The Wallabies have secured a berth in the knockout stage at Rugby World Cup 2019 after a hard-fought 27-8 victory over Georgia on a wet and windy night in Shizuoka.
The two sides battled the conditions in a tight arm wrestle and it wasn't until the final five minutes of the contest that the men in gold were able to finally pull away from a committed Georgian outfit.
As the rain pelted down over Shizuoka Stadium both sides were left frustrated early on as the errors piled up while they tried to build pressure, but as the first quarter ticked-by the scores remained deadlocked at nil-all.
It was the Australians who eventually broke through, Nic White diving across the line from the base of a ruck and grounding the ball despite the attention of three defenders.
Georgia opened their scoring via the boot of fullback Soso Matiashvili who nailed a penalty goal in the 28th minute, and moments later the Wallabies were reduced to 14 men when number 8 Isi Naisarani was shown a yellow card for not wrapping arms in a tackle.
Australia weathered the period with a man down, as Matt To'omua guided through a penalty goal just before the break to make 10-3 at half time.
That was what the score remained before Wallabies flyer Marika Koroibete produced a spectacular solo try midway through the second half to give the Aussies some breathing room.
But rather than fold against their more-accomplished rivals, the Georgians doubled down on their defensive effort and created an opportunity for themselves which was finished decisively by winger Alexander Todua to close the margin to 9 points entering the final ten minutes.
With the match on the line the Wallabies proved their class, pushing the ball deep inside Georgia territory and capitalising from a maul when flanker Jack Dempsey crashed over in the 75th minute.
With the pressure valve released, replacement prop Taniela Tupou burst through the Georgian defensive line moments later to send Will Genia over to lock up the bonus point win and send the Wallabies to the Quarter Finals and a likely showdown with England next Saturday night.
Wallabies 27 (Nic White, Marika Koroibete, Jack Dempsey, Will Genia tries; Matt To'omua 2 cons; Matt To'omua pen) defeated Georgia 8 (Alexander Todua try; Soso Matiashvili pen)
Wallabies
1.Scott Sio 2.Tolu Latu 3.Sekope Kepu 4.Izack Rodda 5.Rory Arnold 6.Jack Dempsey 7.David Pocock(c) 8.Isi Naisarani 9.Nic White 10.Matt To'omua 11.Marika Koroibete 12.Samu Kervei 13.James O'Connor 14.Jordan Petaia 15.Kurtley Beale
Reserves:
16.Jordan Uelese 17.James Slipper 18.Taniela Tupou 19.Rob Simmons 20.Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 21.Will Genia 22.Christian Lealiifano 23.Dane Haylett-Petty
Georgia
1.Mikheil Nariashvili 2.Shalva Mamukashvili 3.Beka Gigashvili 4.Giorgi Nemsadze 5.Konstantine Mikautadze 6.Beka Saginadze 7.Mamuka Gorgodze 8.Beka Gorgadze 9.Gela Aprasidze, 10.Lasha Khmaladze 11.Alexander Todua 12.Merab Sharikadze(c) 13.David Kacharava 14.Giorgi Kveseladze 15.Soso Matiashvili
Reserves:
16.Jaba Bregvadze 17.Guram Gogichashvili 18.Giorgi Melikidze 19.Otari Giorgadze 20.Giorgi Tkhilaishvili 21.Vasil Lobzhanidze 22.Lasha Malaguradze 23.Tamaz Mchedlidze
Wallabies substitutions
14 mins - Haylett-Petty for Beale (HIA), 46 mins - Tupou for Kepu, 51 mins - Genia for White, 58 mins - Slipper for Sio, 58 mins - Simmons for Arnold, 58 mins - Lealiifano for Petaia, 61 mins - Salakaia-Loto for Pocock, 66 mins - Uelese for Latu
