Uruguay win battle of Pool C minnows

Georgia 12 Uruguay 24

From the off, Georgia were rustrated, when fly-half Paliko Jimsheladze’s first two penalty kicks flew wide, then Uruguayan full-back Juan Menchaca slotted the game’s opening points.

The ‘Lelos’ replied through the boot of Malkhaz Urjukashvili before a rare flowing passage yielded a try.

A fine drive by the Uruguay pack wide on the left was brought to a halt, but the defence could do little when the ball was spun out wide to allow wing Cardoso to cross unopposed.

The second half began with Georgia clearly keener.

Urjukashvili failed to close the gap when Nicolás Grille was caught offside, but substitute Merab Kvirikashvili struck two penalties.

Uruguay hit back through hooker Lamelas, with Diego Aguirre slotting his second conversion of the night.

Uruguay sealed their second ever World Cup win when Aguirre danced through to feed flanker Brignoni.

Georgia: I Machkhaneli; M Urjukashvili, T Zibzibadze, I Giorgadze, A Kavtarashvili; P Jimsheladze, I Modebadze; A Kopaliani, D Dadunashvili, G Shvelidze; S Gujaraidze, Z Mchedlishvili; I Zedginidze, G Yachvili (capt), G Chkhaidze.

Replacements: A Giorgadze, S Nikolaenko, G Tsiklauri, D Bolgashvili, M Kvirikashvili, V Katsadze, B Khamashuridze.

Uruguay: J Menchaca; A Cardoso, D Aguirre (capt), M Mendaro, C Baldasari; S Aguirre, J Campomar; R Sanchez, D Lamelas, P Lemoine, JC Bado, J Alzueta, N Grille, H Ponte, R Capo.

Replacements: JA Perez, E Berruti, G Storace, N Brignoni, M Gutierrez, B Amarillo, J Pastore.