Georgia have opened their Rugby World Cup campaign with a surprise 17-10 win over Tonga in Group C at Gloucester's Kingsholm stadium.
Captain Mamuka Gorgodze scored the opening try of the match before Giorgi Tkhilaishvili extended the lead after the break.
Fetu'u Vainikolo got Tonga back into the match late on, becoming his country's record try-scorer with a late effort, but the Pacific Island nation ran out of time as they pushed for a second.
Read how all the action unfolded below.
Good morning! After last night's win for host nation England over Fiji at Twickenham, the second fixture of the Rugby World Cup is just half an hour away, with two sides hoping to reach the quarter-finals for the first time going head to head. Sports Mole will be bringing you all the action, with reporter Barney Corkhill joining us live from Kingsholm throughout this match. But first, let's start with a reminder of the lineups.
TONGA STARTING XV: Lilo, Veainu, Helu, Piutau, Vainikolo, Morath, Takulua, Ma'afu, Latu, Kalamafoni, Mafi, Lokotui, 'Aulika, Taione, Mailau
GEORGIA STARTING XV Kvirikashvili, Mchedlidze, Kacharava, Sharikadze, Aptsiauri, Malaguradze, Lobzhanidze, Gorgodze, Kolelishvili, Tkhilaishvili, Mikautadze, Nemsadze, Zirakashvili, Bregvadze, Nariashvili
As we've already mentioned, it's not just a standard live commentary for this match, with Sports Mole's Barney Corkhill on the scene for this fixture. Here are his pre-match thoughts:
"Far from the bright lights of last night's Twickenham opener, there is a much more subdued air about this second Rugby World Cup match. Make no mistake about it, though, this could prove to be an important fixture in Group C.
"It is seen as a straight shootout for third place in the pool, but should either Tonga or Georgia pull off a shock against Argentina then the outcome of this game will be pivotal in who progresses into the quarter-finals.
"The morning haze has only just cleared at Kingsholm and there is plenty of dew left on the grass, which will make for a slippery ball and difficult conditions. Neither of these sides are likely to play too expansive rugby, however, with the main strengths lying in the packs of both teams.
"In terms of experience, Georgia walk it all over the field. They have 617 caps in their starting XV compared to just 320 for Tonga, although seven of these Georgian players have never featured in a Rugby World Cup game before. It is an intriguing contest."
We'll be checking back in at Kingsholm throughout the match. Looking at the teams, there aren't too many familiar names there for followers of club rugby in Britain. However, Will Helu will certainly be familiar with Gloucester's Kingsholm ground, having spent two seasons with Wasps before moving to Edinburgh over the summer. The wing scored 70 points in 28 appearances for the Aviva Premiership side.
Here's the scene in Gloucester, with the team's going through the final warm-ups ahead of the midday kickoff:
Ahead of this match, Georgia prop Mikheil Nariashvili told reporters: "We know Tonga are a big team with a big culture of rugby behind them and some talented players. But we have prepared very well for this match over the past four months. We've been together for a while thinking only about this opening match, and we are looking forward to see what happens on Saturday."
Meanwhile, Tonga coach Mana Otai said at his press conference: "It is similar to a boxing match. We have got to try to take their strengths out, and apply our own. I believe we have the athleticism and experience as well, but one of the basic fundamentals of rugby is to look after your set-piece very well, and that is an area we have been working very hard on."
Wing Fetu'u Vainikolo can become Tonga's all-time record try-scorer this afternoon, needing just one more to overtake Josh Taumalolo. Meanwhile, 18-year-old scrum-half Vasil Lobhanidze of Georgia becomes the youngest player ever to appear at the world cup. Should he score a try, he'll break George North's record as the youngest try scorer at the tournament.
The players make their way out of dressing rooms ready for kickoff. Kingsholm is one of the smaller stadiums hosting matches at this world cup, but the 16,500-seater ground is sold out, and there's a huge roar as the teams walk out.
The sides line up for the anthems before kickoff, with the Georgia side particularly enthusiastic with their singing! Like New Zealand and Fiji, Tonga usually do a wardance before kickoff as well.
