Georgia through to finals

Georgia qualified for their first-ever World Cup by beating Russia 17-13 in Tbilisi today.

In a tight match, neither team could find a way to the try line until Konstantin Rachkov went over for Russia just before the half-hour mark.

The successful conversion by Vladimir Simonov gave the visitors a 13-6 lead, but Georgia struck back with a third penalty by Makho Urjukashvili.

Then a crucial try by Levan Tsabadze on the stroke of half-time gave the host side a 14-13 lead.

Urjukashvili’s penalty 10 minutes after the break was the only scoring of the second half, and the Georgians could celebrate.

At the World Cup they will be in tough Pool C with South Africa, England, Manu Samoa and Uruguay.