By Press Association
[score]
[team1]Australia[/team1][score1]27[/score1]
[team2]Georgia[/team2][score2]8[/score2]
[/score]
Michael Cheika’s Australia side huffed and puffed to victory over Georgia in Shizuoka to set up a quarter-final clash with England next weekend.
Spirited Georgian resistance saw Australia only break the deadlock after 22 minutes of play, by which time Georgia had already made more than 100 tackles.
Far from the try opening the door however, Australia could only add a penalty to their first-half tally, giving them a 10-3 half-time lead.
A raft of changes in the second half quickly followed, before Marika Koroibete crossed the line for his side’s second try of the game after 60 minutes of play.
Georgia were able to answer back with a try of their own with ten minutes to play, winger Alexander Todua bringing the Georgians back into the game as the scores stood at 17-8 down the stretch.
It was at this point however that the Georgian challenge faded, and two late tries from Jack Dempsey and Will Genia added a sheen to the scoreboard for the Wallabies ahead of the quarter-finals, the Georgians going home beaten but unbowed.