Georgia make England work for win

Georgia's Tedo Zibzibadze (L) and England's Chris Ashton chase down the ball at Otago Stadium in...
Georgia's Tedo Zibzibadze (L) and England's Chris Ashton chase down the ball at Otago Stadium in Dunedin. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
England weathered a sin-binning, a high penalty count and furious Georgian resistance to eventually run out 41-10 winners in their Pool B Rugby World Cup encounter at Otago Stadium.

Georgia went into half-time only 17-10 behind, but second-half tries from the three-quarter trio of Delon Armitage, Manu Tuilagi and Chris Ashton (two) gave England breathing space.

Armitage put England two scores ahead and as the match entered the final quarter, Georgia's stretched defence barely laid a hand on Tuilagi as he chose a perfect attacking line.

With Georgia flagging, Ashton then celebrated a try with his signature swallow dive, before completing the scoring right on full-time.

First five-eighth Toby Flood converted four of the six tries, also adding a penalty.

His opposite number Merab Kvirikashvili had a wayward day with the boot, missing five of his seven kicks.

The match was less than four minutes old when Shontayne Hape sprinted clear after a bullocking run by second row Simon Shaw.

When he scored his second try after 21 minutes England appeared to be cruising but indiscretion at the breakdown - the former world champions conceded 10 penalties before the break - cost them.

Dylan Hartley was sin-binned for persistent infringement just before half-time and from the ensuing penalty Georgia elected to take the scrum.

Georgian number 8 Dimitri Basilaia crashed over and the conversion by Kvirikashvili brought his side back to 17-10.

The Georgians deserved their try, having gone close earlier when wing Irakli Machkhaneli was knocked into touch as he dived for the corner.

 

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