Georgian rugby team played devotedly against American team. Georgians scored a try on the last minutes and equalized the score. After that Merab Kvirikashvili scored conversion and made Georgian people happy.
"Support of spectators helped us on the last minutes and we managed to win the match. Before that we made a lot of mistakes and Americans used them well. It was a difficult match", - stated Davit Kacharava after the match. This comment proves how important the energy from tribunes is for Georgian rugby players.
Unlike the previous match against Canada, the stadium was not full with spectators at the beginning of the match but after 20 minutes the stadium was half crowded. American fans who gathered with their families also attended the match. Women and children were among them. This should be a great example for Georgian people.
Georgian rugby players appreciated support of the spectators and gained the most important victory. It was a revenge for the loss at "Churchill Cup" last year. The last time "The Lelos" lost (19:28) was against "Barbarians" in June 2006. The last time the national team lost at home was against Portugal (14:19) in February 2004. Let us hope, we will keep this tradition for a long time.
The victory is good but Georgian team held this match badly. The reason of this is that "The Eagles" held the best match. They knew what they wanted and were prepared better. American specialists named this match as the best November match of their team. Head coach Eddie O'Sullivan mentioned that boys did 110% of their possibilities and in spite of their loss, he was satisfied with their play.
These matches against America and Canada were important. Mistakes are showed better in the matches against strong teams and a new coaching staff should improve these mistakes immediately. Match which will be held in February-March at European "Union Cup". Coaches and the team knew each other quite well and it is early to say that level of new coaches are not high, though, there is a lot of work to do and let us hope, that everything will be fine for World Championship.
Georgians started playing the match. Americans committed foul during the scrum at the 4th minute and Malaguradze scored a penalty from 30 meters. The guests seemed to be nervous and made a lot of mistakes at the beginning of the match. At the 9th minute, Georgian team started a good attack from right wing. Hayden Smith tackled Lekso Gugava on the neck and was sin-binned. Georgian team prefered a scrum to shooting in the goal. Unfortunately, the scrum did no good to the team. Georgian team could not fulfil another attack. Entirely, Georgians could not use numerous advantage.
At the 17th minute, when the guests were on the half of Georgian team, they won a right to take a penalty but Valenese Malifa missed it. After this, Georgians lost two lineouts. At the 26th minute, Malaguradze took a penalty from 25 meters and the score became 6:0.
After this Americans often attacked and had advantage. After the combination of Clever, Ngwenya Takudzwa and Paul Emerick, Emerick scored a try at the 30th minute. Malifa could not use conversion but the guests had advantage during last 10 minutes. The first half finished 11:6.
Richard Dixon made three substitutions at the beginning of the second half. "The Lelos" attacked with short shots and made the guests commit a foul. Malaguradze scored a penalty from 25 meters. After several minutes, Americans committed another foul. Malaguradze took another penalty but missed this time. After first 10 minutes, "The Eagles" were on the half of Georgian team. Americans scored a penalty. Merab Kvirikashvili substituted Malaguradze. Georgian team had scrum advantage in the second half and at the 57th minute, Americans committed a foul. Kvirikashvili took a penalty and 12:14.
When the difference was only two points, the guests attacked their opponent and at the 61st minute, they took a penalty. Abuseridze was showed a yellow card and "The Lelos" were without one player during 10 minutes. Malifa missed the penalty but the guests kept territorial advantage and Chris Wyles increased the advantage up to 5 points.
Georgian national team did their best and beat their opponent in extra time. While Americans were attacking, Merabishvili managed to get ball, he assisted to Lekso Gugava who scored a try and equalized. It was Kvirikashvili’s turn and in decisive moment he did his best and realized. In a result of it “The Lelos” won over “The Eagles” 19:17.
Eddie O'Sullivan (head coach of American national team): "It was a wonderful match. The match was tense and both teams played devotedly. We knew strength of Georgian team. We lost but I am proud of my boys who showed an incredible play. We were scored a try on the last minutes and lost. I hope, people enjoyed the match. I want to thank Georgia for their hospitable. Congratulations to Georgian team and I hope, we will meet on the field again".
Todd Clever (captain of USA team): "I am very tired. I am happy that both teams showed perfect play. I am proud of my team which did its best. I think, spectators enjoyed the match".
Richard Dixon (head coach of Georgian national team): "At first minutes we kind of forgot about our plans and the opponent used it and controlled the match. The team played much better in the second half and restored control. The match against the USA was difficult and also it was a good experience. We made some mistakes but the victory is the most important. We will try to work better from February. Now we know what we should pay attention to. Boys should use their whole potential and control their emotions. It is difficult to judge such matches for referee. Perhaps, the referee made some mistakes but we should think about our match, not the referee".
Akvsenti Giorgadze (hooker of Georgian national team): "Our main problem is lack of time. The team does not gather often. Zedginidze and Labadze did not play. They are tall boys and play well in lineouts. We will have more time to prepare for World Championship and we will try to solve our problems".

Tbilisi. “Boris Paichadze”. Test match. 18000

Georgia– The U.S.A. 19:17 (6:11)
Georgia: 15. Besik Khamashuridze, 14. Irakli Mackhaneli (20. Bizina Samkharadze 58), 13. Irakli Chkhikvadze (21. Davit Kacharava 41), 12. Tedo Zibzibadze, 11. Lekso Gugava, 10. Lasha Malaghuridze (22. Merab Kvirikashvili 52), 9. Irakli Abuseridze; 1. Goderdzi Shvelidze (17. Davit Zirkishvili 41), 2. Akvsenti Giorgadze (16. Irakli Natriashvili 41)), 3. Davit Kubriashvoli (Goderzi Shvelidze 79), 4. Shalva Sutiashvili, 5. Levan Datunashvili (18. Giorgi Nemsadze 65), 6. Simon Maisuradze, 7.Giorgi Chkhaidze, 8. Besik Udesiani (19. Vito Kolelishvili 73).
1 try: Gugava
1 conversion: Kvirikashvili
4 penalties: Malaghuridze (3), Kvirikashvili
Sin-binned: Abuseridze (61)
Head coach: Rich Dixon

The U.S.A: 15.Chris Wyles 14. Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13.Paul Emerick, 12. Andrew Suniula, 11. Kevine Svirin, 10. Valenese Malifa, 9. Tim Usaz(20.Mike Peter80+5); 1. Matekitonga Moeakiola (17. Mike MacDonald 61), 2. Philip Tielly (16. Crise Biller65), 3. Son Pitman, 4. SamuManoa, 5. HaydenSmit, 6. Louis Stanfill, (SonStive 58), 7. Todd Clever (captain), 8. Inaki Basauri (19. NickJohnson 65).
1 try: Emerick
2 penalties: Malifa
2 drop kicks: Malifa, Wyles
Sin-binned: Smit
Head coach: Ady Osalivan
Referee: Piter Alen (Scotland)
Wing referees: Alan Forest, Andrew Hill (both of them from Scotland)



Zura Ksovreli