Ireland 14-10 Georgia

Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland tries to stop Giorgis Shkinin of Georgia

Ireland (7) 14
Tries: R Best, Dempsey
Cons: O'Gara (2)

Georgia (3) 10
Try: Shkinin
Con: Kvirikashvili
Pen: Kvirikashvili

Below-par Ireland had to fight all the way to get a narrow victory over a determined Georgia in Bordeaux.

The anxious Irish had to withstand late pressure as they clung on for the win and there must be doubts over their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

Ireland did get a decent start with Ulster hooker Rory Best scoring a try but Georgia led early in the second half after a try by Giorgi Shkinin.

Girvan Dempsey got over to restore the Irish lead in the 55th minute.

Ireland may well be relieved to have scraped through but their lack of form is bound to be a huge worry for coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Now they have to focus on upping their performance as they next face hosts France who have to win.

Things had been going to plan for Ireland when they got the first try of the match on 16 minutes after the pack took a line-out catch and drove through the heart of the Georgian forwards.

Ulster hooker Best got over and Ronan O'Gara landed a tough conversion.

Late in the first half a powerful charge from Shkinin swept Georgia out of their own half and when openside David Wallace had been sin-binned for killing the ball, Merab Kvirikashvili stepped up to slot the three points.

Georgia stunned the Stade Chaban-Delmas by taking the lead five minutes into the second half.

A wayward looping pass from Peter Stringer to Brian O'Driscoll was intercepted by Shkinin and the Blois winger galloped home under the posts with Kvirikashvili landing the conversion.

Ireland's anxiety was eased when they ran in their second try in the 55th minute.

Gordon D'Arcy did the initial damage with a strong run through midfield before the ball was recycled to Dempsey on the left and he evaded Samkharadze's tackle to get over.

Georgia finished strongly, keeping possession and pounding away in the opposition half.

The stadium was on tenterhooks when Denis Leamy denied Georgia late on, with referee Wayne Barnes seeking confirmation from the video referee that the ball had been held up.

Georgia had thrown everything at Ireland and spent the dying moments charging forward, but could not produce the winning score.

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Ireland: Dempsey, Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Hickie, O'Gara, Stringer, Horan, R. Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Easterby, D. Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: Flannery, S. Best, O'Kelly, N. Best, Boss, P. Wallace, Murphy.

Georgia: Barkalaia, Shkinin, Urjukashvili, Kacharava, Elizbarashvili, Kvirikashvili, Samkharadze, Magrakvelidze, Shvelidze, Kopaliana, Zedquinidze, Gorgodze, I. Maisuradze, Urushadze, Chkhaidze.
Replacements: A. Guiorgadze, Khinchagishvili, Datunashvili, Z. Maisuradze, Abusseridze, Machkhaneli, Eloshvili.

Referee: W Barnes (RFU)