Majestic Georgia march on into final

By BEN JAYCOCK

Georgia………………………… 43pts

Tries: Tabutsadze 4, 37, 75, 80, Modebadze 50, Gorgadze 56, Ivanishvili 64

Conversions: Lobzhanidze 52, Niniashvili 65, Abzhandadze 79, 80

Romania ………………………… 5pts

Tries: Fonovai 71

RICHARD Cockerill's Georgia hoisted up the Antim Cup as they booked their place in the final of the Rugby Europe Championship after overpowering big rivals Romania in a seven-try rout.

Wing Aka Tabutsadze scored four tries in a standout display to take his tally to 32 scores in 38 inter nationals, while the home side's pack flexed their muscles and were too hot to handle for a toothless Romania.

Georgia go into the final on March 17 as clear favourites after their dominant pool victories over Germany, Netherlands and Spain, while Romania's seven-year wait to lift the Antim Cup continues.

David Gerard's side suffered humiliation during the Rugby World Cup with Ireland, South Africa and Scotland scoring over 75 points against them, while Tonga scored

45 and their leaky defence has continued in this competition.

The Georgians made a fast start and worked possession from right to left and silky hands out the back presented winger Tabutsadze with the ball 5m out. He still had plenty to do to score but the Lelo Saracens back stepped past three defenders to avoid the touchline and finish in the corner with an acrobatic leap.

Georgia maintained their early pressure and things were looking miserable for Romania until solid scramble defence through a dominant hit by Stefan Iancu and then a clever strip by Gabriel Pop alleviated the danger momentarily.

The strip resulted in a scrum 5m out for the home side but hands to the outside was this time too quick as a wasteful pass by Georgia Matkava sailed the ball past Tabutsadze.

Georgia had a few more forays into the Romanian 22 in the opening quarter but wasted opportunities with needless offloads and handling errors kept the contest to one score.

Matkava missed a routine penalty from in front, but Georgia went into half-time 10-0 ahead with Tabutsadze's second after a strong break by flanker Illia Spanderashvili, who fed the winger. Georgia had to wait 10 minutes for the first try of the second half as full back Mirian Modebadze profited off neat hands to the outside.

The home side secured the four-try bonus point through a driving maul score by hooker Vano Karkadze.

Luka Ivanishvili rumbled over for the fifth try off another formidable maul, but Romania wouldn't leave Tbilisi empty handed as strong carries from the pack set the platform for a crash ball carry by Fonovai Tangimana that allowed the centre to touch down.

Turbo: Aka Tabutsadze scored four tries for Georgia

PICTURE: Getty Images

Georgia's star player, wing Davit Niniashvili made a mazy run through midfield and his delicate grubber kick fed his fellow speedster Tabutsadze for his hat-trick try.

Niniashvili continued to be the playmaker as he broke through, and his long spiral pass fed replacement Tedo Abzhandadze out wide.

Abzhandadze dispatched the extras to round off an emphatic victory for Georgia, while Romania will play either Spain or Portugal in the third-place playoff.