Georgia 12-24 Uruguay
Georgia left their first World Cup today without a win after going down 24-12 to Uruguay.
After heavy defeats by England, South Africa and Samoa, the two minnows fought out a scrappy but evenly matched game to determine last place in pool C.
Georgia were slight favourites after an encouraging 46-19 loss to the Springboks last week but could not contain their more experienced South American opponents.
Uruguay were always the fresher of the sides, scoring three unanswered tries.
The decisive move of the game, with two minutes left, ended with replacement lock rower Nicolas Brignoni crashing over after a fine step inside by centre and captain Diego Aguire.
Uruguay, who beat Spain at the first World Cup appearance four years ago, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a penalty from fullback Juan Menchaca but Georgia levelled when winger Makhaz Urjukashvili landed one in front after flyhalf Paliko Jimsheladze had missed two attempts.
Uruguay's superior kicking enabled them to dominate field position for most of the first half and the pressure told when right winger Alfonso Cardoso dived over.
Uruguay's forwards pounded the line with a series of rolling mauls to suck in the Georgian defenders then quickly swung the ball wide to give Cardoso a free run to the line.
Aguirre converted from the sideline to leave his side 10-3 up at the interval. Georgia, aided by a stiff breeze, pulled back to within a point when replacement flyhalf Merab Kvirikashvili booted two long-range penalties but Uruguay's burly hooker Diego Lamelas then ploughed his way over from the back of a rolling maul.
Kvirikashvili kicked his third penalty to cut the margin to five points before Aguirre found a hole in the tired Georgian defence and offloaded to scrumhalf Juan Campomar who passed out of the tackle to Brignoni.
Uruguay end their Cup against England on Sunday.
Teams:
Georgia- 15-Irakli Machkhaneli; 14-Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 13-Tedo Zibzibadze, 12-Irakli Giorgadze (21-Vasil Katsadze 59), 11-Archil Kavtarashvili (22-Besik Khamashuridze 40); 10-Paliko Jimsheladze (20-Merab Kvirikashvili 40); 9-Irakli Modebadze; 8-Ilia Zedginidze, 7-Gregoire Yachvili (captain), 6-George Chkhaidze, 5-Sergo Gujaraidze (18-George Tsiklauri 63), 4-Zurab Mchedlishvili, 3-Avtandil Kopaliani (17-Soso Nikolaenko 40), 2-David Dadunashvili (16-Akvsenti Giorgadze 40), 1-Goderdzi Shvelidze.
Uruguay- 15-Juan Menchaca; 14-Alfonso Cardoso, 13-Diego Aguirre (captain), 12-Martin Mendaro (22-Joaquin Pastore 50), 11-Carlos Baldasari; 10-Sebastian Aguirre, 9-Juan Campomar (21-Bernardo Amarillo 78); 8-Rodrigo Capo, 7-Nicolas Grille, 6-Hernan Ponte (20-Marcelo Gutierrez 56), 5-Juan Alzueta (19-Nicolas Brignoni 66), 4-Juan Carlos Bado, 3-Pablo Lemoine (18-Guillermo Storace 78), 2-Diego Lamelas (16-Juan Andres Perez 70), 1-Rodrigo Sanchez (17-Eduardo Berruti 74). Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)