Hallam Amos scored the only try of the match as Wales ground out an unconvincing 13-6 win over Georgia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
Wales coach Warren Gatland understandably fielded a second-string lineup against the unpredictable Georgians, but even so, a better all-round performance would have been expected from the Welsh on their home turf.
They were given a thorough workout at scrum time, while their lineouts also malfunctioned numerously.
Wales opened up a 10-point lead in the 20th minute, courtesy of an early penalty by flyhalf Rhys Priestland, followed by Amos’ brilliant try, which saw the winger burst through the line and go all the way to score.
Georgia started to exert more pressure on Wales, and were rewarded with a kickable penalty, which Soso Matiashvili sent through the uprights for a 10-3 score at the break.
The second half was a dull affair as only two penalties (one going either way) were added.
Matiashvili slotted a second penalty goal to reduce Wales’ lead to just four points, but Priestland responded with a penalty of his own in the 61st-minute to reinstate Wales’ seven-point advantage, which they held on to to get over the line.
Wales – Try: Hallam Amos. Conversion: Rhys Priestland. Penalties: Priestland (2).
Georgia – Penalties: Soso Matiashvili (2).
Wales – 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Seb Davies, 7 Sam Cross, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Cory Hill, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Nicky Smith.
Subs: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Josh Navidi, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Owen Williams.
Georgia – 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Giorgi Koshadze, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 11 Mirian Modebadze, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Bitsadze, 7 Vito Kolelishvili, 6 Lasha Lomidze, 5 Giorgi Nemsadze, 4 Kote Mikautadze, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.
Subs: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Kakha Asieshvili, 18 Soso Bekoshvili, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 Revaz Jintchvelashvili, 23 Merab Kvirikashvili.
Photo: Ian Kington/Getty Images
