EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP: Ukraine v Georgia

05.02.2011
Ukraine v Georgia in Tblissi (ENC 1A)

Venue: Vake, Meskhi

Referee: C. Lafon (France)

Image pinched from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3683&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Preview
The European Nations Cup top division competition gets underway. Three teams, Romania, Russia and Georgia, will be heading for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in September, so all three need to put in top performances in this dress rehearsal.

The Ukraine returns to the top level of the ENC after an absence of four seasons. They will find the opposition even tougher than their last stint at the top. All other teams have moved on in one way or another but the Ukraine seem to have stood still over that time. They will find Georgia at home a tough first up hurdle.

Georgia may be without several top players for this clash but there is enough experience in the side to hold the youngsters together. Georgia will no doubt use their massive forward pack to grind the Ukrainians down. It wont be flashy but it will be effective.

Last Five Encounters
29.04.2006 Georgia 32-12 in Odessa (ENC 1)
26.02.2005 Georgia 65-0 in Tblissi (ENC 1)
03.05.1998 Georgia 31-17 in Kiev (WCQ Euro. Pool2, Rnd B)
15.07.1992 Georgia 15-0 in Kiev (Friendly)
13.07.1992 Georgia 18-13 in Kiev (Friendly)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Georgia 8th, Ukraine 17th

IRB Ranking Points
Georgia 68.21, Ukraine 54.35

Prediction: Georgia by 60

Teams

Georgia
15. Bessik Khamashuridze (AIA) Age 33, 54 Tests
14. Irakli Machkhaneli (Macon, France) 29, 43
13. David Kacharava (Nice, France) 26, 38
12. Irakli Giorgadze (Chamberry, France) 28, 40
11. Lexso Gugava (Lelo) 28, 15
10. Merab Kvirikashvili (Figeac, France) 27, 47
9. Bidzina Samkharadze (Staeu Bucaresti) 27, 49
8. Besarion Udesiani (Macon, France) 32, 41
7. Giorgi Chkhaidze (Montpellier, France) 28, 43
6. Grigol Labadze (Marseille Vitrol, France) 37, 62
5. Shalva Sutiashvili (Massy, France) 27, 15
4. Levan Datunashvili (Figeac, France) 28, 33
3. David Zirakashvili (Clermont Ferrand, France) 27, 25
2. Irakli Natriashvili (Steau Bucaresti) 27, 28
1. David Khinchigashvili (Brive, France) 28, 30
Replacements
16. Jaba Bregvadze (Visol-Kochebi) 23, 7
17. Vasil Kakovini (Brive, France) 21, 8
18. Vakhtang Maisuradze (St Nazaire, France) New cap
19. Zviad Maisuradze (Lokomotive) 30, 25
20. Irakli Abuseridze (Auxerre, France) 33, 67
21. Lasha Malaguradze (Beziers, France) 25, 27
22. Beka Urjukashvili (Figeac, France) 20, New Cap
Head Coach:

Debut
Vakhtang Maisuradze and Urjukashvili if they come off the bench

Milestones
Samkharadze will play his 50th test for Georgia
Grigol Labadze, at age 37 years, 4 months and 16 days, is the second oldest active test rugby player, 20 days younger than Simon Shaw of England, who played on Friday.

Unavailable –injury or otherwise
Shvelidze, Kubriashvili, Gorgodze, Chkhikvadze, Peiqrishvili and Zibzibadze .

Ukraine
15 Vyacheslav Ponomarenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
14 Sergiy Monastyrov (RC Kredo 63)
13 Sergii Garkavyi (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
12 Pavlo Masiukov (RC Kredo 63)
11 Oleg Kosariev (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
10 Sergiy Tserkovniy (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
9 Zurab Kikacheishvili (RC Kredo 63)
8 Oleksandr Tsapenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
7 Oleksandr Lomakin (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
6 Bogdan Voloshyn (RK Sokol)
5 Roman Kulakivskyi (RC Kredo 63)
4 Viacheslav Krasylnyk (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
3 Ivan Zaliznyak (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
2 Mykola Kirsanov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
1 Sergii Sukhikh (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Replacements from
Oleksandr Mishynov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Vadym Misik (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Denys Masiukov (RC Kredo 63)
Chaika Ievgen (RC Kredo 63)
Oleksandr Polianskyi (RC Kredo 63)
Oleksii Novokreshchenov (RC Kredo 63)
Sergii Ianchyi (RC Aviator)
Andriy Golishchyev (Penza, Russia)