Test Rugby: Georgia Face a Big Italian Test

20.11.2009
Georgia v Italy 'A' in Palmanova

Venue: Stadio Bruseschi, Udine

Referee:

Preview
Georgia will be fresh from their important 24-22 win over the Argentine Jaguars last weekend. They will need to be at their best to defeat this Italian side away. The Italian 'A' side were convincing winners over Romania last weekend but will find the Georgian's a much stronger team.

Italian 'A' coach Guidi has made only one change in the lineup that so convincingly defeated Romania last week. Tommaso Reato comes into the second row in place of Antonio Pavanello who has moved the Italian first's team bech for Saturdays game against South Africa.

Italy 'A' lineup v Georgia on Friday. Image thanks to www.federugby.it

Last Five Encounters
20.06.2008 Georgia 25-3 (v Italy 'A')in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
16.06.2007 Georgia 22-20( v Italy 'A') in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
06.09.2003 Italy 32-22 in Astia
27.01.2000 Italy XV 51-7 in Livorno
11.04.1998 Italy XV 31-14 in L'Aquilla (WCQ Europe Pool 2, Rnd B)

GWC Rugby Rankings do not apply

Prediction: Georgia by 2

Teams

Italy 'A'
15 Paolo Buso (Futura Park Rugby Roma) 1 test
14 Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso)
13 Roberto Quartaroli (Rugby Parma) 3
12 Andrea Pratichetti (Femi-CZ Rovigo)
11 Michele Sepe (MPS Viadana) 2
10 Riccardo Bocchino (Femi-CZ Rovigo)
9 Fabio Semenzato (Benetton Treviso)
8 Manoa Vosawai (Rugby Parma) 5
7 Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova) 1
6 Francesco Minto(Rugby Parma)
5 Valerio Bernabo’, Capt. (Futura Park Rugby Roma) 13
4 Tommaso Reato (Femi-CZ Rovigo) 9
3 Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso) 1
2 Davide Giazzon (Rugby Parma)
1 Michele Rizzo (Benetton Treviso) 2
Replacements
16 Tommaso D’apice (Futura Park Rugby Roma)
17 Massimiliano Ravalle (Femi-CZ Rovigo)
18 Plinio Sciamanna (MPS Viadana)
19 Mantvydas Tveraga (Rugby Parma)
20 Agustin Cavalieri (Petrarca Padova)
21 Edoardo Gori (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato)
22 Enrico Patrizio (Petrarca Padova) 4

Head Coach: Gianluca Guidi

http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=720:italia-a-domani-a-palmanova-sfida-alla-georgia-raisportpiu-diretta-ore-19&catid=110:italia-a&Itemid=416

Georgia
Official team list not yet available