Australia vs Georgia Preview & Prediction | 2024 Summer Internationals
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The Wallabies continue to build under Joe Schmidt but face a Georgia side whose impressive front row poses a danger.
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 20th July, 2024, UK – 6:45am / US ET – 1:45am / US PT – 10:45pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – FloSports app
AUSTRALIA FORM: BACK ON TRACK UNDER NEW COACH
It’s been a positive start to life as Wallabies head coach for Joe Schmidt, who has overseen back-to-back victories over Wales in the run-up to this match.
While Schmidt is still tinkering with the formula and there is still plenty of work to be done ahead of next month’s Rugby Championship, things seem to be heading in the right direction after the disastrous Eddie Jones era.
LAST FIVE: LLWWW
GEORGIA FORM: MORALE-BOOSTING VICTORY AGAINST JAPAN
After defeat to Fiji at the beginning of the month, Georgia bounced back with a hard-fought 25-23 win over Japan last time out, in what was their first victory in their last seven matches.
One of those defeats was against Australia in last year’s World Cup, although the Europeans gave a good account of themselves in that contest and they will have benefitted from playing a lot of top class opposition in recent times.
LAST FIVE: DLLLW
AUSTRALIA TEAM NEWS: TEN CHANGES FOR THE WALLABIES
Schmidt has made wholesale changes for this one, with Allan Alaalatoa – set to captain the Wallabies – among ten changes. Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Fraser McReight, Tom Wright and Rob Valetini are the only men set to keep their places after the second victory over Wales.
Replacement Alex Hodgman will become just the fourth player to represent New Zealand and Australia at Test level, should he take to the field.
SQUAD: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Isaac Kailea
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Jeremy Williams, 21 Nic White, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Andrew Kellaway
GEORGIA TEAM NEWS: FEARSOME FRONT ROW
France-based front row trio Mamaiashvili, Karkadze and Kuntelia are formidable in offence and will be key to any success Georgia have in breaching the Wallabies rearguard.
Full-back Davit Niniashvili, currently looking for a new club after finishing his contract at Lyon, will be looking to make an impression to would-be suitors.
SQUAD: 15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tafladze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Mikheil Alania, 8 Tornike Jalaghonia, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 6 Beka Gorgadze (c), 5 Mikheil Babunashvili, 4 Lado Chachanidze, 3 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Giorgi Mamaiashvili
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Luka Petriashvili, 17 Luka Goginava, 18 Irakli Aptsiauri, 19 Lasha Jayani, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 22 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 23 Tedo Abzhandadze
AUSTRALIA VS GEORGIA PREDICTION
Georgia have taken wins off top-tier nations Wales and Italy in recent years, and would dearly love to add Australia to their list of conquests here. However, that is unlikely to be the case given the Wallabies’ apparent renaissance under new coach Joe Schmidt.
Schmidt is making sweeping changes for this one, which could lead to a fairly attacking contest, particularly in the second half when things should open up. Georgia’s front row is not to be taken lightly and they could have some joy, and although they are likely to come up short when all is said and done, we’re expecting a high-scoring encounter.
AUSTRALIA VS GEORGIA TIP: HIGHEST SCORING HALF – SECOND HALF
