Test Rugby: Georgia v Scotland 'A'

14.11.2008
Georgia v Scotland 'A'
Preview
This will be Georgia's first visit to Scotland and the first time they have ever played a Scottish XV.

Although this match is being played in the 'Window of November' (try explaining that to a soccer fan!) word has it that Georgia will not be able to call upon some of their top French-based players because Scotland 'A' is not actually a full test side.

I would have thought a test match is a test match. It doesn't seem right to me. What are your views?

Prediction: Scotland 'A' by 2 points.

Teams

Scotland 'A'
15 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors)
14 Nikki Walker (Neath Swansea Ospreys, Wales) *
13 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Rob Dewey (Ulster, Ireland)*
11 Mark Robertson (Edinburgh)
10 Gordon Ross (Saracens, England)*
9 Mark McMillan (Glasgow Warriors)
8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors)
5 Alastair Kellock, Capt. (Glasgow Warriors)
4 Craig Hamilton (Edinburgh)*
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)
2 Phil Fitzgerald (Toulon, France)
1 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements
16 Andrew Kelly (Edinburgh)
17 Gavin Kerr (Edinburgh)*
18 Dan Turner (Glasgow Warriors)
19 Scott Newlands (Edinburgh)
20 Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors)
21 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors)*
22 Simon Webster (Edinburgh)*
Head Coach:
* Scottish internationals. Henderson and Kerr have both played 50 or more tests.
Thanks to http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2784&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=150

Georgia
15 Otar Barkalaia (Figerac, France) Age 24, 33 tests
14 Irakli Chkhikvadze (Aia) 21, 10
13 Sandro Todua (Lelo) 21, 6
12 Davit Katcharava (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk) 23, 20
11 Irakli Machkhaneli (Agen, France) 27, 27
10 Lasha Malaghuradze (Kochebi) 22, 9
9 Irakli Abusseridze, Capt. (Orleans, France) 31, 53
8 Dimitri Bassilaia (ASM Clermont-Auvergne, France) 23, 6
7 Besso Udessiani (Chalon, France) 29, 33
6 Rati Urushadze (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk) 33, 30
5 Kakha Uchava (Farul Constanta, Romania) 32, 10
4 Ilia Zedguinidze (Auch, France) 31, 48
3 Guram Kavtidze, (Lyon, France) New Cap
2 Irakli Natriashvili (Farul Constanta, Romania) 25, 11
1 Davit Gasviani (Bobigny, France) 27, 11
Replacements
16 Davit Dadunashvili (Massy, France) 26, 20
17 Vassil Kakovini (University) ?, New Cap
18 Shalva Sutiashvili (Massy, France) 24, 9
19 Simon Maissuradze (ASM Clermont-Auvergne, Fr.) 22, 7
20 Bidzina Samkharadze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 25, 34
21 Merab Kvirikashvili (Pau, France) 25, 28
22 Guiorgui Shkinini (Khuligana) 25, 30
Head Coach: Tim Lane
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2784&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=165

Zedguinidze was a late call up. He last played for Georgia v Ireland at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, after which he retired.

For complete lists of all test matches played by Scotland, Scotland XV's and Georgia go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/