| No. | Name | |
|---|---|---|
15Ben Smith, FB | ||
14Waisake Naholo, W | ||
13Conrad Smith, C | ||
12Sonny Bill Williams, C | ||
11Julian Savea, W 3 | ||
10Dan Carter, FH 4 | ||
9Aaron Smith, SH | ||
1Wyatt Crockett, P | ||
2Dane Coles, H | ||
3Charlie Faumuina, P | ||
4Brodie Retallick, L | ||
5Sam Whitelock, L | ||
6Jerome Kaino, FL | ||
7Richie McCaw, FL | ||
8Kieran Read, N8 | ||
| Replacements | ||
16Keven Mealamu, R | ||
17Tony Woodcock, R | ||
18Owen Franks, R | ||
19Victor Vito, R | ||
20Sam Cane, R | ||
21Tawera Kerr-Barlow, R | ||
22TJ Perenara, R | ||
23Malakai Fekitoa, R | ||
NZL
GEO*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold
Match Commentary
Here's what Rob Bartlett - ESPN's man at the Millennium - had to say about the game:
"The second half, unfortunately, did not live up to the intensity of the first - but it did give us an indication of New Zealand's vulnerabilities. The defending champions continued to look seriously undercooked and a potential quarterfinal against Ireland or France suddenly looks intriguing. This side genuinely looks beatable; Kieran Read added a try just past the halfway point before Julian Savea completed his hat trick and Malakai Fekitoa got in on the act late on - but there was little to write home about in between. For Georgia, victory was always beyond them, but their marvellous defence continued to frustrate and annoy the All Blacks, forcing Steve Hansen's side into a flurry of silly handling errors. Their pressure chasing the ball was nothing short of immense - at times, they made rugby's mystical magicians appear ordinary. Milton Haig will certainly be the happier man tonight."
Ahh. They lose the ball and Vito hoovers up from the lineout. New Zealand kick long to relieve the incoming Georgian attack but it's FULL TIME! All done in Cardiff. Full time analysis incoming in a few moments...
Here we go. At last. Raw pace from Fekitoa who individually splits the Georgian defence. Could've passed left to Savea for his fourth but some nice footwork finds himself is acres of space which leads to five more points. Carter converts to add the extras.
Some good decoy running in midfield gives Savea acres of room down the left again to slide home. Easy, simple, great stuff from All Blacks who once again show they can shift gears when they want. Looked a bit stuck the past 20 minutes or so but that try's silenced that.
The lineout results into the rolling maul but the All Blacks get the collapsed ball turnover. Scrum awaits us - still deep in the NZ 22.
Georgia ruin the lineout and New Zealand were awarded the penalty five metres from the Georgian line. Scrum half Smith takes quickly and it's not long before Kieran Reed bundles over barging through Georgia's No.5 and 18 for his try! Carter successfully converts.
However, New Zealand have the lineout as Tsiklauri kicks out.
Very nearly a fifth for the All Blacks but Naholo is barged off into touched down the right flank by Georgian fullback Tsiklauri. Georgia have the lineout now, and will be looking to get out of their 22 where they are setting up right now as we await the throw...
The referee eventually awards the penalty though and Georgia kick out for the lineout just shy of the NZ 22.
They opt to work it down the line and Georgia start flying the tackles in.
...however, play is brought back and Georgia have the penalty. They kick upfield for the lineout, again, but miss the pitch edge and it lands in All Blacks hands. We go again as New Zealand push forward.
They switch the pattern of play, however, and work it back right this time. It finds Naholo who touches for the try but is deemed out of touch. Georgian lineout then...
"This World Cup has already captivated rugby fans across the globe - Friday night in south Wales was no different. New Zealand and Georgia had never previously faced each other but the opening 10 minutes in Cardiff were as frantic and exhilarating as we've seen. Waisake Naholo, making his World Cup debut just three months after breaking his leg against Argentina, went over inside a minute before the crowd erupted when Beka Tsiklauri broke free and celebrated crossing the line. That produced the loudest cheer of the first half and provoked an onslaught of tries from the All Blacks - Dan Carter's kicking, though, left a lot to be desired. And when Davit Kacharava shook the stadium to its very core with a thundering tackle on Carter, the Lelos centre could not help but smile as he looked up at the big screen replay. A wonderful first 40 minutes at, arguably, the World Cup's loudest venue."
You can follow more of Rob's first hand insights straight from Cardiff via following him on Twitter, @RobBartlettESPN, or by clicking HERE.
Georgia lineout down their left flank, but that fluff it and it's back into New Zealand hands. They're in possession just shy of the Georgian 22.
Georgian scrum!
But, we wait to see if they can make anything of it...
Nope, not really. The ref awards another scrum in favour of New Zealand, who emerge victorious before breaking with real pace. A great offload from Carter to A Smith down the left flank, who chips downwards to chase but unfortunately it falls out of play. Georgia lineout.
New Zealand not giving Georgia any rest bite here.
...it collapses and we go again...
New Zealand come out with the ball and work it down the line well but caught out there. Carter's audacious long ball left floats in to touch. Georgia lineout just along the half way.
Georgia emerge victorious this time round as New Zealand are penalised for not driving straight. Georgian scrum very, very powerful. Let off for the men in red as they can look to get out their 22 and have a much needed breather.
Scrum given just under the Georgian sticks. The Lelos need to be careful here as this is dangerous territory again and are at risk of further damage.
Brilliant wide play from New Zealand. Everyone involved. They collectively work the ball from right to left, and then back right again, making ground every time someone else retrieves the ball before McCaw conducts the final offload to Dan Coles on his who grounds beyond the white line.
Easily collected by Smith but Georgia bundle the men in black to the ground.
ANOTHER SAVEA TRY!
Georgia guilty of going to hard in the scrum and wheel their back row away. The All Blacks retrieve the ball and do what they've done well all game by working it well down the left, right to left. Pulling away now.
It's been all attack for the All Blacks so far and Georgia have only just managed to get out their 22 to gain the penalty via long up field kick.
All Blacks work the ball right to left along the line finding Savea who drives towards the line, showing tremendous strength in pushing away the Georgian fullback in the process. Good try from the New Zealand No.11.
Wow! Well that was out of nowhere from Georgia. Sloppy for New Zealand and Georgia were quickest to react in the breakdown. Georgia's Begadze retrives from the deck before the offloading pass lands back on the floor. Beka Tsiklauri kicks the loose ball forward, lucky couple of bounces, manages to run onto it and springs unchallenged to the New Zealand try line.
A scrappy opening 30 seconds. Georgia kick the ball out left along the half way. First NZ lineout of the night.
TRY!
What a try that was. New Zealand win the lineout and Naholo shows what he's all about straight away. Receives the offload from the initial lineout and drives through the Georgian line on his own with ease. Great start from the All Blacks.
Follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who is at the Millennium to provide us with first hand insight. You can read his preview of the game HERE.