Rugby World Cup 2023 
Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia contends for the aerial ball with Miriani Modebadze of Georgia. [Source: Rugby World Cup]
Full-back Ben Donaldson scored 25 points as Australia put a run of five successive defeats behind them to open their Pool C campaign with a bonus-point victory over Georgia 35-15 at Stade de France.
Early tries for centre Jordan Petaia and wing Mark Nawaqanitawase and three Donaldson penalties made it 21-3 before the Wallabies lost scrum-half Tate McDermott to a head injury.
Georgia had wing Miriani Modebadze sin-binned just before half-time but scored in his absence as Luka Matkava’s lovely cut-out pass put flanker Luka Ivanishvili over in the left corner.
Donaldson’s day 💪
The @Wallabies man was in electric form in their opener!#RWC2023 | #AUSvGEO pic.twitter.com/ejAAOUR7Gv
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 9, 2023
But as Los Lelos threatened again, Taniela Tupou intercepted Davit Niniashvili’s offload to send Donaldson sprinting clear and the full-back secured the bonus point with his second try from Carter Gordon’s pass before Georgia claimed a late score via Beka Gigashvili to the delight of the 75,770 crowd.
Mastercard Player of the Match Donaldson modestly said of his performance: “For me, it was just providing a loud voice and a big boot at the back there. In the end, it made me look half-decent so I put that on all the boys.”
A day he'll remember for a long time 👏
Ben Donaldson is the @Mastercard #POTM#RWC2023 | #AUSvGEO | #Priceless | @wallabies pic.twitter.com/H0vHKDJc4Q
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 9, 2023
“Hopefully this is just the start and we can roll on and get some momentum,” Australia captain Will Skelton said of potentially tougher challenges ahead in a group containing Wales and Fiji.
Georgia, who wasted several chances, “have a lot of things to analyse” according to head coach Levan Maisashvili.
Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
