TEST MATCH RUGBY: Georgia and Russia Meet

19.03.2011
Georgia v Russia in Sotchi (ENC 1B)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Referee: P.Pechambert (France)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
GEORGIA	4	4	0	0	153	26	127	2	0	18
RUSSIA	4	2	0	2	91	83	8	1	1	10
SPAIN	4	2	0	2	82	111	-29	1	1	10
PORTUGAL	4	2	0	2	67	74	-7	0	1	9
ROMANIA	3	1	0	2	61	45	16	1	2	7
UKRAINE	3	0	0	3	21	138	-117	0	0	0

Preview
Georgia and Russia will play an international rugby test match on Russian soil since the 2008 war between these two nations. Sochi is hardly the hub of Russian rugby. Georgia has already won the 2011 ENC Division 1A. The question will probably be by how much will Georgia win? Both teams have defeated Ukraine; Georgia by 59 points, Russia by 36 points.

Georgia has made one change to the starting lineup that defeated Romania last week. Veteran Grigol Labadze is injured and replaced by Chkhaidze.

Russia will be looking to build on their 41-5 win over Ukraine. But realistically they will struggle against a Georgian side who, as when Wales plays England, loves to defeat Russia.

Last Five Encounters
20.03.2010 Georgia 36-8 in Trabzon, Turkey (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
22.03.2009 Georgia 29-21 in Mariupol, Ukraine (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
12.04.2008 Georgia 18-12 in Krasnoyarsk (ENC 1)
24.03.2007 Georgia 31-12 in Tblissi (ENC 1)
04.02.2006 Georgia 46-19 in Tblissi (ENC 1)

Russia last defeated Georgia, their only win, back in 1993, winning 15-9 in Gdansk in a World Cup qualifying match. They drew 12-12 in Tblissi in 2002.

Georgia Last Five
12.03.2011 v Romania W 18-11 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
26.02.2011 v Portugal W 13-12 in Lisbon (ENC 1A)
12,02,2011 v Spain W 60-0 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
05.02.2011 v Ukraine W 62-3 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
27.11.2010 v USA in Tblissi W 19-17 (Friendly)

Georgia has now won its last six test matches. Six is their record successive wins.

Russia Last Five
12.03.2011 v Ukraine W 41-5 in Odessa (ENC 1A)
26.02.2011 v Romania L 3-33 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
12.02.2011 v Portugal L 19-21 in Sotchi (ENC 1A)
05.02.2011 v Spain W 28-24 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
06.11.2010 v Japan L 3-75 in Tokyo (Friendly)

GWC Rankings
World Table-Georgia 15th, Russia 21st
Europe Table-Georgia 7th, Russia 11th

IRB Ranking Points
Georgia 69.41, Russia 63.92

Prediction: Russia by 14 points

Teams

Russia
15. Igor Klyuchnikov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
14. Vasily Artemiev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
13. Mikhail Babaev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
12. Igor Galinovskiy (Krasny Yar)
11. Vladimir Ostroushko (Yug Krasnodar)
10. Konstantin Rachkov (Stade Phoceen Marseille, France)
9. Alexander Shakirov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
8. Vyachelav Gratchev (Avenir de Bizanos, France)
7. Andrey Ostrikov (Aurillac, France)
6. Artem Fatakhov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
5. Andrey Garbuzov (Krasny Yar)
4. Alexander Voytov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
3. Ivan Prishepenko (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
2. Vlad Korshunov, Capt. (VVA-Podmoskovje)
1. Sergey Popov (Slava Moskow)
Replacements
16. Alexander Khrokin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
17. Alexey Travkin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
18. Evgeniy Mateev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
19. Andrey Temnov (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
20. Alexander Yanushkin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
21. Yuri Kushnarev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
22. Victor Gresev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
Head Coach: Nikolay Nerush

Adapted from http://rugby.ru/news/id_1427/

Georgia
15 Bessik Khamashuridze (Aia Kutaissi)
14 Irakli Machkhaneli (Macon, France)
13 David Kacharava (Nice, France)
12 Tedo Zibzibadze (Perigueux, France)
11 Lexso Gugava (Lelo)
10 Merab Kvirikashvili (Figeac, France)
9 Irakli Abuseridze, Capt (Auxerre, France)
8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier, France)
7 Shalva Sutiashvili (Massy, France)
6 Giorgi Chkhaidze (Montpellier, France)
5 Vakhtang Maisuradze (St Nazaire, France)
4 Levan Datunashvili (Figeac, France)
3 David Zirakashvili (Clermont Ferrand, France)
2 Jaba Bregvadze (Visol-Kochebi)
1 David Khinchigashvili (Brive, France)
Replacements
16 Irakli Natriashvili (Steau Bucaresti, Romania)
17 Vassil Kakovini (Brive, France)
18 George Nemsadze (Montauban, France)
19 Victor Kolelishvili (Lelo)
20 Bidzina Samkharadze (Staeu Bucaresti, Romania)
21 Lasha Malaguradze (Beziers, France)
22 Beka Urjukashvili (Figeac, France)
Head Coach: Richard Dixon

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3731&st=0&sk=t&sd=a