Rugby test: Georgia v Germany

07.02.2009
Georgia v Germany in Heidelberg (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 1)

The Germans are new to this level of international rugby. They won the right to play in this division due to the first place the ENC 2A Division they gained, played 2006-08. Their first match was a 11-22 loss to Spain in Madrid last November. They will find the Georgians very difficult to handle. This is all about learning to play the game at a greater pace against heavier energy-sapping forwards. The Germans will see this game as pivotal in their development having put so much energy and resources in to finally reaching this level of international rugby. A loss by less than 20 points will almost seem like a victory.

Germany's Last Five Tests
15.11.2008 v Spain Lost 11-22 in Madrid (ENC 1)
08.11.2008 v Welsh Clubs XV Lost 14-27 in Berlin
26.04.2008 v Netherlands Won 27-17 in Amsterdam (ENC 2A)
19.04.2008 v Ukraine Won 13-5 in Hannover (ENC 2A)
24.11.2007 v Moldova Won 34-5 in Heidelberg (ENC 2A)

Georgia travel to Germany with a squad full of players who went to the 2007 Rugby World Cup and many more experienced at the top level of the European Nations Cup. This is the team that won ENC 1 2006-08 and the only real advantage Germany has is that they will play on home soil. Other than that it looks all very one-sided.

Georgia's Last Five Test Matches
14.11.2008 v Scotland 'A' Lost 3-69 in Glasgow
20.06.2008 v Italy 'A' Won 25-3 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
15.06.2008 v Uruguay Won 20-18 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
11.06.2008 v Emerging Springbox Lost 3-11 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
26.04.2008 v Spain Won 22-20 in Tblissi (ENC 1)

Previous Encounters Between Germany and Georgia
15.10.1995 Georgia 14-3 in Tblissi (FIRA B1)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Georgia 7th, Germany 12th.

Prediction: Georgia by 40 points.

Teams

Georgia
15 Merab Kvirikashvili (Massy, France) Age 25, 28 Tests
14 Irakli Machkhaneli (Agen, France) 27, 28
13 Davit Kacharava (Enisey STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia) 23, 21
12 Irakli Giorgadze (Dax, France) 26, 31
11 Irakli Chkhikvadze (Aia) 21, 11
10 Lasha Malaghuradze (Beziers, France) 22, 10
9 Irakli Abuseridze, Capt (Orléans, France) 31, 54
8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier, France) 24, 29
7 Rati Urushadze (Enisey STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia) 33, 31
6 Giorgi Chkhaidze (Racing Metro, France) 27, 29
5 Kakhaber Uchava (Farul Constanta, Romania) 32, 11
4 Ilia Zedginidze (Aix-en-Provence, France) 31, 49
3 Davit Zirakashvili (Clermont Auvergne, France) 25, 18
2 Irakli Natriashvili (Farul Constanta, Romania) 25, 12
1 Goderdzi Shvelidze (Montauban, France) 30, 45

Replacements
16 Akvsent Giorgadze (Castres, France) 31, 51
17 Davit Khinchagishvili (Brive, France) 25, 18
18 Gia Labadze (Toulon, France) 35, 47
19 Dimitri Basilaia (Morlass, France) 23, 7
20 Bidzina Samkharadze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 25, 35
21 Tedore Zibzibadze (Périgueux, France)
22 Otar Barkalaia (VPC, Andorra) 24, 34
Head Coach: Tim Lane

Twelve of these players last took the field when Georgia lost 3-69 to Scotland ‘A’ in Glasgow last November. Some old veterans return to the Georgian side. Both Labadze and Akvsent Giorgadze last played for Georgia at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Ilia Zedginidze will play his 50th test for Georgia.
Thanks to http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3000&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15 and to http://www.rugby.ge/KA2009/0205_GerRazmi.htmReferee: Graham Knox (Scotland)

Germany
15. Thorsten Wiedemann (TSV Handschuhsheim) Age 23, 2 Tests
14. Benjamin Brierley (SC Frankfurt 1880) 22, New Cap
13. Benjamin Simm (SG 78/08 Hannover) 23, 7
12. Edmorre Takaendesa (RG Heidelberg) 28, 4
11. Clemens von Grumbkow (RC Orléans) 25, 20
10. Kieron Davies (Bedford RFC, England) 28, 23
9. Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg) 27, 22
8. Michael Poppmeier (Lazio Rom, Italy) 26, New Cap
7. Alexander Hug (TSV Handschuhsheim) 24, 1
6. Timothy Kasten (Southend RFC, England) 26, 19
5. Jens Schmidt, Capt. (TSV Handschuhsheim) 27, 35
4. Bobo Sieber (Univ. of Capetown RFC, South Africa) 30, 17
3. Pierre Faber (RG Heidelberg) 30, 18
2. Timothy Coly (RG Heidelberg) 29, 31
1. Alexander Widiker (RC Orléans) 26, 31
Replacements
16. Benjamin Krause (SG 78/08 Hannover) 26, 24
17. Damien Tussac (RC Toulon, France) Age ?, New Cap
18. Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg) 28, 21
19. Kehoma Brenner (RG Heidelberg) 23, 6
20. Rolf Wacha (SC Frankfurt 1880) 27, 2
21. Lars Eckert (SC Neuenheim) 25, 21
22. James Reid (Barking RFC, England) 24
Head Coach: Rudolf Finsterer

Please note: Test caps are unofficial. They derive from my own records, plus those found for 2006-08 at http://www.totalrugby.de/index.php?option=com_joomleague&func=showPlayers&p=6&ttid=285&Itemid=250, plus v Welsh Clubs XV played last November but not included in above.