The two sides last met in November last year, when Tonga recorded a comfortable 23-9 win. That was their first meeting for 15 years though, with Georgia having edged a world cup qualifier 28-27 in 1999.
KICKOFF! Kurt Morath gets the match underway for Tonga.
George are on the attack early on with Kvririkashvili and Mchedlidze trying to power through towards Tonga territory, but the latter gets his challenge wrong, giving their opponents the lineout, but Georgia win it back in the air.
Morath boots the ball forward for Tonga as they try to halt the early pressure from Georgia. Vainikolo quickly gets it back for the Pacific Island side, offloading to Will Helu, but the pass was slightly forward, so referee Nigel Owens has to call it back for a scrum. The atmosphere in the stadium is absolutely brilliant, with plenty of support for both sides so far.
Vili Ma'afu wins the ball from a Tonga lineout, setting up Nili Latu for a run. Tonga force a scrum, which the referee is watching closely, and he spots a binding issue from the Georgians, so Tonga will have a shot at the posts.
PENALTY! Tonga 3-0 Georgia (Kurt Morath)
Kurt Morath lines the penalty up from just to the left of the posts, and the experienced fly-half makes no mistake, clinically booting it through to open the scoring.
Nigel Owens has been heavily involved so far as he awards another scrum, this time to George. 18-year-old Lobzhanidze puts it in, with the power of the scrum driving towards the Tonga 22, but Gorgodze is brought down while trying to power to the try line.
MISSED PENALTY! Tonga are penalised for not rolling away after stopping Gorgodze's effort. Kvirikashvili prepares to kick it through to level the scores, and it's in a reasonably easy position, but he scuffs his kick, leaving the ball to drift wide of the uprights.
It's certainly been stop-start so far as Owens is forced to intervene again, giving Georgia a penalty as Kalamafoni lands a high tackle on the Georgia scrum-half.
From the resulting lineout, Konstantin Mikautadze burst forward, but he's just brought down before he can sprint for the try. Georgia try to keep the move alive, but a knock on gives the ball back to Tonga.
Barney Corkhill provides an update on the opening quarter of hour from Kingsholm:
"That was a big miss from the experienced Kvirikashvili, who would have expected to knock that penalty over with ease. Georgia won't get many scoring chances at this World Cup, so it is vital that they make the most of the ones they do get. As expected, the forwards have been heavily involved so far and a number of penalties have disrupted the flow of this match. Tonga just about deserve their narrow lead at this stage, though."
PENALTY! Tonga 3-3 Georgia (Merab Kvirikashvili)
Having missed their first effort at the posts, Georgia quickly force another penalty from a rolling maul, and this time Merab Kvirikashvili, who has featured in every match Georgia have every played at the world cup, gets his effort on target.
Tonga force a lineout in a decent position as Tkhilaishvili spills the catch from a kick out from the back. Kua Lokotui and Nili Latu both pile on as Tonga try to muscle their way through the Georgia line.
George get the ball back as Tonga are penalised for not rolling away. Kvirikashvili kicks it deep down field to give the side a lineout, which leaves Gorgodze trying to find a gap down the right wing, but Tonga are doing just enough to halt their opponent's progress.
Giorgi Aptsiauri tries to use his speed to slip through the Tonga backs, but a crunching tackle from Nili Latu brings him down. Georgia soon have the ball back, and are pressing again. They're starting to string together some passes, and look the more likely to score the opening try at the moment.
Nigel Owens has certainly had his work cut out so far, and he's spotted something else - Viktor Kolelishvili is wearing a headband! The referee confiscates the hair accessory, branding it dangerous, but it doesn't stop him making a run towards the try line. He can't get it over himself, but Georgia keep the move alive, looking to get it over between the posts.
TRY! Tonga 3-8 Georgia (Mamuka Gorgodze)
Georgia have the opening try of the match, with Mamuka Gorgodze using every inch of his right arm to stretch around the goal post, grounding the ball against the base of the upright.
CONVERSION! Tonga 3-10 Georgia (Merab Kvirikashvili)
Barney Corkhill continues to follow the action at Kingsholm. Here are his latest thoughts:
"Great response from Georgia to going behind. Mistakes and ill-discipline have been a feature of the opening half an hour, but the Georgian talisman Mamuka Gorgodze has just come up with the goods again. That's his 24th international try - not bad for a forward."
