Scotland have ground their way to a 15-6 win over Georgia in Invercargill to make it two wins from two in the Rugby World Cup and keep their World Cup chances alive.
Scotland’s indifferent form continued In a tight match where all points were scored from the boot. Dan Parks kicked four penalties and one drop goal to Merab Kvirikashvili’s two penalty goals. In what was a tight match where Georgia competed well in all areas, it was their lack of discipline that gifted Scotland the competition points.
The Georgians started the match in typical fashion, with their large forwards making some big hits and meters. They were rewarded on the quarter hour mark when Kvirikashvili kicked a long range penalty from their own half.
Scotland responded through Parks five minutes later and gave them the lead with eight minutes to go when Georgia were penalised for hands in the ruck. Park took the opportunity to double the lead when he landed a drop goal on half-time.
The second half followed the same script, both teams making meters but either turning over possession or giving away penalties. Rory Lamont had the best chance to set-up a try when he split the line, but the move came to an end when they were pushed into touch.
Parks gave the Scot’s a nine point lead when Georgia was caught offside with ten minutes to go and it looked like the match was theirs. This was until Kvirikashvili put his side within a converted try with a penalty goal three minutes later.
They finally sewed up the four competition points with four on the clock when Park slotted his fourth penalty.
Strong efforts from Dimitri Basilaia and Mamuka Gorgodze will please their coach with the match against England in four days. Andy Robinson will be please with the win after making eleven changes to the side that lined up against Romania, but will know his side has a huge amount of work to do if they are to trouble Argentina in Wellington.
Scotland 15
Pens: Parks (4)
Drop goal: Parks (1)
Georgia 6
Pens: Kvrikashvili (2)