Australia vs Georgia: Rugby World Cup kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h, odds
While their opening Pool C game is not set to be their most difficult test of the tournament, the Wallabies head to France on a wretched run of form having lost all five of their warm-up games.
In fact, a run of one win in nine features a defeat to Italy and only a narrow victory in Wales last November, leading to many seeing Jones’ return to the Australia helm as the last roll of a dice for a team bang out of ideas.
The two-time champions do, however, have a favourable draw with an out-of-sorts Wales side and Fiji for company in Pool C, along with minnows Georgia and Portugal.
The eastern Europeans have never beaten a top-level side at the World Cup.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Australia vs Georgia takes place on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 5pm BST.
The Stade de France in Paris will host.
Where to watch Australia vs Georgia
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be live on free-to-air channel ITV1, with coverage starting at 4.45pm.
Live stream: Fans will be able to watch a free live stream via the ITVX website and app.
Australia vs Georgia team news
Jones made the surprise decision to drop former captain Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper from his youthful Australia squad. Will Skelton takes the armband.
Prop James Slipper has been described as “touch and go” for the opener due to a foot injury. Pone Fa’amausili, Jordan Uelese and Samu Kerevi are also doubts.
Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili will be key to Georgia’s offence. The vast majority of their players are either based in France or Georgia.
Australia vs Georgia line-ups
Both teams will confirm their line-ups closer to kick-off.
Australia vs Georgia prediction
It has been a poor build-up to the World Cup for the Wallabies and defeat in this game would be just the latest bullet point in their decline, however they should still have the talent to avoid a major upset.
Australia to win, by over 10 points.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
This will be the two teams’ second meeting after Australia ran out 27-8 winners in the 2019 World Cup group stage.
