Georgian Rugby National Team after defeating Canadian National Team had rest and since Monday started preparation for the next rival. On November 27 “The Lelos” plays against American “Eagles”, which has big rating meaning and principal importance.
Nowadays American National Team is ahead of Georgian National Team but in case of victory their positions will be changed. Last year Georgian National Team lost with American one 13:31 at “Cherchil Cup”. “The Lelos” had compulsory two changes against Canadian one. Malkhaz Urjukashvili and Grigol Labadze got injury and that’s why they cannot continue training. On Monday national team held training and had two trainings on Saturday. The coaches trained those 24 players who will play against American National Team. As it seems Besik Khamashuridze will change Urjukishvili and Simon Maisuradze will change Labadze. The changes are expected in attack line, where coaches have big choice and it is possible Zirakishvili to be changed by Shvelidze and Khinchagashvili by Kubriashvili.
After little sweating attack and back liners had apart training several times. In compare to last match beside Khamashuridze and Kaburashvili, Vito Kolelishvili and Irakli Giorgadze have chance of playing in the main staff. There is enough time before the match and the final 22 will be named for Wednesday. Before it we will provide you comments of coaches and rugby players.
Richard Dixon (a head coach of Georgian National Team): “The national team of the U.S. is high class team. They have strong players in staff, who play in Europe. Do not wait any big changes in our team. He, who played against Canadian National Team well. Obviously, Urjukishvili and Labadze will miss this match, but we have big potential and do not have difficulties to replace them. Due to it we do not plan to change playing styles. Georgian National Team has tramp of attack, but we try to balance playing of attack and back lines”.
Goderzi Shvelidze (a first liner of Georgian National Team):“after the match against Canada, restoration process was quite normal. We have serious and micro injuries. We have not watched their last plays but we have watched their playing at “Cherchil Cup” and to my mind American team is stronger than Canadian one. We wait more difficult match against them and we hope, spectators will support us and will give us such support as it is necessary. They are the 16th player for us. We cannot promise that we will play against American defense as we played against Canadian one. We realize how strong and difficult rivals. American attack is better and stronger than Canadian one. It has big importance what kind mood we will have, because the main thing is psychological readiness”.
Merab Kvirikashvili ( a back liner of Georgian National Team): “We are maximally concentrated. We will try to win. We will do our best and just ask everyone to attend this match and support us. It has big importance for us. We will try to improve our mistakes which we made in the last match and I think that we will have good result. We played against both of these clubs at “Cherchil Cup”. Then Canadians had quite better attack line and American midfielders were trying to be more distinguished and supposedly, we have to wait for the same on Saturday. We will do our best to take a revenge on them. New tactic schemes which are planned by new coaches need good physical readiness. We were not physically ready for Canadian National Team and it was the weakest point in the last match. Now we have to work for victory”.
Georgian National Team: Bizina Makharadze, Irakli Machkhaneli, Irakli Chkhikvadze, Tedo Zibzibadze, Davit Kacharava, Lekso Gugava, Lasha Malaghuridze, Merab Kvirikashvili, Irakli Abuseridze, Davit Khinchigashvili, Akvsenti Giorgadze, Davit Zirakishvili, Goderzi Shvelidze, Shalva Sutiashvili, Levam Datunashvili, Simon Nemsadze, Besik Khamashuridze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Davit Kubriashvili and Irakli Giorgadze.
Zura Ksovreli
