgia, as Randy Crawford might have sung....
I'll be honest, it was at times hard to watch the game, already knowing the score and having been up since 3 but I persevered and was impressed as I knew I would be by the defensive organisation and the sheer bloody-mindedness of the Georgians. They have some huge men in their side, and Scotland seemed to pick a side that was designed to beat them.
I give Andy Robinson credit. I believe he treated these opening two games as extensions of their warm-ups, and used 26 players in his starting line-ups to ease them in to the tournament. As such, I believe he selected players for the most suitable opponents, which is why big bruisers like Hamilton and Jacobsen, and tactically astute fly-half Parks were in evidence today rather than against Romania, who I think Robinson thought would have left more room for creativity.
Georgia took a lead towards the end of the 1st Quarter when Kvirikashvili (that's easy for you to say) whacked an own-half penalty over. Much of the rest of the half would have spent by my Scottish friends in the crowd both attempting to stay dry and cursing the poor kicking form of Parks. Still, he did manage to slot 2 of those kicks eventually towards the end of the half, and a neat spur of the moment drop goal ensure the Scots turned round with a 9-3 half-time lead.
Half Time: Georgia 3 Scotland 9
The weather got worse rather than better. When you look at the map and see where Invercargill is, it's easy to see why conditions at this time of the year are as bad as they are. Home from home for the Scots, you might unfairly suggest... I wouldn't dream of doing that. On the contrary, the tough Georgians, well 13 of them, had been softened up through years of living and playing in France.
Scotland continued to grind out a performance. Kelly Brown, the Man of the Match was evident, as was Hamilton in the second row. The Lamonts provided pace and power in the backs at times too, and while the game was tense as the Georgians refused to go away, I think with hindsight, Scotland always had that little bit too much. 9 more second half points: 2 Parks penalties which sandwiched another Kvirikashvili (copy and paste is your friend) effort, and that was that. Both sides looked relieved to hear the Final whistle and joined the changing rooms quickly, while the crowd disappeared, no doubt into the Invercargill Irish bars.
Full Time: Georgia 6 Scotland 15
As I say, Scotland, tense though their fans may have been, weren't in danger of losing in my opinion. As soon as they regained level terms, there was a serene progression to the eventual nine point victory margin. Georgia battled but lack the creativity for me and this is something that needs developing if they are to make the biggest step of all, one only recently taken by Argentina and arguably Italy.
Scotland leave Invercargill in almost perfect shape. 9 points from 10, 2 wins under their belts and ten days off before they face Argentina in a game which would see them assure qualification for the Quarter Finals. They have also already started the psychological warfare against the English. If England struggle to beat the Georgians, this is in spite of the Scots having tired them out. If England struggle, Scotland's struggle is given a positive glow. Ten happy days of bungee jumping, dwarf-throwing and such thrills and spills then for the Scots, if England's holidays are anything to go by....
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