Georgia stun Wales with Cardiff triumph

Wales have been left in disarray a week before facing the Wallabies after a humiliating home defeat to Georgia in Cardiff.

It was only the Lelos second win against a tier one nation with the first coming in July, against Italy at home.

Georgia clinched victory in dramatic fashion with substitute Luka Matkava, 21 last month, who made his debut a fortnight ago, kicking a long-range penalty with three minutes to go.

Wales have won just three of their 11 games this year, and Wayne Pivac - who succeeded fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland after the 2019 World Cup - is under pressure.

"That's the worst performance I've seen from a Wales team," said former Wales and British Lions centre Jamie Roberts.

"When you lose a game like this, then serious questions need to be asked about the coach."

Pivac himself said: "You have seen a lot of results at the moment that are going against the form-book, and our result is one of those,.

"Seven days is a long time in rugby and we have got to make sure we pull this game apart, learn very very quickly and make sure we get the result against Australia that we now need.

"We put ourselves in this position and now we need to fight to get ourselves out of it. We need to make these seven days count and we need to come out with a much better performance next week."

With both teams in Australia's pool at the World Cup next year the match will be keenly studied by the Wallabies management.

Georgia trailed 12-3 at halftime, were flagging and fortunate to have conceded only two tries, both scored by Jac Morgan.

But they were transformed after the break, especially the scrum. 

The turning point was a yellow card to Wales' Alex Cuthbert for taking out opposite wing Sandro Todua. Cuthbert's absence was expertly exploited when Georgia five-eighth Tedo Abzhandadze laid on a perfect crosskick to Todua to catch and stroll over the tryline.

Abzhandadze converted to lift Georgia within two of Wales with 20 minutes to go.

Five minutes later, Abzhandadze missed a penalty kick for the lead, a failure that looked to have cost Georgia when Morgan touched down for what he was his hat-trick.

However, video revealed Taulupe Faletau, who seemed to have set the chance up brilliantly, had knocked on in the build-up.

Wales then conceded a penalty in the scrum which Matkava slotted from Wales' 10-metre line.

While Wales descended into gloom Georgia celebrated wildly.

"We feel so proud. I am proud of the team and all the Georgian people in rugby," said man-of-the-match scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze

"We've made history. We are so proud of ourselves."

- with AP