England endured a repeat of last year’s wobbly World Championship preparations as Mark Mapletoft’s side were once again beaten in Georgia, this time in a 45-17 humbling.
In 2023, England won the first of their two fixtures in Tbilisi but fell short in a 40-38 loss on the eve of last year’s showpiece tournament, and after the tourists won last week 31-7 in a commanding display, they were well beaten on Wednesday in a poor outing that will provide concerns ahead of their World Championship opener on June 29 against Argentina.
The Six Nations winners, who were unbeaten since their third-place play-off against South Africa in last year’s World Championship, are renowned for their dominant set piece but the Georgians overpowered England in what proved a difficult afternoon for Mark Mapletoft’s side.
England were punished for attempting to play from deep during the opening minute and a penalty at the breakdown allowed the hosts to opt for the corner.
The catch and drive was collapsed illegally by Olamide Sodeke but after unsuccessful pick and go’s, play was spread to the left flank, only for a fantastic tackle by Jack Bracken to put Georgia into touch.
Georgia’s early momentum continued though as scrum-half Ollie Allan took too long at a ruck and conceded a scrum deep inside England’s 22.
No.8 Andro Dvali made a surging run off the base and after England were offside 5m out, this time the hosts opted for a shot at goal that Luka Tsirekidze duly slotted.
However, Dvali fumbled the kick off and Georgia were swiftly ushered into touch 5m out from their own line.
England’s driving maul kicked into gear with Saracens No.8 Nathan Michelow crossing and despite a shaky start, the visitors led after 10 minutes.
Giorgi Khaindrava made a surging break through the English defence before offloading to Giorgi Spanderashvili, who went under the posts for a sublime attacking score by the home side.
Moments later, Spanderashvili appeared to have scored his second as he sniped at a ruck and broke through undetected to double their lead but the TMO spotted England prop Afolabi Fasogbon was prevented from tackling the scrum-half after he was pulled back at a ruck.
Khaindrava popped over another penalty to make it a two-score contest and matters were made worse for England when Fasogbon was sin binned for taking out the nine which allowed Khaindrava to make the deficit 16-5 at the interval.
Georgia had the advantage at the breakdown picking up multiple holding on penalties which laid the platform for Tamaz Chamiashvili’s driving maul score at the start of the second half.
Swift hands to the outside allowed Georgia to once again exploit their numerical advantage as Nugzar Kevhishvili played a one-two with Sandro Dardzulidze to dance through a timid English defence and score.
England earned a minor reprieve as a storming run by captain Finn Carnduff allowed debutant Arthur Green to pounce from close range.
But it was then Tariel Burtikashvili’s turn to get on the scoresheet as Georgia worked the hands nicely out wide.
Ioan Jones’ careless offload was gobbled up for the grateful Burtikashvili, who raced away for Georgia’s fifth try.
Georgia fly-half Khaindrava signed off with a penalty before being substituted late on, earning himself a standing ovation.
Quick thinking from substitute Lucas Friday sent Jones over for a late consolation score but the match proved the ideal sign off once again for Georgia ahead of their World Championship opener against Australia.
GEORGIA: Takaishvili, Burtikashvili, Kobauri, Khaindrava, Dardzulidze, Tsirekidze, Spanderashvili; Ungiadze, Chamiashvili, Mchedlidze, Tskhadadze, Ghaniashvili, Suluashvili, Khidesheli, Dvali
Replacements: Khakhubia, Baratashvili, Mchedlishvili, Margvelashvili, Saghinadze, Kachlavashvili, Pirtskhalaishvili, Kevkhishvili
ENGLAND: Jones, Bracken, Hall, Myall, Wills, Bellamy, Allan; Miell, Isaacs, Fasogbon, Cuckson, Sodeke, Carnduff (c), Timmins, Michelow
Replacements: Wright, Opoku-Fordjour, Sela, Kpoku, Pollock, Friday, Makepeace-Cubitt, Redshaw, Halliwell, Green, Kerr, Spencer, Cousins, Bailey, James, Waghorn, McParland
Referee: Nika Amashukeli
Star man: Giorgi Khaindrava – Georgia
Half time: 16-5
Written by Ben Jaycock
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