PORTUGAL v GEORGIA: Rugby Europe Championship, Division 1A

14.02.2015

Venue: Tbilisi

Referee: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)

Preview
Unless Georgia gags on this one I can’t Portugal getting anywhere near. If Georgia take this encounter seriously they should win easily. On paper they are another level up from their opponents.

Last Five Encounters
08.02.2014 Georgia 34-9 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
09.02.2013 Georgia 25-12 in Tbilisi (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 Georgia 22-7 in Tbilisi (ENC 1A)
26.02.2011 Georgia 13-12 in Lisbon (ENC 1A)
13.02.2010 Georgia 16-10 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)

Portugal last defeated Georgia in 2005, winning 18-14 in Lisbon and last defeated Georgia in Tbilisi the previous year 19-14.

Portugal Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
07.02.2015 v Romania L 10-37 in Lisbon (REC 1A)
22.11.2014 v Namibia W 29-20 in Lisbon
15.03.2014 v Spain L 24-28 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
08.03.2014 v Russia L 18-34 in Sochi (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
22.02.2014 v Belgium W 19-6 in Brussels (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)

Georgia Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
07.02.2015 v Germany W 64-8 in Heusenstamm (REC 1A)
23.11.2014 v Japan W 35-24 in Tbilisi
16.11.2014 v Ireland L 7-49 in Dublin
08.11.2014 v Tonga L 9-23 in Tbilisi
22.06.2014 v Emerging Italy W 34-10 in Tbilisi (IRB Tbilisi Cup)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table- Georgia 15th, Portugal 22nd
Europe Table- Georgia 7th, Portugal 11th

IRB Ranking Points
Georgia 70.76, Portugal 57.04

Prediction: Georgia by 24 points

Teams

Portugal

15 Pedro Ávila
14 Manuel Murteira
13 Francisco Appleton
12 Tomás Appleton
11 Tomás Noronha
10 Nuno (Penha e) Costa
9 Francisco (Pinto) Magalhães
1 Francisco Fernandes
2 Mike Tadjer
3 Tony Martins
4 David dos Reis
5 Miguel Vilaça
6 Vasco Uva^Capt
7 Julien Bardy
8 Francisco Sousa

16 Bruno Medeiros
17 Nuno Taful
18 Bruno Rocha
19 Diogo Toorn
20 Salvador Vassalo
21 Maxime Tonietta
22 Duarte Marques

23 Manuel (Vilela) Pereira

Georgia

15 Merab Kvirikashvili
14 Tamaz Mtchedlidze
13 David Katcharava
12 Merab Sharikadze
11 Muraz Giorgadze
10 Lasha Malaghuradze
9 Giorgi Begadze
1 Kakha Asieshvili
2 Zurab Zhvania
3 Levan Chilachava
4 Giorgi Chkhaidze
5 Kote Mikautadze
6 Dimitri Basilaia
7 Shalva Sutiashvili^Capt
8 Lasha Lomidze

16 Shalva Mamukashvili
17 Mikho Nariashvili
18 David Zirakashvili
19 Giorgi Nemsadze
20 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili

21 Vaso Lobzhanidze
22 Lasha Khmaladze
23 Giorgi Aptsiauri

http://site.rugby.ge/en/news-view/?newsid=4175&callerModID=17363&Title=Georgian%20match%20day%20squad%20announced%20to%20face%20Portugal