England v Georgia Match Review
England
By Kath 12/10/03
October 14 2003
Clive Woodward England's Head Coach gave Georgia true respect today by fielding the England Elite First XV. Each player had been itching to get out and play, as the build up to this first game seemed endless!
Minutes before kick off we had a bench replacement Bracken had back twinges so Andy Gomarsall moved onto the bench.
Two and half minutes into the game and Jonny Wilkinson got the first points of this Rugby World Cup for England, from a penalty then on 13mins. we had Tindall scoring the first England try of the tournament and Jonny Wilkinson converting. Then on 19 mins Dawson slid over for the next try and Jonny converted.
England playing well even though the ball was very slippery. The Georgians proved to be a very tough and physical side and certainly no push over for England, in fact you have to admire their tenacity of play. Fourteen out of their 15 players play in France, so we knew this would be a very testing game. Georgia were battling hard in the scrum and their props looked massive, definitely giving England's front row something to think about. Georgia gave everything and never stopped but the England steam roller kept moving on.
22 mins in to the game, you could hear Swing Low - Sweet Chariot being sung by the England fans and crowd this must have uplifted Steve Thompson (Hooker) as he, on 23 mins went over to score England's third try - Jonny converted. On 26 mins Neil Back went over to score the all important 4th try and the extra bonus point for the match - Jonny converted.
Jonny Wilkinson ended the first half as he started it with a penalty. GMalkhaz Urjukashvili scored Georgia's only points in the first half from a penalty kick.
Half Time Score: England 34 v Georgia 3
Second half.... Mark Regan came on for Steve Thompson and early on in the second half Jonny Wilkinson was replaced by Paul Grayson, Matt Dawson was replaced by Gomarsall and Tindall by Luger.
England seemed to be a bit complacent after having scored their fourth (bonus point) try! With the variety of changes it took England a few minutes to settle again, some fairly sloppy play at one point.
Then you could see the whole team going through their various set moves and some of the play in the second half was outstanding especially with a slippery ball. They Georgians never gave up and South Africa will have to play well to keep them in check.
Other replacements in the second half Hill and Vickery off - Moody and Leonard came on. Tries in the second half for Dallaglio, Reagan, Robinson, Luger, Cohen x2, Greenwood x 2. Grayson converted some and missed others, he seemed a bit nervous at first but finally settled down.
Paliko Jimsheladze got Georgia's only other points - penalty 54mins.
The England support play was excellent and the whole team seemed to keep moving forward all of the time and at pace. Their fitness is outstanding. The new strip once again let one or two players down Gomarsall at one point seemed to be wearing a nice little 'off the shoulder number'. Nike's reputation is on display at the moment, I wonder if they are worried?
A couple of funny moments the Georgian's magic spray can? - the mist and steam coming off that spray can was quite vampirish!
And Will Greenwood, as he was going over to score his second try - he took a knock in a sensitive place? However, he assured the watching world by checking carefully - giving the thumbs up that all was in order and that he still had two!!
It is always difficult to pick man of the match but for me it was Jonny Wilkinson! His kicking was excellent as usual but his direction of the game and the fact that he was so animated in that first half - you could tell who was bossing the game.
Unofficial England's Man of the Match: Jonny Wilkinson
Final Score: England 84 v Georgia 6