Tonga are looking to respond after falling behind for the first time, but a Helu knock out gives the Georgians another scurm. Tamaz Mchedlidze tries to sprint away down the right, but he's quickly halted.
Tonga are piling forward again, with Telusa Veainu and Lafu leading a string of quick passes from left to right as Tonga beat down on the try line, but Helu's pass is blocked.
There's a bit of a debate between the referee and the TMO as the replays appear to show Steve Mafi appears to land a challenge around the neck, but after a couple of minutes it's eventually decided that it was on the shoulder.
NO TRY! Vili Ma'afu thinks that he's over for Tonga, with the team quickly getting the ball out from the lineout to set the number eight up for a quick charge at the line, but the referee spots a forward pass, so brings it back.
HALF TIME: Tonga 3-10 Georgia
Well, it's been a scrappy opening 40 minutes at Kingsholm as the teams make their way off at half time. Mamuka Gorgodze's determined reached for the line separates the two sides at the interval.
Tonga showed plenty of intent after falling behind, moving the ball around well while turning down the chance to kick an easy three points in order to push for the try towards the end of the first half. If they can maintain that intensity after the break, it should be another closely fought 40 minutes.
Barney Corkhill shares his thoughts on the opening 40 minutes from Kingsholm:
"There wasn't a great deal to separate those two sides in what was a scrappy opening 40 minutes, but Georgia deserve the lead. They have defended admirably to keep the Tongans at bay, although Mana Otai's side certainly haven't helped themselves with a lot of errors. This could still go either way in the second half."
We told you that Gorgodze had to stretch around the post to score the only try so far in this match. Well, this is what the Georgia captain had to do to ground the ball:
The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the start of the second half.
RESTART! Kvirikashvili gets the second half underway.
Tonga quickly win a lineout, which Kalamafoni gets up to claim, but his progress is soon halted by a heavy hit from the Georgians. Fetu'u Vainikolo tries to keep the move alive, looking to sneak down the left, but he's caught.
Tonga get another lineout, but Mikautadze muscles his way to the ball for Georgia. The ball comes loose as both sides battle for possession, and the referee ends up giving Georgia a scrum. Gorgodze is found by Lobzgandidze, allowing the captain to power down the line looking for his second try of the match. Takulua tackles him short, and he tries to pass it back to the young scrum-half, but it's intercepted. Georgia are looking dangerous with the ball in their hands at the start of this second half.
Georgia continue to beat down on the try line, but Kalamafoni forces the turnover, stripping the ball away from the big Georgia captain. Helu tries to use his pace to get Tonga into Georgia territory, but the ball ends up coming forward, so it's another Georgia scrum.
Lobzhanidze has been solid on his world cup debut as the 18-year-old puts the ball in again, directing the scrum before passing it out towards Gorgodze, but a tackle off the ball gives Georgia a shot at the posts.
MISSED PENALTY! Merab Kvirikashvili is faced with another very makeable shot at the uprights to extend Georgia's lead to 10 points, but for the second time in this match it goes wide. That's six points he's missed from what should have been pretty straight-forward kicks.
The Tongans make a string of front row changes in a bid to cope with the Georgia scrum. They'll get a chance to test it out straight away as Lobzhanidze is forced into an error.
Georgia look to strike from a lineout as Malaguradze looks to find a gap through the middle, before Katcharava cuts back in from out wide. He's held up by the Tongans though, allowing them to force the turnover. It's great defence from the Pacific Island side.
TRY! Tonga 3-15 Georgia (Giorgi Tkhilaishvili)
It's a brilliant move from Georgia to set up their second try of the match. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili picks up the loose ball, while Gorgodze blocked a tackle to leave him with a clear run for the line.
CONVERSION! Tonga 3-17 Georgia (Merab Kvirikashvili)
Barney Corkhill provides an update on the second half from Kingsholm:
"The significant Georgian support inside Kingsholm went wild at that try - they know just how important it could be. Kvirikashvili has been at fault for missing two penalties, but that was a brilliant break from him in the build-up to the try. At 10-3 Georgia seemed in control but were struggling to reflect that on the scoreboard, but now things are looking a lot more comfortable for them."
