Italy have a monster clash next week to finish up their year as they come up against the All Blacks. And it's a Kiwi side that went down yesterday to a fiery French outfit, so they will be well and truly fired up. Georgia have a final clash for 2024 back at home in Tbilisi next weekend against Tonga.

Georgia were absolutely brutal on defence, making a couple of monster try-saving tackles out wide on the wings. They made some big hits in the middle of the park as well, at times managing to prevent Italy from getting onto the front foot despite stringing plenty of phases together. They were particularly effective at that in the first half, with Italy holding the majority of possession and territory before the break and still not managing to cross the chalk. It was the discipline from Georgia that cost them in the second half, with their defence under constant pressure thanks to the penalties they kept giving away.

There were handling issues from both sides at times, with Georgia coughing up their last opportunity to snatch the win through another knock on. Italy wasted a good scoring opportunity with a forward pass as well earlier in the match. Having to set (and reset) the scrums all the time did slow the game down a fair bit, as did the numerous stoppages for injuries all the way through the match.

The set pieces were a bit messy here. The scrums went down over and over again, resulting in penalties both ways. Italy did at one point get a good shove on to earn a penalty, but largely it was just resets and penalties for collapsing at the scrums. The lineouts were well contested, with both sides managing to pick off opposition ball at key moments to turn defence into attack.

Italy were still down after the penalty try, but they kept up their absolutely ruthless attacking pressure and finally got Fusco over for a try that would put them back into the lead. Despite already having a man in the bin, O'Keeffe had to issue more warnings to the Lelos over their discipline down in the red zone, and the pressure and momentum from Italy meant that the few times the visitors got their hands on the ball in that second half it was all they could really do to kick it away and get out of their own 22.

What a comeback from Italy! They were 11 points down at the break and came back to win it by three while keeping Georgia scoreless in the second half! They came back out of the tunnel absolutely firing, stringing phases together and pinning the visitors deep inside their own half under enormous pressure. The result was a flustered Georgian outfit conceding penalty after penalty, being issued a couple of warnings, and ultimately being shown a yellow as O'Keeffe ran in the try for Italy under the sticks.

Clock in the red! Fusco boots it into the stands, but O'Keeffe is going to call them back for the penalty.... Tapped and sent into the stands for the official final whistle!

Big shove from Italy, and the ball pops out the back. They go to the right for Brex to carry up into contact. Very slow phases here from the home side as they look to run out the clock, and they are literally waiting for the use it call at every ruck... Advantage called for offside as well!

Quick ball off the top is bobbled in the midfield and knocked on! Italy will have the final say with the scrum!