Georgia’s forwards have brought Uruguay back to earth, scoring five tries in a thumping 33-7 bonus-point victory in their Rugby World Cup pool clash in Japan.
Uruguay finished the Pool D game with 14 men after replacement hooker Facundo Gattas was red-carded for a high, no-arms, tackle with three minutes remaining.
In stifling heat and humidity on Sunday in Kumagaya, there were two sanctioned water breaks at the 20 and 60-minute marks.
Led by No.8 Otari Giorgadze and captain Jaba Bregvadze, the Georgians applied even more pressure on the Uruguayan pack, who wilted just four days after producing a massive upset against Fiji in Kamaishi.
Los Teros were unable to reproduce enough of that sparkling running rugby against the physical Georgians.
Georgia had secured the bonus point by the 51st minute after Giorgadze, Bregvadze and tighthead prop Levan Chilachava all scored tries from close range. Winger Alexander Todua crossed after a simple movement from an attacking scrum.
Centre Giorgi Kveseladze capitalised on a Uruguayan mistake while clearing the ball at the tryline just before the second water break.
“We worked really hard and prepared well for this match; we knew this was going to be a tough game; we wanted to make all Georgians proud,” said Bregvadze.
Georgia were beaten 43-14 by Wales in their opening game and coach Milton Haig made 12 changes for Kumagaya, where he hoped to get back on track to secure automatic qualification for the 2023 cup in France.
Their forwards dominated the set piece and proved too strong in the contact area.
The Europeans had looked like they might run away with the match when Todua crossed in the eighth minute from an attacking scrum and movement through the backs.
Uruguay, however, struck back with winger Rodrigo Silva receiving an inside pass and exploiting the gap at the tail of a lineout before passing to inside centre Andres Vilaseca to score.
It was ultimately the only shot they fired and, after Georgia went to halftime with a 12-7 lead, they ramped up second-half pressure with tries to Chilachava, Bregvadze and Kveseladze.
Georgia face Fiji on Thursday in Osaka in what might decide third place in their pool and qualification for France. Uruguay play Australia on October 5 in Oita.