Georgia are playing with so much more confidence now that they've extended their lead, but they get caught out at the back, allowing Piukala to lead the Tonga charge, before a high tackle from Tkhilashvili gives Tonga a penalty.
Tonga are starting to show a lot more intent as they try to get back into this match. Lilo and Aulika both get a touch as Tonga move the ball down the left before Kurt Morath moves it across the other side. Georgia are working hard to protect their try line though.
Tonga know that they have a penalty as Owens gives the advantage following an offside. They know that they really need a try to give them any hope of rescuing something from this match, so it's kicked out for a lineout just short of the Georgia try line.
NO TRY! Tonga think they have a try back as Siale Piutau thinks he's got the ball down, powering over from the lineout, but he didn't have control of the ball, with the only downward pressure coming from his head, so the referee doesn't give it. It was some good work from Lobzhanidze yet again, as he got his boot near the ball to make the grounding difficult for the centre.
Tonga are still camped out in the Georgia 22 are they try to get their first try of the afternoon. Piutau and Ma'afu both go for a low run, trying to muscle their way through the Georgia line, but the defence has been just relentless from Georgia, and they force a knock on.
Barney Corkhill gives his latest insight from Kingsholm:
"Incredible defence from Georgia yet again. They were fortunate not to be shown a yellow card for persistent offences as Tonga were laying siege to their line then, but they eventually forced the error from their opponents to survive once again. They just will not be beaten."
Tonga continue to attack, with a try now still giving them a chance to rescue something in the last 10 minutes. Fetu'u Vainikolo tries to push through a couple of Georgia players, but Mamuka Gorgodze is in the way to block him.
TRY! Tonga 8-17 Georgia (Fetu'u Vainikolo)
Tonga are right back into this match as Fetu'u Vainikolo benefits from a pass out wide from Ma'afu, leaving Vainikolo to leap over in the corner, becoming his country's record try scorer in the process.
SIN BIN! It gets worse for Georgia as Merab Kvirikashvili is shown a yellow card for an offside. Georgia had been warned about repeated infringements, with the referee telling the captain that the next deliberate offence would result in a card, and he's kept his word.
CONVERSION! Tonga 10-17 Georgia (Kurt Morath)
Barney Corkhill is still watching in Kingsholm. Here's the latest from our reporter in Gloucester:
"We have a game on our hands! Georgia's defence is finally breached and, with a man in the sin bin, they could find themselves up against it in the closing stages here. It would be cruel if they were to lose it now having defended so well for so long in this match."
Georgia force a penalty, and Gorgodze instantly points to the posts, knowing that restoring a 10-point cushion at this point could be enough. Their usual kicker is in the sin bin though.
MISSED PENALTY! Fly-half Lasha Malaguradze takes over the kicking duties with Kvirikashvili off the pitch. At first it looks like he's struck it well, but it curls wildly to the left, going just wide. A converted try would still be enough for Tonga to level the scores.
Morath and Lilo string together a run of quick passes down the right, before it's worked back across the left towards Vainikolo. He can see the corner, but is quickly closed down. Tonga have a penalty though, so will kick for a lineout.
Paul Ngauamo launched the ball back in for Tonga, but it's not straight, so Georgia will have the scrum. As long as Georgia can keep the ball, they should have done enough to hold on for the win.
FULL TIME: Tonga 10-17 Georgia
Georgia get the ball and kick it into the crowd as the clock ticks past the 80-minute mark and promptly celebrate like they've won the tournament. Tonga had been tipped as a potential dark horse in Pool C, but it's Georgia who have come out on top in Gloucester.
It's a fairly quick turnaround for Georgia, as they are in action again in six days against Argentina at Kingsholm again. Tonga have 10 days to prepare for a match against minnow Namibia in Exeter.
That's all from this match, but we have live coverage from all four Rugby World Cup matches taking place today, including Ireland's opening fixture against Canada, which kicks off in Cardiff shortly. Barney is off to the speak to the players in Kingsholm, so make sure you check back later for plenty of reaction to Georgia's stunning win. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.
