RUGBY TEST MATCH: IRB Nations Begins

11.06.2010
Scotland A v Georgia

Venue: Bucharest

Referee:

Preview
Georgia and Scotland A begin this IRB tournament, being held in Bucharest.

Georgia A could not have picked a more difficult opponent to begin this series with. They have not selected, for various reasons, their top side, leaving at least 15 top players back in France, where they are based. Plus they have left out four of their most experienced players in this squad. It looks a daunting prospect for Georgia. On the positive side if Georgia wishes to compete at next years Rugby World Cup they will need a broader base of experienced players and I guess bringing them to this tournament is not such a bad move.

Scotland A won this tournament last, although with a much stronger squad than they have in Romania this year. This is still a good team of young players who will certainly pick out the lack of experience, fitness levels and lack of pace that will make up this Georgian side.

The only time these two teams have met in the past was in November 2008, when a similar Georgian outfit were outclassed 3-69 in Glasgow.

GWC and IRB rankings do not apply

Prediction: Scotland A by 30 points.

Teams

Georgia
15 Irakli Qiasashvili (Lelo) 3 tests
14 Sandro Todua (Lelo) 18
13 Rezo Gigauri (Massy, France) 26
12 Tedo Zibzibadze, Capt. (Perigueux, France) 47
11 Irakli Chkhikvadze (AIA) 16
10 Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo) 3
9 Samkharadze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 46
8 Victor Kolelishvili (Lelo) 1
7 Lasha Tavartkiladze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 5
6 Simon Maisuradze (ASM Clermont-Auvergne, France) 11
5 Shalva Sutiashvili (Massy, France) 10
4 Kakha Uchava (Farul Constanta, Romania) 16
3 Beka Sheqlashvili 0
2 Jaba Bregvadze (Kochebi) 6
1 David Dadunashvili (Massy, France) 26
Repkacements
16 Kakha Aseishvili (Kochebi) 1
17 Vasil Kakovini (Brive, France) 5
18 Kote Mikautadze 0
19 Shota Sakvarelidze (Saint-Etienne, France) 0
20 George Rokhvadze (AIA) 4
21 Giga Korkelia (Lelo) 0
22 Mamuka Ninidze (Batumi) 0
Head Coach: Tim Lane

Resting: Urjukashvili, Kvirikashvili / Natriashvili, Bolghashvili

Zibzibadze will become 20th Georgian captain in their 122 tests played.

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3498&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Scotland A
15 Jack Cuthbert (Bath, England
14 Colin Shaw (Scotland 7s)
13 John Houston (Edinburgh)
12 Rob Dewey (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Mark Robertson (Edinburgh)
10 Alex Blair (Edinburgh)
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh)
8 Ally Hogg, Capt. (Edinburgh)
7 Roddy Grant (Edinburgh)
6 Scott Newlands (Edinburgh)
5 James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors)
4 Steven Turnbull (Edinburgh)
3 Bruce Douglas (Montpellier, France)
2 Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors)
1 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements
16 Andrew Kelly (Edinburgh)
17 David Young (Edinburgh)
18 Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh)
19 Chris Fusaro (Heriot's FP RFC)
20 Mark McMillan (Glasgow Warriors)
21 David Blair (Edinburgh)
22 Bryan Rennie (Exeter Chiefs, England)
Head Coach: Sean Lineen

Adapted from http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/index.%20...%202&Itemid=9, and thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3498&start=0