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Australia were a long way off their best but managed to overcome Georgia 27-8 in difficult conditions in Fukuroi to book a likely World Cup quarter-final against England.<\/p>\nAustralia were a long way off their best but managed to overcome Georgia 27-8 in difficult conditions in Fukuroi to book a likely World Cup quarter-final against England.<\/p>\n
Typhoon Hagibis approaching Japan led to heavy wind and rain battering the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, where Australia went ahead courtesy of Nic White\u2019s 22nd-minute try.<\/p>\n
It was not until after the hour mark that they crossed the whitewash again through Marika Koroibete while Jack Dempsey and Will Genia tries gave Australia a bonus-point win after Alexander Todua had touched down for Georgia.<\/p>\n
Australia therefore moved to the top of Pool D but they will be relegated to runners-up if Wales avoid defeat to Uruguay on Sunday, which would see the Wallabies taking on Pool C winners England in Oita next Saturday.<\/p>\n
If that is indeed how events unfold then England head coach Eddie Jones would have taken heart from Australia\u2019s labored display.<\/p>\n
They lost Kurtley Beale inside the first quarter of an hour, with the full-back not returning to the field following a head injury assessment.<\/p>\n
Michael Cheika\u2019s men routinely made errors at critical junctures in Georgia\u2019s 22 before the pressure eventually told, White burrowing over from close range midway through the half.<\/p>\n
Australia have been criticized for their indiscipline in this tournament and it surfaced once again here, Tolu Latu\u2019s high tackle awarding Georgia a penalty, with Soso Matiashvili splitting the posts.<\/p>\n
Number eight Isi Naisarani was yellow carded five minutes before the interval after appearing to make contact with the face of Giorgi Nemsadze with a leading arm in a ruck clear out.<\/p>\n
Despite being down to 14 men following their fourth sin-binning of the tournament, Matt Toomua slotted home a penalty to give Australia a 10-3 lead at the interval.<\/p>\n
Koroibete\u2019s stunning solo effort as the match entered the final quarter, in which the wing burst forward from halfway and skipped past a couple of Georgia defenders, gave Australia some breathing room.<\/p>\n
But back came Georgia through Todua, who touched down on the left wing after being teed up by Lasha Khmaladze in the 70th minute.<\/p>\n
However, tries inside the final five minutes from Dempsey and Genia made certain of an Australia victory.<\/p>\n