Australia v Georgia: Rugby World Cup 2023 – live

Is rugby union’s old order about to get shaken up? Much of the narrative around this World Cup’s early weeks has focused on the game’s snoozing and stumbling giants, and whether they have spotted the band of Tier 2 nations gathering speed in their rear-view mirror. Teams thankful for a kinder path towards the final are now fretting about even getting to the quarter-finals.

Australia, winners in 1991 and 1999, are certainly among that group. Eddie Jones’ side are narrow favourites to top Pool C, but they’ve got serious competition. Wales, Fiji (the pool’s top-ranked team) and today’s opponents, Georgia, will all see a path to the quarter-finals. The Wallabies, winless in five under Jones, are giants who could crumble with the first sling of a catapult.

An opening trilogy of Georgia, Fiji and then Wales (before facing the pool’s outsiders, Portugal) gives Jones and his callow team nowhere to hide – but that will suit the head coach. Jones has bottled World Cup magic with England, Japan, South Africa and, yes, Australia before – and it could happen again. High hopes and low expectations abound, but we’ll get a glimpse of the reality today. Kick-off is at 5pm BST.