VIBE
Both team come out willing to play rugby and it was clear from the get-go that Argentina is not taking Georgia lightly with Nic Sanchez opening the scoring with a drop-goal, Georgia staying in the game through the boot of Merab Kvirikashvili and good defence respectively. Argentina also score a well worked try for the lead when the teams head to the sheds, 11-9 at oranges.
Argentina comes out all guns blazing for the second half and the first 15 minutes or so is basically played only one way and the man-mountain Mamuka Gorgodze gets binned after a great break from Nic Sanchez as he handles the ball in the ruck (ed.note he seemed to be well on his feet coming from the gate, but you have to play the ref not the letter of the law). That sealed the game as Georgia didn´t look the same without their inspirational captain and Argentina went on to score 21 unanswered points during the 10 minute period and the game was over.
SCORE & SCORERS
Final score Argentina 54 – Georgia 9
Argentina:
Tries: Cubelli, Lavanini, Imhoff 2, Cordero 2, Landajo
Cons: Sanchez 3, Bosch 2
Penalties: Sanchez 2
Drop goals: Sanchez 1
Georgia:
Penalties: Kvirikashvili 3
INCIDENTS OF NOTE
One yellow card for cynical play. What took my eye in the start of the game, that at least two knock-ons and a forward pass was let go by the ref JP Doyle, none of the plays led to tries so I was happy that the AR´s or TMO didn’t interfere there, but then in the second half in the build-up for Argentina third try there was a forward pass which never went for review. Officiating was not bad but surely 3 referees can´t miss 4 handling errors?
SHOULD I BOTHER WATCHING IT?
Yes, this was one of the more entertaining games so far, at least for the first 60 minutes while it was still a contest.
