Uruguay scored three unanswered tries to post their first victory at Rugby World Cup 2003 with a 24-12 defeat of Georgia in their Pool C match at Sydney’s Aussie Stadium.
Both teams came into this Rugby World Cup with this match being their only realistic win in a Pool that also features England, South Africa and Samoa.
Predictably then, this bottom of the table clash saw a desperate tussle between two passionate sides, the 80 minutes being a tale of forward muscle upfront followed by territorial kicks by both sides.
Despite the first try of the match coming from expansive Uruguayan play, it was Los Teros who most successfully abided by the ‘keep it simple’ game plan.
Georgia replaced their fly half Paliko Jimsheladze with the youngest player in the Tournament, Merab Kvirikashvili, at half time and the effect was immediate, the 19 year old scrum half sparking their attack and kicking two penalties in his first 10 minutes on the field to bring them back to within a point.
But while Georgia made some breaks it was their mistakes at crucial periods in the match that were telling, the Lelos looking nothing like the side that scored 19 points against South Africa in their previous match.
Uruguay scored their second try after the break through a characteristic South American forward drive, the rolling maul pealing off on the Georgian try line for hooker Diego Lamelas to score.
Los Teros were led by the tactical kicking of centre Diego Aguirre, the captain proving inspirational with just two minutes remaining, making a telling 15 metre run off the ruck to eventually link with reserve second row Nicolas Brignoni, who dived over for the victory sealing try.
And that’s where it stayed, Los Teros celebrating a second Rugby World Cup win and the Georgians taking the Pool C wooden spoon.
Uruguay: 24
Tries: Alfonso Cardoso, Diego Lamelas, Nicolas Brignoni
Conversions: Diego Aguirre (2), Juan Menchaca
Penalties: Juan Menchaca
Georgia: 12
Penalties: Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Merab Kvirikashvili (3)