Georgia defeats Namibia
But did Lelos qualify for the 2019 Japan RWC?

Georgia is on the verge of making history and automatically qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup after beating Namibia 17-16 in the closest-yet 2015 World Cup match in Exeter on last night.

Barring an unlikely win for Tonga against world champions New Zealand on Friday, the Lelos will claim their first ever automatic World Cup qualification after the narrowest of wins - in a game that took its mental and physical toll on both teams - took them to third place in Pool C.

The historic win also marked the first time Georgia won two matches at a Rugby World Cup, while captain Mamuka Gorgodze set another record by playing his 11^th World Cup match for the team.

Other milestones were reached by veteran players Levan Datunashvili and Davit Zirakashvili, both playing their final national team games. Zirakashvili was hoisted up after the game in an emotional farewell by his victorious teammates.

UP HE GOES: A fitting send off for #GEO prop Davit Zirakashvili who played his 53rd and final Test. Farewell.https://t.co/0cHgDeKEVa

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 7, 2015

Coach Milton Haig said the win for Georgia held more importance than the narrow margin of their victory.

In the long run, whether you create history with a one-point win or whether you create history with a twenty-point win, it doesn’t really matter. In the long run you’ve created history and today that’s what we’ve managed to do for Georgian rugby, and I’m very proud to be part of the process,” Haig told reporters at the official post-match press conference.

The match proved a nervous encounter from the kick-off, with errors and lost possession resulting in a game where the lead changes several times.

Georgia’s captain Mamuka Gorgodze (C) scored an early second half try to inspire his team’s comeback. Photo by www.rugbyworldcup.com.

Namibia took the early lead through fly-half Theuns Kotze’s two penalties inside the first 18 minutes and held the Lelos off for a 6-0 score until the interval. The Lelos did make it over the try-line but were penalised for a forward pass and the try was disallowed.

As the game approached the end of the first half, the African team’s discipline collapsed with two yellow cards received by their players within the last five minutes, leaving the team short of two players for ten minutes – some before half time and some at the start of the second spell.

In contrast Georgia came out from the changing rooms with a more disciplined performance and an early try by captain Mamuka Gorgodze proved an inspiration for a burst of pace by the team.

Haig’s players claimed a 14-6 lead within six minutes, before a late try by Kotze took the already tense game to a boiling point and one point difference.

But the Lelos managed to hold on to their single-point lead and earn a historic win that is almost certain to guarantee them a spot in Japan in four years’ time.

Watch highlights of the game between Namibia and Georgia below: