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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool B: Scotland 15-6 Georgia

Dan Parks kicked all of Scotland's points in Invercargill Dan Parks kicked all of Scotland's points in a wet Invercargill

Scotland stuttered to a second successive World Cup victory as they out-muscled Georgia in a dour struggle.
In difficult, wet conditions, Dan Parks kicked four penalties from seven attempts and landed a neat drop-goal late in the first half.
Merab Kvirikashvili was on target with two Georgian penalties.
Andy Robinson's side were impressive in defence, with the pack completely dominating, but there was an alarming lack of attacking thrust.
At no stage in the game was the try-line threatened, but Scotland have nine points from their opening two games and now have an 11-day break before facing Argentina a week on Sunday, 25 September.
Scotland were forced into a late change after Scott Lawson's withdrawal with a tight calf, Ross Ford starting at hooker with Dougie Hall coming onto the replacements' bench.
Georgia, coached by Scotsman Richie Dixon, featured 13 players in the starting XV who ply their trade in France.
And a powerful Georgian pack rumbled forward with menace in the early stages of the game.
But, with props Allan Jacobsen and Euan Murray relishing the physical battle, Scotland soon got to grips with their opponents and shut them down with real force.
Georgia, who came close to a shock win over Ireland four years ago, almost opened the scoring with their first foray into Scotland's 22, but fly-half Kvirikashvili could only slice his drop-goal attempt wide.
On 18 minutes, Kvirikashvili thumped over a fantastic kick from his own half when Scotland were penalised for a marginal offside.
Scotland immediately had the opportunity to level but Parks skewed his effort horribly wide from inside Georgia's 22.
The Cardiff Blues stand-off levelled the scores when he knocked over a straightforward penalty but missed another soon after from just inside the Georgia half.
It took half an hour for the Scots to put together a flowing attack but the move was brought to an abrupt halt by some fierce Georgian defending and the ball was turned over.
Scotland winger Rory Lamont Scotland failed to carry the ball with any real menace Parks then slotted over a penalty from the left touchline to put Scotland in front and two minutes before the interval the stand-off stretched the advantage with a smartly-taken drop-goal.
The Invercargill crowd had seen the good and bad from Parks and they got the downright ugly when his bid to kick out of play for half-time struck an opponent, giving Georgia an opportunity to charge forward but a knock-on relieved the pressure on the Scots.
Scotland made a strong start to the second half but promising surges forward ended with Graeme Morrison and then Al Strokosch spilling the ball in the slippery conditions.
Strong defence kept the Georgians at bay but Scotland could not build any attacking momentum, with the handling errors mounting up.
There was further frustration when Parks failed with a penalty from near the halfway line after Georgia failed to take contact in a scrum.
Scotland moved into double figures on 69 minutes with a straightforward penalty from Parks but Kvirikashvili replied immediately after Robinson's men made a mess of gathering the restart.
More indiscipline from the Georgians gave the Scots some valuable late breathing space, with Parks again finding his range from 40 metres to seal the outcome.
Scotland: R. Lamont, Evans, De Luca, Morrison, S. Lamont, Parks, R. Lawson, Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, Strokosch, Rennie, Brown. Replacements: Gray (for Hines, 72), Paterson (for R Lamont, 72). Not Used: Hall, Cross, Dickinson, Vernon, Cusiter.
Georgia: Gigauri, Machkhaneli, Kacharava, Zibzibadze, Todua, Kvirikashvili, Abuseridze, Khmaladze, Bregvadze, Zirakashvili, Datunashvili, Maisuradze, Sutiashvili, Gorgodze, Basilaia. Replacements: Urjukashvili for Todua (66), Giorgadze for Bregvadze (63), Kubriashvili for Zirakashvili (56), Chkhaidze for Maisuradze (48), Kolelishvili for Basilaia (63). Not Used: Samkharadze, Malaguradze.
Att: 10,267
Ref: George Clancy (RU).



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