Scotland v Georgia - Scottish Rugby

The Famous Grouse Nations Series

26 Aug 2023 - 5:30 pm

Scottish Gas Murrayfield

Full-Time

33 - 6

view scoring

Tries

van der Merwe46′

Darge51′

Dempsey58′

Steyn68′

van der Merwe77′

Conversions

Russell47′

Russell52′

Healy59′

Healy69′

Penalties

12′Matkava

21′Matkava

Drop Goals

80'

Scotland sign off for Rugby World Cup 2023 with win

Full-time in Edinburgh and the headline is that Scotland win their third of four matches this summer, but if ever there was a game of two halves..

Georgia went into the break six points up through two Luka Matkava penalties, their desire to grab another Tier 1 scalp very clear.

Scotland needed something entirely different in the second half and they duly delivered, with tries from Duhan van der Merwe (2), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey and Kyle Steyn.

Van der Merwe’s second, his 20th for Scotland, took him level with Tommy Seymour in fifth-place on the country’s all-time list – from a mere 31 caps.

60'

Final subs on for Scotland

Second row Scott Cummings is on for Sam Skinner and Chris Harris replaces Huw Jones at centre to complete the substitutions. 20 minutes left of Te Famous Grouse Nations Series and Scotland have looked really sharp since half-time.

77'

Duhan double delight!

Duhan van der Merwe now has 20 Scotland tries. He’s only played in 31 Tests.

It’s similar to his first this afternoon, gathering a looping ball – this time Ben Healy is on the money with this assist – and the prolific try machine does the rest from a metre or two out.

Van der Merwe draws level with the great Tommy Seymour on that terrific 20 tries, the pair now joint-fifth on Scotland’s all-time list.

Healy’s just missed the conversion, by the way. 33-6.

69'

Kyle careering towards ten tries

After a nasty moment when Jamie Ritchie was cynically taken out in the air by Akai Tabutsadze, Scotland are soon smiling again with a fourth try. It’s Kyle Steyn with a remarkable ninth try in only 13 caps, as the winger feeds off the scraps of Jack Dempsey coming up as short as you could. Ben Healy tallies up another conversion and the game is out of sight at 28-6.

75'

Five to go, another score in Scotland?

Mirian Modebadze, the Georgia winger, goes in a little high on Kyle Steyn and referee Raynal spots it. Scotland opt for a scrum and when Ben Healy launches a mammoth ball out towards the vicinity of Duhan van der Merwe, it looks like a score is imminent. The pass is marginally too heavy though and goes out for a Georgia line-out.

53'

Sextet of replacements for hosts

Scotland’s front row is freshened up with Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Javan Sebastian coming on for Jamie Bhatti, Dave Cherry and WP Nel. George Horne and Ben Healy replace Ben White and Finn Russell, and Matt Fagerson is on in try-scorer Rory Darge’s stead. Phew.

57'

Jack of all trades!

Scotland out of the woods now? A third try in fewer than ten minutes, and not dissimilar to the last. Jack Dempsey, the number 8 who has enjoyed a great summer of Test rugby, now has his first Scotland try and how he enjoys celebrating! Another series of telling pick-and-goes, and Dempsey is the one who crashes over. Ben Healy adds the two. 21-6.

45'

Scotland in territorial gains

Georgia collapse a scrum on their own 22, which is a relief because Akai Tabutsadze intercepted a Russell flat ball to Sione Tuipulotu that he wold have most certainly raced home for. Line-out from Russell’s dink . Scotland will try and create something here..

46'

Duhan delight!

It’s the breakthrough we all needed! From that rumbling line-out maul, Scotland decide to utilise their backs and of course Finn Russell is involved. The stand-off caresses the ball with the outside of his right foot, and Duhan van der Merwe is on hand – after a hint of almost juggling – to score his 19th international try, and one of his easiest. Russell converts and Scotland now lead, 7-6.

42'

Sea change from Scotland already

It’s only taken a minute for Scotland to show improvement. It’s Huw Jones who bursts through the Georgian defence and although his attempted ball to Duhan van der Merwe is patted away by Akai Tabutsadze, they have found a groove. Van der Merwe then threatens to go it alone a la Twickenham earlier this year, but can’t quite repeat the finish.

41'

Can Scotland overturn half-time deficit?

It may not carry Rugby World Cup points or a trophy, but the importance of sending Scotland off to next month’s tournament in fine fettle isn’t lost on many. Georgia will go again so the onus is on the hosts to come up with a plan to counter their stubborn, and talented, opponents.

Remember, Georgia beat Wales last November in Cardiff, so they have previous..

51'

Darge dots down for delightful double

Scotland’s blushes are spared and then fully forgiven when Rory Darge crashes over for his third Scotland try, and second of The Famous Grouse Nations Series. It looks like Duhan van der Merwe is going to bulldoze his way over again, but he’s held up. Jamie Bhatti goes centimetres close, before Jamie Ritchie has an effort. Eventually it’s the open side Darge who eases through a Georgian gap. Russell adds the extras, and it’s 14-6 Scotland.

39'

Scots not releasing

Referee Raynal decides that Rory Darge isn’t releasing and Geogia will eat up the seconds needed to get to half-time here. They’re going to lead at the break and keep Scotland scoreless – would anyone have predicted that double set of circumstances? It’s been fully merited, too.

