It was a vast improvement on the 54-20 home defeat to Argentina a week earlier and provided the new coach with his first Test win. Now they will have Wales in their sights on Saturday at the Principality Stadium.
The Japanese raced into an early 8-0 lead with a try from full back Kotaro Matsushima and the first of two penalties from outside half Yu Tamura. But the Georgians, who carried the game to their visitors from start to finish, were ahead 12-5 by the break.
Two tries in the second quarter from flanker Viktor Kolelishvili and Vasil Lobzhanidze, the latter converted by full back Merab Kvirikashvili, gave them the upper hand. The visitors’ hit back with the first of two tries from right wing Lomano Lemeki five minutes after the restart.
The Auckland-born Lomeki has been in Japan since 2009 and played for them in the Olympic Sevens in Rio. He helped the Cherry Blossoms to beat New Zealand and France and is going to be a real threat at the Principality Stadium this weekend.
But Georgia rallied with a third try from No 8 Beka Bitsadze and Kvirikashvili added the extras and kicked a penalty to give the home side a 22-13 lead on the hour. Then came the Japanese rearguard fightback, sparked by Lomeki’s second try.
Tamura added the extras before wing Kenki Fukuoka followed suit four minutes later with a fourth try for the visitors. Georgia, who were on an eight match winning streak, then had replacement centre Anzor Sitchinava sent to the sin bin.
A second penalty from Tamura made the victory safe and got his side ready for their clash with Wales. There were six changes to the side that started against the Pumas, with a further five changes on the bench, as Joseph continued to blood the 17 uncapped players he elected for the autumn tour.
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