The Wallabies have survived a major scare to take a 40-29 win over Georgia in Sydney.
At moments, it looked like Australia would run away with the contest as their forwards dominated the contest.
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However, Georgia kept fighting and found themselves down by two points heading into the final 20 minutes.
It presented the opportunity for the back row to close out the game as Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini crossed for doubles.
A late Georgia try gave the visitors hope but Australia hung on to secure the win.
“I don’t think I’m ever happy with a performance completely but I’m certainly happy with some of the elements of the performance,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said.
“I thought the way we built we built to a nice lead was pretty dominant and I was really happy with the way we were dictating the game but it’s been a bit of a recurrent theme over these three games.
“We started to lose a bit of penalties and stacked a few penalties and put ourselves under pressure,”
The Wallabies were out to start fast in the perfect afternoon conditions and got the chance to as the centres combined for the opening try, allowing Hunter Paisami to cross in the fifth minute.
Joe Schmidt’s side was intent on playing with pace as their forwards started to bash the ball over the advantage line.
It allows Valetini to charge over for a 12-3 lead after the first 12 minutes.
Fellow Melbourne-born forward Isaac Kailea followed him over as the Wallabies pack powered the prop over for his debut Test try.
Georgia kept fighting and were twice certain to score, only for a forward pass and knock on to halt their moment.
The third time proved the charm as lock Mikheil Babunashvili powered over in the 33rd minute.
The Wallabies were dealt a massive blow when Filipo Daugunu was yellow-carded for a high shot.
Daugunu left his feet to try and charge down a kick, only to collect the chasing Demur Tapladze in the head.
The play was eventually upgraded to a red at half time.
It didn’t halt the Wallabies’ momentum heading into the half as the decision to turn down an easy three points delivered a McReight try and a 26-10 lead at the break.
However, the Georgians weren’t about to go away as the bounce of the ball delivered two stunning tries.
It started with Davit Niniashvili’s grubber landing straight in his hands to race away two minutes after the half followed by Aka Tabutsandze winning the race to his kick from the 22 to suddenly reduce the margin to two.
The Wallabies refused to panic and their brilliant back row stood up to make the difference as Niniashvili went to the bin for a cynical foul.
It started with a break from player of the match McReight, combining with Harry Wilson and Nick Frost to put themselves within metres of the line.
It set up Valetini to barge over for his second from the next phase.
McReight got his second after diving over from the rolling maul, denied minutes earlier for obstruction.
Tabutsandze gave Georgia hope late with a great finish in the corner but Australia held tough to secure the win.
WALLABIES 40
Tries: Paisami, Valetini 2, Kailea, McReight 2
Cons: Donaldson 4/6
GEORGIA 29
Tries: Babunashvili, Niniashvili, Tabutsandze 2
Cons: Matkava 3/4
Pens: Matkava 1/2
WALLABIES v GEORGIA TEAMS
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Filipo Daugunu, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Darby Lancaster;
Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott; Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Angus Blyth, Nick Frost; Allan Alaalatoa (captain), Billy Pollard, Isaac Kailea
Replacements: Josh Nasser, Alex Hodgman, Zane Nonggorr, Tom Hooper, Jeremy
Williams, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Andrew Kellaway
Georgia (15-1): Davit Niniashvili, Aka Tabutsandze, Tornike Kakhoidze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Demur Tapladze, Luka Matkava, Milkheil Alania, Tornike Jalagonia, Beka Saghinadze (c), Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Mikheil Babunashvili, Lado Chachanidze, Alexsandre Kuntelia, Vano Karkadze, Giorgi Mamaiashvili
Replacements: Luka Petriashvili, Luka Goginava, Irakli Aptsiauri, Lasha Jaiani, Luka Ivanishvili, Ioane Iashgashvili, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tedo Abzhandaze
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams and Angus Mabey
TMO: Richard Kelly
