{"id":291611,"date":"2023-10-07T23:33:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T23:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=291611"},"modified":"2023-10-07T23:33:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-07T23:33:29","slug":"louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing<\/h3>\n

Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news<\/h3>\n

Thanks for signing up to the
Sport email<\/h2>\n

Wales won their World Cup group and maintained an unbeaten march to the quarter-finals after beating Georgia 43-19 at Stade de la Beaujoire.<\/p>\n

Warren Gatland\u2019s team needed one point to finish top of Pool C after securing a last-eight place almost two weeks ago by defeating Australia in record-breaking fashion.<\/p>\n

And they accomplished it on the same ground that 16 years ago Fiji condemned them to a World Cup pool-stage exit.<\/p>\n

Wing Louis Rees-Zammit scored three tries, while there were also touchdowns for prop Tomas Francis, full-back Liam Williams and centre George North.<\/p>\n

Wales ensured there would be no repeat of Georgia\u2019s shock 13-12 success in Cardiff during the 2022 autumn Tests as they overcame fly-half Gareth Anscombe\u2019s withdrawal just 45 minutes before kick-off due to a groin injury.<\/p>\n

Recommended<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Anscombe\u2019s late replacement Sam Costelow kicked five conversions and a penalty, although Georgia fought back to 24-19 adrift at one point through tries from Merab Sharikadze, Vano Karkadze and Davit Niniashvili, with Luka Matkava kicking two conversions.<\/p>\n

A protracted mass brawl late in the game that spilled over the touchline and involved replacements from both sides saw Niniashvili and Wales substitute Taine Basham yellow-carded.<\/p>\n

Wales were home and dry by this stage, although there was more injury concern when number eight Taulupe Faletau went off nursing what appeared to be a wrist problem.<\/p>\n

Costelow mixed his running and kicking game well in the early stages, but Wales could get no change out of a well-organised Georgia defence.<\/p>\n

There were plenty of errors in perfect playing conditions from both sides, but Wales broke the deadlock after 16 minutes.<\/p>\n

A powerful lineout drive put Georgia on the back-foot, before Tomos Williams\u2019 short inside pass resulted in Francis going over for a try that Costelow converted.<\/p>\n

Wales had settled into a rhythm, and they struck from another attacking lineout just seven minutes later.<\/p>\n

Lock Will Rowlands secured quality possession and, when the ball was moved wide Liam Williams finished impressively. Costelow\u2019s conversion made it 14-0.<\/p>\n

A Costelow penalty then opened up a 17-point advantage, and Wales appeared to be well on their way to a fourth successive pool victory.<\/p>\n

Georgia regrouped as the first-half drew to a close, and Sharikadze claimed a try that Matkava converted following a sustained spell of pressure.<\/p>\n

It was a warning for Wales that they could not switch off as they took a 17-7 lead into the interval.<\/p>\n

Georgia began the second period on the front foot, but a midfield fumble saw North find Rees-Zammit, and the Gloucester speedster cruised clear from 60 metres out to claim his third try of the tournament.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Wales winger eased any late nerves <\/p>\n

Costelow converted, and it was exactly what Wales required after Georgia had threatened a fightback before the break.<\/p>\n

Gatland changed the entire front row after 50 minutes, with Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and Henry Thomas all joining the action.<\/p>\n

And while Wales were comfortably ahead, Georgia kept searching for attacking opportunities in their final game of the competition after defeats against Australia and Fiji and a draw with Portugal.<\/p>\n

Their resilience was then rewarded with 20 minutes left when replacement hooker Karkadze went over and Matkava converted.<\/p>\n

And Georgia immediately conjured a third try, this time from Niniashvili, making it 24-18 and giving Wales plenty to be concerned about.<\/p>\n

Gatland\u2019s team were in danger of unravelling, but just when they needed it, Rees-Zammit applied a brilliant finish for his second try which Costelow converted, making it 31-19.<\/p>\n

Biggar joined the action deep into the final quarter, and when Rees-Zammit claimed his hat-trick try, Wales were home before North\u2019s try \u2013 and Wales\u2019 sixth \u2013 completed the scoring, with Japan or Argentina now awaiting as their quarter-final opponents.<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":291610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nLouis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group - Sportstoft<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group - Sportstoft\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email [...]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sportstoft\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-10-07T23:33:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jeanette\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Louis-Rees-Zammit-scores-World-Cup-hat-trick-as-Wales-comfortably-top-group.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jeanette\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/\",\"name\":\"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group - Sportstoft\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-07T23:33:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-07T23:33:29+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Rugby Union\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/category\/rugby-union\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/\",\"name\":\"Sportstoft\",\"description\":\"sportstoft.com\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609\",\"name\":\"Jeanette\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jeanette\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group - Sportstoft","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group - Sportstoft","og_description":"Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email [...]","og_url":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/","og_site_name":"Sportstoft","article_published_time":"2023-10-07T23:33:29+00:00","author":"Jeanette","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_image":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Louis-Rees-Zammit-scores-World-Cup-hat-trick-as-Wales-comfortably-top-group.jpg","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jeanette","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/","url":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/","name":"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group - Sportstoft","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-10-07T23:33:29+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-07T23:33:29+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/louis-rees-zammit-scores-world-cup-hat-trick-as-wales-comfortably-top-group\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Rugby Union","item":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/category\/rugby-union\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Louis Rees-Zammit scores World Cup hat-trick as Wales comfortably top group"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/","name":"Sportstoft","description":"sportstoft.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609","name":"Jeanette","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jeanette"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/291611"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=291611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/291611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/291610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=291611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=291611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=291611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}