Georgian national rugby team will start the second match of “Nations Cup” with a different staff. On February 12, “The Lelos” will hold the match against Spain at “Mikheil Meskhi” at 15:00. Georgian team will try to prove their advantage once again.
Unlike the match against Ukrainians, Davit Khinchagishvili and Davit Zirakashvili will not be in the first line of attack. Vasil Kakovin and Anton Peikrishvili will take their places. New players will have a chance to show their possibilities. A 27-year-old Kakovin is in the first line of “Briv”. He held only 9 matches in Georgian national rugby team. Peikrishvili is 28 years old. He is playing for “Castr” and held 7 matches in the national team. Irakli Natriashvili is more experienced. He held 29 matches in the national team. One change is made in the second line of attack. Vakhtang Maisuradze will be the second second-liner who had a debut in the national team in the previous match against Ukraine.
Shalva Sutiashvili will be in the third line. Giorgi Chkhaidze will substitute Besik Udesiani who has broken hand. Veteran Grigol Labadze will be in the main staff. Irakli Abuseridze will be captain of the team. Also, Merab Kvirikashvili is in the main staff. Only one change is made in the back line – Tedo Zibzibadze will play instead of Irakli Giorgadze. Tedo Zinzibadze missed the previous match because of the face operation. Two changes are made in the reserve team. Beka Sheklashvili who held only 3 matches in the national team has a chance to play in the first line of attack. The third-liner Lasha Tavartkiladze has a chance to hold the 9th match in the national team.
Coaches and rugby players of Georgian national rugby team are expecting an interesting match and they hope that they will fulfill their duties better.
Richard Dixon (head coach of Georgian national rugby team): “Thank you very much for your support. We are planning to play with a different staff against Spain. We will test new players in attack. I am satisfied with our work. I am sure that we will play better against Spanish team. Boys are ready to show themselves. Both teams know about their possibilities. Each member of the team knows importance of tomorrow’s match and they will do their best to win it. Georgian team played well against Argentine “Jaguars”. We try to improve playing from the match to the match. Players and captain make decisions on the field”.
Irakli Abuseridze (captain of Georgian national rugby team): “We are ready for the fight. Many leading players will not play in tomorrow’s match but we do not lose hope. We have prepared well and we will fight from the 1st minute to the last one. We have watched the match between Russia and Spain and I can say that Spain is not worse team than Russia, Romania and Portugal”.
Irakli Machkhaneli: “We have many new players in the team but experienced players will support and help them”.
Besik Khamashuridze: “We never found hard to beat Spanish team. Now, they have strengthened with legionaries and we are ready for the fight and devotion. As I know, Spain is going to participate in World Championship 2015. Spain plays better in attack than in defence and we must use it. If we take control over ball, we will not find it difficult to achieve a good result”.
European Nations Cup 2011-2012. First circle
February 12, II round
Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”. 15:00
Georgia- Spain
Georgia: 15. Besik Khamashuridze (“Aia”, Kutaisi), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (“Macon”, France), 13. Davit Kacharava (“Nice”, France), 12. Tedo Zibzibadze (“Périgueux”, France), 11. Lekso Gugava (“Lelo” Tbilisi), 10. Merab Kvirikashvili (“Aurillac”, France), 9. Irakli Abuseridze (“Orleans”, France), 1. Vasil Kakovin (“Briv”, France), 2. Iraklia Natriashvili (“Stiaua”, Romania), 3. Anton Peikrishvili (“Castr”, France), 4. Levan Datunashvili (“Aurillac”, France), 5. Vakhtang Maisuradze (“Saint Nazaire”, France), 6. Shalva Sutiashvili (“Massy”, France), 7. Grigol Labadze (“Marseille Vitrol”, France), 8. Giorgi Chkhaidze (“Montpellier”, France).
Reserves: 16. Jaba Bregvadze (“Wissol-Kochebi”, Tbilisi), 17. Beka Sheklashvili (“Azhen”, France), 18. Zviad Maisuradze (“Lokomotive”, Tbilisi), 19. Lasha Tavartkiladze (“Farul”, Romania), 20. Bidzina Samkharadze (“Stiaua”, Romania), 21. Lasha Malaguradze (“Beziers”, France), 22. Beka Urjukashvili (“Aurillac”, France).
Head coach: Richard Dixon (Scotland)
Ukraine- Romania
Russia- Portugal
1. Georgia 1 1 0 0 62-3 5
2. Portugal 1 1 0 0 24:17 4
3. Russia 1 1 0 0 28:24 4
4. Spain 1 0 0 1 24:28 1
5. Romania 1 0 0 1 17-24 1
6. Ukraine 1 0 0 0 3-62 0
III round. February 26
Portugal– Georgia (Lisbon)
Romania– Russia
Spain- Ukraine
Zura Ksovreli
