Fiji had to scrap for that victory. Georgia produced their best performance of the 2023 World Cup and almost caused a late upset, narrowly prevented from scoring a breakaway try. It's a massive win for Fiji, nonetheless, as it moves them four points clear of third-placed Australia, with one game left against minnows Portugal.
FULL TIME! 17-12. Fiji win, but by the skin of their teeth. An incredible last play of the match sees Georgia break up to Fiji's 22, before grubber kicking the ball ahead. However, a Fijian is on hand to cover and kick the ball dead to end the match. It brings an end to a hard-fought, but crucial pool victory for Fiji.
PENALTY, GEORGIA, MATKAVA! 17-12. Matkava calmly slots the penalty to bring Georgia to within seven points of the lead.
YELLOW CARD! Fiji centre Josua Tuisova has been yellow carded for a head-on-head collision in an attempted tackle. It will be reviewed for a potential upgrade to a red.
TMO CHECK! The game is halted as the TMO wants to review a tackle by Fiji's Tuisova.
It seems to be all about seeing the game out now for Fiji. After a long period of defending, they win a penalty and kick all the way down to Georgia's 22.
Georgia have dominated possession and territory since Fiji's second try. The Lelos almost carve out an opportunity down their left wing, but are tackled into touch around the 22-metre line.
Georgia lose the ball forward and Fiji clear down to the halfway line. An attempt to run the ball into space goes wrong for Georgia as they are blown up for a forward pass.
Georgia win a breakdown penalty in Fiji's half. They turn down the three points and kick for an attacking lineout in Fiji's 22.
CONVERSION, FIJI, LOMANI! 17-9. It's another scruffy strike from Lomani, but it goes over. Fiji need two more tries for the bonus point.
TRY, FIJI, HABOSI! 15-9. Having just won a turnover penalty in his own 22, Botia goes on a powerful run and produces a magical offload to put replacement back Habosi over the tryline.
Georgia win the ball straight back from the kick-off. However, Levani Botia wins a crucial turnover penalty in his own 22 to allow Fiji to clear to the halfway line.
PENALTY, FIJI, LOMANI! 10-9. It's not the cleanest kick, but Lomani's penalty attempt sneaks over the crossbar. Fiji have the lead for the first time in the match.
Fiji win a scrum penalty on the halfway line and kick to Georgia's 22.
A period of kick-tennis between the two sides sees Fiji come out on top in the battle for territory, as Tela's hoof bounces out beyond Georgia's 10-metre line.
PENALTY MISSED! Having nailed a touchline conversion, replacement scrumhalf Lomani hits the bar with his first penalty attempt, which could have given Fiji the lead.
CONVERSION, FIJI, Lomani! 7-9. Lomani holds his nerve to slot the touchline conversion. Fiji are on the scoreboard, after 50 minutes of action.
TRY, FIJI, NAYACALEVU! 5-9. It's an excellent finish from Fiji's captain in the corner, after a poached lineout on Georgia's 22-metre line. Fiji finally break Georgia's wall.
Fiji survive as they force the ball into touch and win a penalty from the ensuing lineout. However, the kick only goes just beyond the 22 and Georgia win the ball back. That's a fifth lineout that Fiji have lost.
Georgia get a massive opportunity as Fiji knock the ball on five metres from their own tryline. The Lelos make a quick change at loosehead prop, bringing on Nika Abuladze, and win a penalty, opting for another scrum.
YELLOW CARD! It's a far from ideal start for Fiji, as Semi Radradra is sent to the sin bin for a cynical knock-on that prevented Georgia from making a linebreak.
KICK OFF! 0-9. Fiji gets this second half underway in Bordeaux. The Flying Fijians flopped in the first half, but are still in the contest, with their playoff hopes on the line. They will have to solve their lineout issues and find a way to break down a stubborn Georgia defence. The next 40 minutes will be massive for Pool C.
HALF TIME! 0-9. Fiji win the ball from the scrum and hoof the ball into the stands. Georgia will curse that wasted final opportunity, but they more than deserve their half-time lead. After a dominant opening 10 minutes, the Lelos have defended heroically and have won the collision battle against the Fijians. While there have been no tries, it has been an exciting first half of action.
Georgia go close again! That was a mad phase of play. It starts with Fiji fullback Droasese charging downfield and being pulled down by Niniashvili, just outside Georgia's 22. The ball goes loose and his hoofed downfield, bouncing into Fiji's 22. Georgia get there first and gather, but the pass to put winger Akaki Tabutsadze over the tryline is called forward.
Georgia enter Fiji's 22 through a break from Niniashvili. After the Lelos are knocked back in a couple of tackles, Matkava tries a drop-goal, but his attempt goes wide.
