Things have really gone downhill with Georgian rugby, now multiple players with surnames not ending in dze or ili. Not just one or two. Sad days

Georgia grab the first try but ABs XV have just scored one of their own via Kurt Eklund.

Not the most open game so far, 15 minutes in.

Fuck he's a shit ref, unbelievable sometimes. Georgian lying right over the top of the ruck and in from the side, gets a not releasing penalty.

Georgia seem to be numbering up well on defence but they've struggled to bring players to ground at times.

The crowd is amazing. Georgia vs NZ XV in Montpellier in a large stadium and it’s a sellout. No way Georgia vs France A in nz sells out a stadium.

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

The crowd is amazing. Georgia vs NZ XV in Montpellier in a large stadium and it’s a sellout. No way Georgia vs France A in nz sells out a stadium.

A sell-out is always great but not sure I'd say 16k is a large stadium?

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

The crowd is amazing. Georgia vs NZ XV in Montpellier in a large stadium and it’s a sellout. No way Georgia vs France A in nz sells out a stadium.

A sell-out is always great but not sure I'd say 16k is a large stadium?

Ok not huge but still a decent size

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

The crowd is amazing. Georgia vs NZ XV in Montpellier in a large stadium and it’s a sellout. No way Georgia vs France A in nz sells out a stadium.

A sell-out is always great but not sure I'd say 16k is a large stadium?

Ok not huge but still a decent size

As you say, wouldn't get those numbers to the reverse fixture in NZ!

19-10 to the All Blacks XV after 35 minutes.

Tries to Eklund, McLeod and Christie so far.

Haven't been paying too much attention to the accuracy of Christie's passing, but outside of that he's playing bloody well.

Perfect timing, he goes hungus and fluffs a try.

Scores one try then ruins another haha.

Jacomb also going well.

Fuck I wish we could get a chance to see how Stevenson goes in the main squad. Has the added bonus of the sweet combination with DMac too.

@Bones It will probably happen if Will Jordan has a long-term injury again.

@sparky said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

@Bones It will probably happen if Will Jordan has a long-term injury again.

Would be nice to see how we go with a fullback that can run as well as kick and pass.

Reckon ah Khoi has gone well. Georgia is a good choice to play because you have to win the forward battle.

Has the stream cut out for anyone else or is my phone playing up?

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Reckon ah Khoi has gone well. Georgia is a good choice to play because you have to win the forward battle.

He's certainly busy and vigorous. If the ABs are looking for a lock/6, he's looking a better bet than Scooter/Delaney/Finau/Vaai/etc.

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Has the stream cut out for anyone else or is my phone playing up?

It's halftime if that helps...

The turf isn't great for a Top 14 field...

That was obstruction at the maul. No way Christie was behind Eklund there.

Kurt Eklund has a double. 24-13

That's how you put a grubber into the 22...

And the team score from the resulting lineout. Love teamwork. Great try Kirifi.

Ok maybe not.

At the stadium. Holy shit those Georgians hit hard

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

At the stadium. Holy shit those Georgians hit hard

KiwiInMontpellier

@Billy-Tell

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

At the stadium. Holy shit those Georgians hit hard

KiwiInMontpellier

Massive kiwi contingent here

Nice run by Hotham but no one with him.

ABs XV now lead 31-13.

Georgia's captain's accent is wild haha. Sounds American, Irish and Georgians depending on the words.

It finished 31-13 to the ABs XV. Strong performances by Ah Khoi, Kirifi and Jacomb.

Pleasing for the ABs XV to finish their European tour with two wins out of two.

Spoke to a few of them after the game. Apparently the Georgians are more fat than anything so not nearly as physically as it actually looks

This was a frustrating watch at times because of the stop-start nature of the game. Hearing the ARs always adds to the spectacle as you understand why penalties were given. MacNeice can fuck off with wanting to check every try.

Numia and Ma’u had problems in the scrum. I hope Naholo's injury isn't serious as it happened in the final seconds.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

This was a frustrating watch at times because of the stop-start nature of the game. Hearing the ARs always adds to the spectacle as you understand why penalties were given. MacNeice can fuck off with wanting to check every try.

Numia and Ma’u had problems in the scrum. I hope Naholo's injury isn't serious as it happened in the final seconds.

Numia has probably had one of the biggest workloads of any player in New Zealand this year, his form started to dip towards the end of the Lions NPC campaign so he is well deserving of a big break. Hopefully he can have a good off-season and come back even stronger next year.

Also, I noted that the commentators made a mention of Mohed Altrad, who was standing by the AB XV bench. Playing this game at his stadium in Montpellier was obviously part of his sponsorship of NZ rugby.