On a dark day for Welsh rugby there were, as ever, winners and losers. Definitely losers.
So who enjoyed a memorable day and who will just want to forget it?
Here’s our verdict….
WINNERS
Levan Maisashvili
Who? Well, a few more people in the global rugby fraternity will know who this man is by now. Maisashvili is the fellow who, 15 months ago almost died but who, on Saturday afternoon, became a hero to the people of his nation.
Shortly after losing 40-9 to South Africa in Pretoria on July 2, 2021, Maisashvili caught Covid 19 – a bad case of Covid 19. He spent two months in a hospital in the South African capital. At one stage he was on a ventilator fighting for his life.
But he recovered, and it’s days like this when Maisashvili will truly count his lucky stars that he did. He was humble in victory, too. He truly deserved it. A winner if ever there was one.
Davit Niniashvili
He only turned 20 in July and has played just 18 games of elite rugby for his club Lyon. But Davit Niniashvili stepped up quite brilliantly on the biggest stage.
The Georgian full-back showed a confidence and ambition Welsh players singularly failed to show. He caught the ball assuredly, he ran from deep whenever he had the opportunity and his teammates fed off his ebullience all afternoon.
Time and again he got over the gain-line by squeezing through gaps and occupying Welsh defenders. Niniashvili was a catalyst for his team. This could be a springboard to a very special career.
WIN: Free tickets to watch Wales v Australia in the final autumn international
The movement for change
The ins and outs of the debate about Welsh rugby governance, the relationship between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions and the calls for separation of the amateur and professional games in this country have been going on so long they’ve become tedious. Yet those arguing change must happen as soon as possible will feel vindicated by this result.
It has been said that one of the most powerful triggers for action will be the decline in the performances and results of the Wales senior men’s team.
Nobody enjoys witnessing it, but it means the cracks cannot be papered over. The Welsh public simply will not tolerate losing games like this.
Sam Warburton rightly said afterwards that the origins of this defeat are to be found right at the very top of the game (read his full comments here). Until Welsh rugby sorts out its infrastructure and governance it’s very difficult to see an upturn.
Jac Morgan
Being Welsh and emerging from this weekend with a place in any winners section is one hell of a task. But Jac Morgan just about managed it.
You can claim every member of the Wales team deserves the ignominy that comes with a home defeat to a tier two nation, but Morgan has actually enhanced his reputation in this campaign. His two tries against Georgia underlined his individual progress, if not his team’s.
He has emerged as a serious first choice option in a Welsh back row not short of options.
LOSERS
The Wales management
No surprises here. So often in the hyperbole-soaked arena of Welsh rugby criticism there are calls for the heads of various coaches to roll.
More often than not it is an over-reaction borne of emotion rather than logic and balance. But after this defeat, questioning whether Pivac and his staff should remain in place a day longer was perfectly legitimate.
Wales have won three matches this year. This is no blip, it’s a malaise. The team has been on the slide since the very beginning of 2022, and arguably for even longer.
Put simply, Pivac and his henchmen are not getting the best out of what is at their disposal. Put even more brutally, they are long way short of doing so.
In the world of professional sport, where results are the only currency, that usually means it’s time for the grim reaper to intervene. If Pivac was sacked in the coming days, very few would question the decision. Given the passiveness of the Welsh Rugby Union, who prefer to do and say very little these days, don’t expect it to happen.
Six Nations bosses
There will be some measure of relief that Italy have beaten Wales and Australia this year among Six Nations bigwigs. Had they not, then the crescendo of complaints coming from Georgia about membership of the tournament would be louder than ever.
This result may prove to be a one-off – Wales will certainly be praying it is. But in achieving it Georgia proved they would hold their own in the Six Nations, and that the decision to keep them at arm’s length cannot be justified.
Is it time we introduced promotion and relegation? The traditionalists will rail against the notion, but what good does it do international rugby to preserve a closed shop?
Their inclusion is not imminent, but this will increase pressure on the Six Nations to reconsider the preservation of their cosy club. And rightly so.
The kids
Before kick-off, more than one media outlet commented on how delightful it was to see so many children heading to the stadium.
While this likely meant the overall behaviour of the crowd was manifestly better, it also made you hope Wales put on a show which would make them want to return.
Er, not quite. The next time mum and dad suggest a trip to watch Wales, enthusiasm may be somewhat muted. Who could blame them? This was a shocker when it should have been a try-blitz to remember. Don’t worry kids, it’s not always like this (he says, fingers crossed!)
Read more:
The full transcript of Wayne Pivac's tense press conference as job now on the line
Wayne Pivac refusing to give up and says Wales future is 'a question for others'
Shambolic Wales humiliated by Georgia as Wayne Pivac's reign now facing serious questions
Shaun Edwards decides future, reveals England meeting and is open to Wales return
The disastrous Wales player ratings on team's darkest day against Georgia
