frustration

It seems a missed opportunity for English rugby that Joe Worsley – a World Cup winner under Sir Clive Woodward in 2003 – has never coached in his home country.

The former flanker has worked in France with both Bordeaux and Castres and is now in charge of Georgia’s defence. The Lelos produced a backs-to-the-wall display against Fiji in Bordeaux.

But it was one that came at a cost. For long periods, Georgia looked like they would follow their 2022 victories over Italy and Wales with another famous scalp.

They led the Pacific Islanders 9-0 at half time and, with Worsley’s red wall of Georgian defence impressing, Fiji looked in trouble until they scored two second-half tries.

‘Whilst everyone can be really proud of their performance, there was also huge disappointment at being knocked out of the World Cup,’ Worsley said after his side’s 17-12 defeat.

Defence coach Joe Worsley expressed his frustration after Georgia’s World Cup elimination Worsley says his players can be proud of their performance despite the defeat to Fiji

‘The guys really gave it their all. We have quite a few injuries now. The players pushed themselves to the limit and then a bit more. It wasn’t quite enough.

‘Against Fiji, it was more like the real Georgian team.’

Georgia are yet to win in France. But after disappointing performances in defeat by Australia and in a draw with Portugal, Levan Maisashvili’s men produced their best display so far against Fiji.

It was an enthralling match, one which showed why the two nations must be given more chances to compete at rugby’s highest level by the game’s authorities.

Instead, with World Rugby set to implement its new Nations Championship concept from 2026, the likes of Fiji and Georgia face being shut out. Frankly, it is criminal.

Rugby is only just surviving as it is. If it is to have any hope of growing as a sport, it must not act as an old boys’ club and a closed shop. The likes of Fiji and Georgia deserve better.

The status quo must change.

‘We missed quite a few opportunities. It’s been a bit of an issue for us at this World Cup,’ said Worsley, looking back on Georgia’s Fiji clash.

Worsley stated that Georgia needed to make more of the opportunities that they created

‘We’re creating entries into the 22 and opportunities but not realising them. Against Wales, we’re going to get fewer opportunities. They’re a very controlled team playing a very tight game at the moment and doing it really well. We’ll need to take every chance that comes our way.’

Georgia are battered and bruised going into their final Pool C clash with Wales.

They went into the Fiji game without a host of first-choice stars and then lost forwards Tengizi Zamtaradze and Lasha Jaiani in the first 17 minutes.

Zamtaradze and Jaiani are both poised for surgery on shoulder and foot injuries on Monday. Full-back Miriani Modebadze will also go under the knife after breaking his jaw in three places.

All three players are out of the Wales game but captain Merab Sharikadze should return. The Lelos defied adversity impressively against Fiji.

Fiji are renowned for their physicality, but they were consistently knocked back in the contact area by huge Georgian tackles. There were 197 in total, flanker Mikheil Gachechiladze making 25 on his own.

‘I think you’ve seen a big step up in the tier-two nations at this World Cup,’ Worsley argued.

‘I don’t think we’re too far away from a situation where we’re going to have 20 or more good teams competing in the next few World Cup cycles. It shows the global growth of rugby and how much all the teams are improving. Professionalism is really improving in countries like Georgia.’

Although they can’t progress, Georgia still have a game remaining as they will take on Wales

Fiji’s defeat of Georgia means they are now in pole position to qualify for the quarter-final from Pool C behind Wales.

Eddie Jones’ Australia are now virtually out, even though they beat Portugal on Sunday with a bonus point.

Wales’ final game is with Georgia in Nantes on Saturday. Victory for Warren Gatland’s side would seal them top spot in the group. They look likely to meet Argentina in the last eight.

Facing Wales will mean a reunion with former Wasps colleagues Gatland and Alex King for Worsley.

The forward played under Gatland when he was in charge of the now defunct English club in one of its most successful periods. King, now Wales attack coach, was a Wasps team-mate of Worsley’s.

‘I know quite a few of the Wales staff. The last time I faced one of Warren’s teams it was four years ago at the last World Cup when I’d just got involved with Georgia,’ Worsley said.

‘This Georgia team has evolved a lot since then. It’s far more dangerous now and far more capable of playing against the best teams. So long as we have 15 players!

‘It will be interesting to see how far we’ve come against Wales because a lot of the guys who will be playing will be second or third choice because of injuries in the last two weeks.

‘It’s going to be difficult.’

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