Fiji's lineout has malfunctioned in this first half. Georgia have poached four throws, and Fiji are now blown up for a crooked feed on the halfway line.
PENALTY, GEORGIA, NINIASHVILI! 0-9. It's another sensational strike from Niniashvili, who takes Georgia to a two-score lead.
Georgia's defence has been heroic. The Lelos force Fiji to give away a penalty just ahead of the halfway line. Niniashvili will have another shot at goal.
It's just not happening for Fiji, who have thus far lacked the same incisiveness that they showed against Australia. Georgia's defence has stood up well to the chaotic threat of Fiji's attack.
Fiji earn a scrum in Georgia's 22 and go very close to scoring. Georgia concede a penalty and Fiji opt for a quick-tap. However, they lose the ball forward an inch short of the tryline.
PENALTY, GEORGIA, NINIASHVILI! 0-6. That is a magnificent strike from the young winger! It had plenty of carry and comfortably cleared the posts.
Georgia push Fiji back all the way to the halfway line, before winning a breakdown penalty. They opt to have a shot at goal from well over 50 metres.
The game is stopped with Fiji on the offensive in Georgia's 22 for a serious injury to a Georgian player. It is lock Lasha Jaiani who is forced off on the medical cart, Nodar Cheishvili comes on as a replacement. Georgia have also had to substitute hooker Tengizi Zamtaradze.
Fiji win an offsides penalty just beyond the halfway line. Scrumhalf Kuruvoli has an ambitious attempt, but his long-range shot goes well wide.
Having already made 39 tackles, Fiji finally get some respite as they hoof a loose pass downfield and earn an attacking lineout on Georgia's 10-metre line.
It has been all-Georgia so far in the opening 10 minutes. The Lelos have only had to make two tackles, but have not broken the Fijian wall yet.
Fiji are having to do plenty of early defending, but centre Tuisova is on hand to win a breakdown turnover in his own 22.
PENALTY, GEORGIA, MATKAVA! 0-3. Georgia draw first blood, as flyhalf Matkava slots a penalty from around 30 metres out.
So close for Georgia! The Lelos are seeing plenty of early possession and territory. They nearly make it count, but winger Akaki Tabutsadze loses the ball metres from the tryline.
KICK OFF! 0-0. The anthems are done and Fiji have performed a passionate and intense Cibi, laying down the gauntlet. It is Georgia who get this game underway in Bordeaux, playing from left to right.
It's almost time for the anthems and it is a toasty 30 degrees in Bordeaux, with very few clouds in the sky. That should allow for some exciting rugby in this decisive Pool C clash.
There are just under 30 minutes to go until kick-off. Meanwhile, in the first of today's World Cup triple-header, Argentina claimed a 59-5 win over Chile. That sees Los Pumas go level on points with Japan in Pool D, with the winner of next Sunday's clash between the two securing their place in the final eight.
The referee for today’s clash is England’s Karl Dickson. He will be assisted by South Africa’s Jaco Peyper and France’s Pierre Brousset. The TMO is Tom Foley from England.
Georgia head coach Levan Maisashviki has made seven changes to his starting 15, including the half-back pairing, with scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze and flyhalf Luka Matkava in for Gela Aprasidze and Tedo Abzhandadze respectively.
Georgia: 15 Miriani Modebadze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Lasha Jaiani, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Tengizi Zamtaradze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (captain).
Replacements: 16 Luka Nioradze, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Irakli Aptsiauri, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Tornike Kakhoidze.
Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has named a strong squad, featuring just one, injury enforced, change to his starting lineup from the side that beat the Wallabies, as Selesitino Ravutaumada comes in for Jiuta Wainiqolo on the wing.
Fiji: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Vinaya Habosi.
Fiji have won four of their six matches against Georgia since the two sides’ first meeting 11 years ago. Their most recent meeting, in Madrid last November, ended in a 15-15 draw. They faced each other at the last World Cup in Japan in 2019, when Fiji beat Georgia 45-10 in Higashiōsaka.
Fourth-placed Georgia, who are still in the last-eight running, more realistically have third place, and automatic qualification for the 2027 tournament in Australia on their mind. The Eastern Europeans’ enthralling 18-18 draw against Portugal in Toulouse last weekend leaves them needing bonus-point wins in both of their last two matches to maintain an outside chance of reaching the World Cup knockout phase.
Fiji go into this match on a high after a 22-15 victory against Australia, which lifted them into second place in the pool and the box seat for quarter-final qualification. A win today would consolidate their position, with a final match against minnows Portugal to come.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this World Cup Pool C match between Fiji and Georgia live from Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux.