Romania make the most of two errors

Just how far this game advanced Warren Gatland's knowledge for Saturday's final World Cup qualifying match against Romania is still anyone's guess. Romania scored more points, Georgia exerted more pressure, had territorial advantage for most of the game but committed at least two pretty bad errors which finally cost them the match. In tandem they had little or no lineout - a fairly serious flaw at this level of rugby.

In truth it was a night in which the Rugby World Cup exposed its rump end in Lansdowne Road. Little guys fighting to get to play with the big boys next year. Forget them. Romania and Georgia never were going to draw the crowds given the clash with the Republic of Ireland's televised match from Belgrade and as Irish interest lay only in how potent Romania might be on Saturday, those who did attend would have left the ground believing in the possibility of another try fest for Ireland.

There were some good players on show but no good teams. Or rather two sides still at the bottom end of a steep learning curve.

The question that might be asked if Ireland pull off a similarly one-sided performance against Romania as they did against Georgia (70-0) last weekend, is what sort of preparation will this have been to face South Africa on Saturday week?

There was a ghostly feel to rugby headquarters except for the huddle of Georgian supporters who did their vocal best to create an atmosphere on a cold airless night. But the game itself was lively and full of vigour, although frequently flawed.

Romania turned the match in their favour just after the break when they were chasing the match 36 down. A three-minute spell during which two covering players, firstly the centre Bartolme Khamasuridze and then winger George Bugianachvili, completely missed loose chipped balls bobbling over the line, allowed Romanian fullback Mihai Vioreanu in for two tries. Scrum-half Petre Mitu converted both to give Romania a 17-6 lead on the 45th minute.

Georgia never recovered from that flash of light in an otherwise ragged game in which both sides preferred to kick to touch or attempt long-range penalties than run or feed their backs, except at the end of the game when desperation put a different complexion on proceedings.

The first half had been barren of any back-row moves with only Georgia's poor lineout work giving Romania a foothold on the game. Frequently the ball was turned over or lost in the subsequent breakdown to seriously hamper Georgia's claim that they were equal to the favoured Romanians.

Georgia deservedly led by two penalties to one at the break before the two-try travesty immediately afterwards. It was the first time that Romania had chosen to run the ball and on both occasions full-back Vioreanu had come into the line strongly. Vioreanu looked one of Romania's stronger players in possession. Getting it to him in space was their problem. Ireland will no doubt want to make it more difficult on Saturday.

Prop Levan Tsabadze closed the gap for Georgia with a push-over try, again converted for 13-17. Having selected to kick three previous penalty opportunities to touch, Georgia at this stage could well have been right back on level terms. A under the posts brought the game to one point on 72 minutes before Steau Bucharest scrum-half Mitu fed off his tackled full-back and scrambled over for the winners' third try. He subsequently added the conversion and another penalty before a late interception try from right wing Achiko Kavtarachvili put a better veneer on the scoreline.

The group now hinges on Saturday's game. Both Ireland and Romania have qualified for next year's World Cup with Georgia disappearing into the repechage to see if they can gain entry by the back door.

Scoring sequence: 3 mins: K Matchitidze penalty, 3-0; 15 mins: P Mitu penalty, 3-3; 23 mins: M Urdjukachvili penalty, 6-3; 42 mins: M Vioreanu try, Mitu conversion, 6-10; 45 mins: M Vioreanu try, Mitu conversion, 6-17; 68 mins: L Tsabadze try, Urdjukacvili conversion, 13-17; 72 mins: Urdjukacvili penalty, 16-17; 76 mins: Mitu try and conversion, 16-24; 81 mins: Mitu penalty, 16-27; 44 mins: A Kavtarachvili try, Urdjukacvili conversion, 23-27.

Georgia: M Urdjukachvili; A Kavtarachvili, P Jimcheladze, B Khamasuridze, G Bugianachvili; K Matchitdze, I Giorkhelidze; M Mtiulishvili, A Giorgadze, L Tsabadze, G Ruskin, Z Mtchedlichvili (capt), Z Lejava, G Labadze, K Kobakhidze. Replacements: Tefnadze for Matchitdze (32 mins), Chvelidze for Mtiulishvili (52 mins), Djanlidze for Giorkhelidze, Katsadze for Lejava (both 72 mins), Tchikava for Kobakhidze (78 mins).

Romania: M Vioreanu; C Hildan, G Brezoianu, R Gontineac, G Solomie; R Vusec, P Mitu; D Niculae, R Mavrodin, C Stan, M Dragomir, A Girbu, A Manta, F Corodeanu, C Draguceanu (capt). Replacements: Mariora for Stan (21 mins), Balan for Mavrodin (67 mins), Slusariuc for Corodeanu (78 mins), Doja for Dragomir (80 mins), Ciolacu for Solomie (81 mins). Referee: J Kapalan (SARU).

Italy routed Holland 67-7 at a misty McAlpine Stadium last night. However they failed to make the most of their overwhelming superiority, continually over-elaborating their attacking play which led to a succession of handling errors.