Wales aim to seal pool victory in Georgia finale

Wales and Georgia have met just once previously at the Rugby World Cup

Wales will aim to win their World Cup pool for a second successive tournament when they face Georgia in the final group game in Nantes.

In contrast, Georgia have yet to win a game in this competition with defeats against Fiji and Australia and a draw against Portugal.

Georgia are playing for pride only, but Wales need no reminder about how much pain these opponents can inflict.

Wales suffered a shock 13-12 defeat at home to the Georgians when the countries last met almost a year ago.

That was Wayne Pivac's penultimate game in charge before he was replaced as head coach by the returning Gatland in December 2022.

There are only four starting survivors for Wales from that side 11 months ago, but the current squad will be aware what Georgia are capable of.

Nantes was also the venue of Wales' spectacular group exit in 2007, when Gareth Jenkins' side were infamously dumped out of the tournament by Fiji.

World Cup elimination is not possible this time around and this tournament's progress suggests Wales should be strong enough to avoid any surprises. However, Georgia will want to spoil the party.

Wales and Georgia team news

Hooker Dewi Lake has played 10 internationals for Wales

Gatland named his starting line-up three days earlier than he needed to, making six changes from the Wallabies encounter.

Hooker Dewi Lake replaces Ryan Elias and will lead Wales with co-captain Jac Morgan rested after starting the first three tournament games.

Gareth Anscombe will start at outside-half with Dan Biggar left out of the matchday 23 despite having returned to training after a chest injury suffered against Australia..

Wing Rio Dyer, scrum-half Tomos Williams, lock Dafydd Jenkins and flanker Tommy Reffell also come into the XV. Number eight Taulupe Faletau and wing Louis Rees-Zammit will have started all four matches.

Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze returns after missing the defeat against Fiji through injury.

The centre is back as one of five changes with Guram Gogichashvili and Shalva Mamukashvili returning to the front row and Nodar Cheishvili coming into the second row.

Full-back Lasha Khmaladze makes his first appearance at this World Cup. There are 15 survivors in the matchday 23 from Georgia's victory in Cardiff last year, including 11 in the starting side.

Fly-half Luka Matkava played just seven minutes off the bench in that game, but kicked the winning penalty from 45 metres.

Wales v Georgia line-ups

Wales: L] Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Anscombe, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Francis, Rowlands, D Jenkins, Wainwright, Reffell, Faletau.

Replacements: Dee, Smith, H Thomas, Tshiunza, Basham, G Davies, Costelow, Grady.

Georgia: Khmaladze; Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze (capt), Niniashvili; Matkava, Lobzhanidze; Gogichashvili, Mamukashvili, Gigashvili, Cheishvili, Mikautadze, Gachechiladze, Saginadze, Jalagonia.

Replacements: Karkadze, Abuladze, Aptsiauri, Chachanidze, Tsutskiridze, Aprasidze, Abzhandadze, Tapladze.

Match officials

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Touch judges: James Doleman (New Zealand), Pierre Brousset (France)

TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand).

View from Wales camp

Wales head coach Warren Gatland: "We know we're in the quarter-finals but we want to finish top of the group and it's about finishing, trying to win four from four.

"We are excited about where we are and we are looking forward to going deep into this tournament.

"Georgia are a good side and they will be a good challenge for us on Saturday."

View from Georgia camp

Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili: "We have had a big disappointment [in the World Cup] but definitely against the Welsh a good result for us will be only winning the game.

"If you watch our game we started to play a more balanced game because we understand if you want to compete in the big games with the big countries, you can't just have a heavy game with scrummaging and mauling."

Pool C standings and permutations

Wales have already reached the quarter-finals and the other place will be secured by either Australia or Fiji.

Wales need one point against Georgia to guarantee top spot and set up a quarter-final in Marseille on Saturday, 14 October.

That will almost certainly be against Argentina or Japan, although Samoa are still mathematically in contention to finish second in Pool D.

Fiji need one point against Portugal on Sunday to confirm second place on the head-to-head rule having already beaten Australia.

If Fiji get nothing from the match, Australia will qualify for the quarter-finals as runners-up.

Georgia and Portugal cannot qualify for the quarter-finals and cannot gain automatic qualification for the World Cup in 2027 as they are on three and two points respectively with one game to play. This means Wales, Australia and Fiji have qualified for the 2027 World Cup.

Match facts

Wales v Georgia head-to-head

• This will be the fifth meeting between Wales and Georgia in men's Test rugby, the Lelos won their most recent encounter 13-12 in November 2022, after losing the previous three meetings.
• Wales and Georgia have met just once previously at the Rugby World Cup with Wales winning that clash 43-14 in 2019 in Japan.

Wales

• Wales have won 13 of their last 14 pool stage matches at the Rugby World Cup, including each of their last seven, their longest ever winning run at this stage of the competition.
• Wales have reached the knockout stages of the World Cup four times under head coach Warren Gatland.

Georgia

• Georgia are winless in their last four Test matches, including each of their three fixtures at this year's World Cup.
• Georgia have former Cardiff Blues lock Paul Tito and ex-England flanker Joe Worsley in their backroom coaching staff.