30'

Steyn alive

Kyle Steyn, who came into the team on account of Darcy Graham’s late niggle, makes the most telling inroads yet, slaloming through numerous Georgian defenders, before Scotland are stopped in their tracks with a Ben White knock-on. A monstrous clearance by Matkava goes out on the full, so Scotland have the throw again on the away 22.

40'

Solid Georgia lead Scotland at half-time

And they do just that, kicking to touch, collecting the line-out and booting the ball out. Scottish Gas Murrayfield is somewhat stunned.

Two Luka Matkava penalties represent the scoreboard difference, but Georgia have been mightily impressive throughout. This won’t be an easy fix for a Scotland side who have a few cylinders to find from which to fire.

36'

Try Scotland – overturned

Kyle Steyn reckons he’s wriggled over in the corner after Russell fires one of his looping heat-seekers towards the winger, but Raynal’s officiating support want to have a look. They eventually decided that Steyn has lost control of the ball when attempting to score, and they’re probably spot on. Luka Matkava will lead the escape with a goal-line drop-out.

35'

Scotland to deliver here?

Finn Russell nudges one into touch for a home line-out after Georgia are adjudged to have brought a scrum down. The hosts trying to rumble their way over but quickly the ball is going out to the backs..

21'

Forward pass interrupts another Georgia attack

It’s all Georgia. Matkava and Niniashvili, the stand-off and full-back, are dovetailing superbly at first and second receiver. Eventually Scotland are spared when inside centre Merab Sharikadze loops a huge miss pass towards the left touchline, but it’s a good mile forward. Scrum reset Scotland on halfway.

28'

Better from Scotland

Side entry from Georgia and Scotland opt to tap and go inside the opposition 22. Scottish Gas Murrayfield has found its voice as well, which the team are trying to feed off. Georgia have put so much into this opening half hour, you’d have to think they might tire before half-time.

16'

First sign of Finn magic

Again a bit lateral, but Finn Russell tests the Georgian defence by pinpointing a no-look double miss pass out to Kyle Steyn. It amounted to nothing as Duhan van der Merwe gets bundled into touch in the next phase.

18'

Georgia so close to opening try; lead extended though

Los Lelos are flying and full of confidence. A sumptuous cross-grubber from Damuri Tapladze looks set to put scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze over but Ollie Smith sweeps well and wins the race to dot the ball down. Another penalty coming though, which young Luka Matkava slots with the ease of a seasoned international. 6-0 to Georgia, a quarter of the game gone.

25'

Nel feeling the force

There won’t have been many times in WP Nel’s 57-cap career when he’s taken a hit bigger than or better-timed than Matkava’s just now. The crowd collectively ‘ooooft’ as the ball spills forward, and Georgia have the scrum.

Scotland attack but penalised for holding on

Scotland have been very lateral in their possession thus far, going for the diskless rather than the outrageous. Jack Dempsey pierces through but Georgia force the holding on error and clear to touch from the resulting penalty.

13'

Brute strength from Georgia

The visitors are renowned for their physical presence, and show just why they’re so feared. They gobble up Huw Jones in contact and effortlessly win a scrum for holding up the maul. Scotland haven’t fired a shot yet, but they haven’t been allowed to.

On the back foot, Scotland gain scrum relief

As Georgian muscle slowly towards the Scottish line, the ball is held up and the hosts get awarded a scrum by today’s referee, Mathieu Raynal. Scotland clear but the visitors win the high ball contest and their attack only comes unstuck when full back Davit Niniashvili knocks on. Good start by the team in white and, possibly, crimson. Definitely a red of some sort.

11'

First points to Georgia

Luka Matkava, the very talented 21-year-old Black Lion stand-off, gets his eye in from 40m after Grant Gilchrist is penalised for not rolling away. Georgia lead 3-0 at Scottish Gs Murrayfield.

Kick-off at Scottish Gas Murrayfield

Scotland and Georgia get their final Rugby World Cup 2023 game up and running, Luka Matkava hoisting the ball into the blue (yes blue) Edinburgh sky. Grant Gilchrist catches and Scotland clear safely. Here we go.

17:15

Final prep

The players are coming to the end of their warm-ups at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. Kick-off is now just 15 mins away!

17:20

Four years on from Scotland’s last Georgia encounter

Scotland and Georgia have met five times since a first encounter during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Invercargill, New Zealand, when four penalties and a drop goal from Dan Parks helped contribute to a 15-6 success.

The last time these countries faced one another was in 2020, when Duhan van Der Merwe scored a try on debut in a 48-7 victory at Murrayfield. He’s added 17 more in the time since. Some finisher.

Early Duhan foray

It didn’t take long for Duhan van der Merwe to get himself in on the act. The hulking wing breaks a few tackles with the first notable intent of the afternoon, but the ball eventually goes dead for a Georgia line-out.

16:42

Scotland Macron kit available

Thinking about buying the new 2023/24 season kit? Now is your chance! The Scottish Rugby Marcon store is open today so grab your very own home, alternate or training kit and support the team!

16:00

Inside the Scotland changing room

16:30

60 minutes to go!

One hour to go until kick-off at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

17:00

Your next Scotland game in Edinburgh

Scotland Women return to Hive Stadium on Saturday 30 September (kick-off 5.30pm) to face Spain as part of their preparations for the new WXV tournament this October.

You can buy your match tickets now, or secure your seat for all three of Scotland’s home games this season (inc. England and France) with the new Season Pass.

MATCH TICKETS | SEASON PASS

16:15

Your Scotland team have arrived

15:15

The stage is set