Australia snuck home against a lowly Georgian outfit, leaving coach Michael Cheika with plenty to think about ahead of a tough quarter-final contest against England. MATCH REPORT INSIDE.
A wild typhoon is not all that will disrupt the Wallabies' plans for their destiny-or-dust showdown against England at the Rugby World Cup now Kurtley Beale has copped a rattling head knock.
A groggy Beale was helped off Shizuoka Stadium just 13 minutes into the scrappy 27-8 victory over big-hearted Georgia on Friday night.
The upside is he has an extended eight-day period to tick all the head knock protocols to still play a game-breaking role in the quarter-final booked for Oita next Saturday.
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When Beale skirted wide and was tackled to the turf, Georgian centre Davit Kacharava added some extra sauce by landing heavily on Beale's head and shoulders.
The advance rains and gusts of Typhoon Hagibis swirled through the stadium for the full 80 minutes but it is the full onslaught when the super-storm hits the Japanese coastline on Saturday which is the major concern.
The Wallabies' bullet train to return to Tokyo has been cancelled for Saturday so a Cup bus post-game was the most likely change-up.
Even with 79 per cent of the ball in the first half (10-3), the Wallabies could not cure the two things they most wanted to in the game...a slow start and avoiding high-hit dramas.
No.8 Isi Naisarani was sinbinned late in the first half when his right arm bounced off the back of a teammate in a cleanout and accidentally caught Georgian veteran Mamuka Gorgodze on the jaw.
More frustrating was new five-eighth Matt Toomua making a fine front-on tackle only for him to be penalised because there was some collar hugging to it.
The Wallabies may have had Georgia on their minds last night but it's now all about England, Eddie Jones and correcting the severe 0-6 ledger since the canny former Wallabies coach took over in London.
Pointers? They'll have to find a lot of precision in a week with the handling errors at 11 by the 50-minute mark albeit it was a drenching night.
Marika Koroibete, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu and Dane Haylett-Petty all coughed up ball and lock Izack Rodda beat his hand in frustration when Naisarani lost another early on a pick-and-drive 2m out.
Thank goodness for Koroibete. He beat four defenders in a solo 40m try-dash to settle it at the hour mark.
Toomua played a sharp first 40 minutes with one dummy-and go opening up the Georgians, kicked a fine 42m penalty goal in three-from-five and distributed cleanly to his outside men.
He never kicked once in that period, a curiosity on a sodden night and someone whispered to him because two of his first touches in the second were smart kicks for territory.
Halfback Nic White passed cleanly from the base, scored when he darted from close range for the first time and nearly did a second time.
The Wallabies forwards have stepped up all tournament. Lock Rory Arnold was good, skipper David Pocock was excellent after grabbing an early turnover, Jack Dempsey was productive and the scrum won several big shunts where Georgia pride themselves most.
It was the first time Toomua and White had started as the halves pairing in a Test and they may yet be backed against England.
Veteran lock Rob Simmons got on in the second half to celebrate his 100th Test.
The guts of Georgia paid off when they speared through some disorganised defence out wide at the 69th minute for a fine try to winger Alexander Todua.
Coach Michael Cheika's blind insistence for his team to run out of their own quarter backfired again when hooker Tolu Latu spilt a pass and Georgia knocked over a penalty goal.
Those hardy fans in swimsuits in the stands deserve a clap because other frustrated Aussie fans in Tokyo had given away valuable tickets because they saw no way to get home from the game on Saturday amid the transport shut-down and flood warnings.
Australia 27 (M Koroibete, N White, W Genia, J Dempsey tries; M Toomua 2 conv, pen goal) bt Georgia 8 (A Todua try; S Matiashvili pen goal)
Plenty of questions raised out of that result, a much closer one than most expected.
The fitness of Kurtley Beale, who left the match with concussion, is a big factor with an eight-day turnaround before Australia's quarter-final against England.
But equally concerning is the sloppy handling and general malaise in attack.
It will be interesting to hear how Michael Cheika assesses that performance.
