Wales wrapped up top spot in Pool C of the Rugby World Cup after they saw off Georgia 43-19 at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Saturday.
Louis Rees-Zammit crossed the try-line on three occasions while Tomas Francis, Liam Williams and George North also scored as they made it four wins out of four.
Wales now prepare for a quarter-final next Saturday but will be sweating over the fitness of fly-half Gareth Anscombe, who pulled out of this game in the warm-up.
Anscombe's 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.
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.
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.
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.
There were plenty of errors in perfect playing conditions from both sides, but Wales broke the deadlock after 16 minutes.
A powerful lineout drive put Georgia on the back-foot, before Tomos Williams' short inside pass resulted in Francis going over for a try that Costelow converted.
Wales had settled into a rhythm, and they struck from another attacking lineout just seven minutes later.
Lock Will Rowlands secured quality possession and, when the ball was moved wide Liam Williams finished impressively. Costelow's conversion made it 14-0.
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.
Georgia regrouped as the first-half drew to a close, and Sharikadze claimed a try that Matkava converted following a sustained spell of pressure.
It was a warning for Wales that they could not switch off as they took a 17-7 lead into the interval.
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.
Costelow converted, and it was exactly what Wales required after Georgia had threatened a fightback before the break.
Warren Gatland changed the entire front row after 50 minutes, with Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and Henry Thomas all joining the action.
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.
🏴 Try as soon as it got to Louis Rees-Zammit. #WALvGEO #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/ck8du7Elnm
― Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) October 7, 2023
Their resilience was then rewarded with 20 minutes left when replacement hooker Karkadze went over and Matkava converted.
And Georgia immediately conjured a third try, this time from Niniashvili, making it 24-18 and giving Wales plenty to be concerned about.
Gatland's 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.
And when Rees-Zammit claimed his hat-trick crossing, Wales were home before North's try ― and Wales' sixth ― completed the scoring, with Japan or Argentina now awaiting as their quarter-final opponents.
The teams
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Mason Grady
Georgia: 15 Lasha Khmaladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Nodar Cheishvili, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Guram Gogichashvili
Replacements: 16 Vano Karkadze, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Irakli Aptsiauri, 19 Vladimer Chachanidze, 20 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Demur Tapladze
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
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