Taniela Tupou provided the highlight reel moment and also the defining one as the Wallabies kicked off their Rugby World Cup campaign with a 35-15 win over Georgia in Paris on Sunday (AEST).
The Wallabies were leading 21-8 early in the second half but Georgia were threatening an unlikely comeback when fullback Davit Niniashvili sliced his way through the defence.
But instead of finding a teammate, Niniashvili’s offload landed in Tupou’s bread basket and the grateful prop took full advantage in a wild sequence of play.
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Tupou accelerated into space before delivering an audacious one hand pass to fullback Ben Donaldson who sprinted away to score his first Test try.
Instead of potentially trailling 21-15, Georgia was 28-8 behind, marking game over and a first win of 2023 for the Wallabies under Eddie Jones after a 0-5 start to the season.
“Tupou delivers the offload of the tournament,” Sean Maloney said on Stan Sport.
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Wallabies vs Georgia RWC highlights
“135kg in 35 degree heat and he’s got enough in the tank to explode away and throw a pass you would have been proud of, Tim Horan.”
Donaldson justified his surprise selection at fullback with two tries and 25 points.
The 24-year-old also had the kicking duties in his first start at fullback in only his fourth Test and made six of his seven attempts.
“He’s a freak and we all know that,” Wallabies prop Angus Bell told Stan Sport.
“You just need Donaldson to adjudicate at the back and unleash our world class wingers. He did his bit today and got two tries, he was unreal. Hats off to him, he’s been training so hard as well.
“I’m sure when everyone else gets their shot they will be good too because we train bloody hard. Really good, I’m happy for him.”
Petaia scores Australia’s first try of 2023 RWC
Donaldson, the most contentious selection in the Wallabies, was named man of the match for his role in the bonus point win.
“We had a game plan. In the end it made me look half decent so I put that on all the boys,” Donaldson said.
“For me, it was just providing a loud voice and a big boot at the back there.”
Nawaqanitawase spins to score
Coach Jones had no doubt Donaldson – picked ahead of Andrew Kellaway – was ready.
“We knew what he was capable of,” Jones said.
“His long kick was invaluable and he’s a very good decision maker. His goalkicking was first class.”
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Victory at a sweltering Stade de France also took some heat off Jones, who hadn’t won his last seven Tests dating to last year.
“You don’t start like that if you’re lacking in confidence,” Jones said.
“We’ve got a young team and it’s another great experience for them. Each game they’ll get a little bit better.”
Georgia put away the boot at halftime and found holes in the Wallabies defence in the second half but could score only two tries while bombing at least three more.
Akaki Tabutsadze had a try prevented by Mark Nawaqanitawase’s last gasp tackle, and final passes were blown until agile prop Beka Gigashvili scored a late converted try following a well worked lineout.
“Our exits were very poor at the start and we put ourselves under pressure, but we came back in the second half,” Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili said.
“It’s just the first game, so we have a lot of things to analyse.”
Australia’s first try came after 97 seconds through centre Jordan Petaia.
He took a quick feed from scrumhalf Tate McDermott and bounced off two tackles.
The second in the ninth minute by Nawaqanitawase was converted from out wide by Donaldson, who added a confident penalty.
Georgia’s only first half score was an early penalty by flyhalf Luka Matkava.
Tabutsadze went close to his 11th try of the year, slipping a tackle, kicking ahead and just failing to collect the ball before Donaldson covered swiftly.
“He was awesome,” captain Will Skelton said of Donaldson.
“For a young fella, he showed a lot of character. He’s been training there the whole year with us and we had confidence in him.”
Georgia gave Donaldson another easy penalty following scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze’s high tackle on McDermott, who needed treatment, and then went off late in the half after being flattened making a tackle.
“Tate’s up and walking around, he’s doing all of the medical protocols,” Jones said.
He was replaced by Nic White, who was fouled by left winger Miriani Modebadze when trying to make a pass seconds before the break.
Modebadze was sinbinned and the Lelos trailed 21-3 at the break.
A man down, Georgia drew a cheer from the crowd when they took an attacking lineout instead of a penalty.
It paid off, as Vasil Lobzhanidze and Matkava combined to send flanker Luka Ivanishvili scurrying into the left corner two minutes after the restart.
Georgia’s backs then started slicing apart the Australians, especially out wide, but they couldn’t finish off chances.
“No one can win against tier one sides anymore with scrummaging and mauling,” Maisashvili said.
“We lost a couple of opportunities to score tries. We have a lot of talented players and are trying to balance our game now.”
The Wallabies next face Fiji in Saint-Etienne on September 18 (AEST), while Georgia have two weeks before playing Portugal in Toulouse.