Thanks for joining us for the blog tonight. We'll see you for the quarter-finals!
A wonderful try to the Wallabies and Will Genia.
Rob Simmons finds a little bit of space and offloads for Taniela Tupou, who bursts onto the ball and sucks in the fullback, drawing and passing to put Genia through to the tryline.
Genia scampers the final 20 metres to beat Georgia's defence to the tryline.
Australia secure the bonus point with their fourth try, as Toomua's conversion is again waved away.
That's fulltime. Australia wins 27-8. A spirited display from Georgia. A less-than-emphatic one from Australia.
That should be enough to put this one to bed.
Jack Dempsey comes up with a try – his first for the Wallabies – finishing off a rolling maul.
They've tried that plenty this World Cup, without much success.
But the drive forward five metres and Dempsey gets the spoils.
Toomua's conversion from out wide shaves the left upright.
But Australia leads 22-8 with under four minutes remaining.
Can they get a fourth try, and a bonus point?
What a try!
Georgia find a gap with Lasha Khmaladze bursting into space with a beautiful dummy and he throws a spiral to winger Alexander Todua.
Todua races away untouched to score out wide.
Brilliant rugby from the underdog Georgians. This is GAME ON.
Khmaladze's conversion from out wide is hooked away to the right – leaving Australia nine points in front heading into the final stretch.
What a try!
Georgia find a gap with Lasha Khmaladze bursting into space with a beautiful dummy and he throws a spiral to winger Alexander Todua.
Todua races away untouched to score out wide.
Brilliant rugby from the underdog Georgians. This is GAME ON.
Khmaladze's conversion from out wide is hooked away to the right – leaving Australia nine points in front heading into the final stretch.
It's been a comedy of errors, this match.
You've got to give it to Georgia – they've tried their hearts out.
But the Wallabies have simply not delivered a passable performance. Their handling has been appalling and they've not been able to break down Georgia's tiring defence.
With 10 minutes to go, this match is still in the balance. That raises enormous alarm bells for Cheika.
Against England, Australia's likely quarter-final opponent, this level of performance will not be satisfactory.
Will Genia takes a quick tap from a penalty and kicks downfield – and the best chaser is big Taniela Tupou!
He nearly traps Georgia ingoal, but they get a clearing kick and Australia will have a lineout just outside the 22.
Pressure mounting from Australia now – although Rob Simmons knocks it on!
Australia have had six linebreaks…. and just the two tries to show for it.
It had looked scrappy – and, at times, awful.
But Marika Koroibete has scored one of the great individual World Cup tries.
The ball found the turf, as it has much of this second half, but the former NRL star picked it up and stepped off his right foot once, twice, three times as he zipped past half a dozen Georgian defenders on a wild 40m run to the tryline.
That will ease the concerns of Michael Cheika somewhat.
Australia has some breathing space and leads 17-3.
Given the work Georgia has had to do this match, there's a danger the floodgates could open here. If Australia holds onto the ball…
It had looked scrappy – and, at times, awful.
But Marika Koroibete has scored one of the great individual World Cup tries.
The ball found the turf, as it has much of this second half, but the former NRL star picked it up and stepped off his right foot once, twice, three times as he zipped past half a dozen Georgian defenders on a wild 40m run to the tryline.
That will ease the concerns of Michael Cheika somewhat.
Australia has some breathing space and leads 17-3.
Given the work Georgia has had to do this match, there's a danger the floodgates could open here. If Australia holds onto the ball…
What a shambles the Wallabies are in attack!
Toomua's inside ball, intended for Jack Dempsey, crashes into a retreating Will Genia, and the ball goes back 10 metres.
From that breakdown, Australia concedes a penalty for a ruck infringement.
Michael Cheika turns to his bench, bringing on Rob Simmons for his 100th Test. James Slipper also joins the fray.
Christian Lealiifano also comes on – replacing young winger Jordan Petaia. That could force a reshuffle of the backline, with Toomua moving to inside centre, Kerevi to outside and James O'Connor to the wing?