TEST RUGBY MATCH: Georgia v Canada

23.06.2012
Georgia v Canada in Vancouver

Venue: Swangard Stadium in Burnaby

Preview
Georgia did not have a happy game against USA last week. There are a large number of top Georgian players unavailable for this tour. This is by far not their strongest side, no where near their World Cup strength. So it would be a great opportunity to blood players which is why its a mystery why they have recalled out of retiurement their 38 year old flanker Gia Labadze.

Canada has made plenty of changes from the side that lost to Italy last weekend.

Previous Encounters
20.11.2010 Georgia 22-15 in Tblisi
06.06.2009 Canada 42-10 in Denver (Churchill Cup)

Canada in 2012
16.06.2012 v Italy L 16-25 in Toronto
09.06.2012 v United States W 28-25 in Kingston (Can-Am Trophy)

Georgia in 2012
16.06.2012 v United States L 20-36 in Denver
09.06.2012 v Ukraine W 33-3 in Dnepropetrovsk (ENC 1A)
17.03.2012 v Russia W 46-0 in Tblisi (ENC 1A)
10.03.2012 v Romania W 19-13 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 v Portugal W 22-7 in Tbilisi (ENC 1A)
11.02.2012 v Spain L 18-25 in Madrid (ENC 1A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Canada 15th, Georgia 21st

IRB Ranking Points
Canada 71.74, Georgia 68.52

Prediction: Canada by 20 points

Teams

Georgia

1. Mikheil Nariashvili
2. Rezo Belkania
3. Davit Zirakashvili
4. Giorgi Chkhaidze
5. Vakhtang Maisuradze
6. Gia Labadze
7. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
8. Beka Bitsadze
9. Irakli Abuseridze
10. Merab Kvirikashvili
11. Lexo Gugava
12. Tedo Zibzibadze
13. Davit Kacharava
14. Irakli Machkhaneli
15. Irakli Kiasashvili

Replacements
16. Shalva Mamukashvili, 17. Levan Chilachava, 18. Shalva Sutiashvili 19. Givi Berishvili  20. Bidzina Samkharadze, 21. Lasha Malaghuradze, 22. Sandro Todua.

You can find a run down of the team selected here at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2784&start=1305

Canada

1 Tom Dolezel - Ontario Blues (London, ON)
2 Andrew Tiedeman - Prairie Wolf Pack ( St.Albert, AB)
3 Jason Marshall - Stade Aurillacois (North Vancouver, BC)
4 Jebb Sinclair - London Irish/Stormers (Charter's Settlement, NB)
5 Tyler Hotson - London Scottish (Vancouver, BC)
6 Tyler Ardron - Ontario Blues (Lakefield, ON)
7 Chauncey O’Toole - The Rock (Belleisle, NB)
8 Aaron Carpenter - Plymouth Albion (Brantford, ON)
9 Edward Fairhurst - British Columbia (Victoria, BC)
10 Matt Evans - Cornish Pirates (Duncan, BC)
11 Sean Duke - British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
12 Phil Mackenzie - London Welsh (Oakville, ON)
13 Conor Trainor - British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
14 DTH Van der Merwe - Glasgow Warriors (Victoria, BC)
15 James Pritchard - Bedford Blues (Parkes, Australia)

RESERVES
16 Mike Pletch - Ontario Blues (Lucan, ON)
17 Doug Woolridge -Ontario Blues (Lindsay, ON)
18 Brett Beukeboom - Ontario Blues (Lindsay, ON)
19 Nanyak Dala - Prairie Wolf Pack (Saskatoon, SK)
20 Sean White - Unattached (Victoria, BC)
21 Jeff Hassler - Prairie Wolf Pack (Okotoks Lions RFC)
22 Ciaran Hearn - The Rock (Conception Bay South, NL)

Head Coach: Kieran Crowley