Namibia 16-17 Georgia

Namibia 16-17 Georgia: Lelos on course for third place finish

  • Georgia just about confirms a third place finish in Pool C, meaning they will automatically qualify for the next Rugby World Cup in four years time
  • Namibia lead 6-0 at half-time through two penalties from Theuns Kotze
  • Tense affair has four yellows: three for Namibia while one for Georgia 
  • Two tries in five minutes from Mamuka Gorgodze and Lasha Malaguradza complete comeback for the Lelos after the break
  • Kotze becomes the Welwitschias record scorer with 16 point haul, made up of three penalties, a try, and a conversion

Captain Mamuka Gorgodze touched down a crucial score for Georgia in the second half as they came from behind to defeat Namibia at Sandy Park on Wednesday evening.

The win, which means the Lelos have won two matches at a Rugby World Cup for the first time, also implies they are on the verge of finishing third in Pool C and, therefore, will automatically qualify for the next installment of the competition in Japan.  

Meanwhile though, Namibia also made history by recording their first ever Rugby World Cup point at the 18th attempt after securing a losing bonus point.

A bizarre first half saw 49 minutes of play over 68 minutes, but it didn’t offer a whole load of points with Namibia leading 6-0 at the break thanks to two Theuns Kotze penalties. The Welwitschias nevertheless were put under real pressure towards the end of the first period, losing both their loosehead props to the sin bin, meaning they’d start the second half with 13 men as well as being unable to compete at the scrum. 

After the break tries from Mamuka Gorgodze and Lasha Malaguradza in 51st and 55th minutes put Georgia ahead, with Merab Kvirikashvili adding the extras to give the Lelos an eight-point lead. Kvirikashvili and Kotze then traded penalties before the Namibian fly-half touched down and converted to close the gap to just one point

Georgia though hung on in the closing stages for their second win of the tournament, 16-17.