Hope of Kingsley Jones that “new faces” would not have “complex of Georgia” and it would help them to achieve success turned out despair. “The Lelos” scored six tries on “Mikheil Meskhi” stadium and beat Russia with record score.
Georgian team defeated Russians 46:0 and increased series of winning in a row up to 11 matches. Overall, it was the 14th victory in 16 matches (one loss and one draw) and rounded 19-year undefeated history up to 20 years (we lost to Russia in 1993). It is worth mentioning that Georgian rugby players beat “Bears” with the biggest difference 36:8 (28 points) in Trabzon in 2010. Now, they have improved it.
Russian team always managed to gain 3 points but now it could not. “The Lelos” scored six tries against Russians only once, in a won match (46:19) in Tbilisi in 2006. Now, they scored earned the same – 46 points. Rugby players also established records. Mamuka Gorgodze who is top scorer of Georgian team, scored two tries against Russians and increased his index up to 22 (2 penalty tries). Irakli Machkhaneli scored the 20th try and is one try behind the leader of the team. Merab Kvirikashvili advanced in top scorers. He earned 16 points against Russian team. Overall, he has 331 points and is ahead of Malkhaz Urjukashvili (325). Irakli Abuseridze has held the most matches in Georgian national rugby union team. Now, this index increased up to 79. He captained “The Lelos” 33 times. He is only behind Ilia Zedginidze (37). Abuseridze beat Russia team 11 times and is ahead of Gia Labadze and Malkhaz Urjukashvili who defeated “Bears” 10-10 times.
This dry index shows a lot but Georgians had advantage and if not a few technical mistakes difference would have been even bigger. Besides six tries, “The Lelos” had six offences but they could not use them. Milton Haig, head coach of Georgian national rugby union team, talked about it after the match. He stated that our team used only 30 per cent of its potential and soon “The Lelos” would not find it difficult to play against strong rugby teams.
Georgian team beat the rival in all scrums, line-outs and almost won all of them. Besides that, Georgian rugby players were quicker than their opponents.
The hosts played well in defense. Irakli Kiasashvili played well on position of No.15. He caught the balls well. He had a chance to score a try though did not have much luck. Restraint of Georgian rugby players is worth mentioning. Russians tried to irritate Givi Berishvili in the second half. If Maris Tinku was punched three times because of tearing hair, this time, Georgian rugby player did nothing and the team was not left without one player on the field.
“The Lelos” supported by 25 000 spectators attacked the opponent at the beginning of the match. Georgians were to score a try but Berishvili pushed the ball in front. Russians made mistake while scrumming but wind did not let Merab Kvirikashvili score a free kick. At the 7th minute, Kiasashvili pushed the ball in front again but this time, Kvirikashvili scored a free kick from 22 meters.
At the 10th minute, Anton Riabov had a chance to score a free kick but could not use it. In spite of advantage, at the 16th minute, Russians had the second chance to score a free kick but Riabov missed it again. Davit Kacharava who was one of the best players started a good offence, then assisted Kiasashvili who he could not reach the line of try because of tackle. Referee awarded scrum in the favor of the rival – it was the first 100 per cent chance of scoring a try. The opponent made a mistake while scrumming and at the 22nd minute, Kvirikashvili threw the ball in out. When Russians made mistake again, Georgians chose scrum where they had advantage. Scrum ended up with a try scored by Gorgodze. Kvirikashvili used conversation and at the 25th minute the score was 10:0.
At the 32nd minute, Georgian team won another scrum, Gorgodze gained the ball and moved 10 meters forward. Offence continued on the right wing. Datunashvili was stopped but Giorgi Chkhaidze received the ball and scored the second try. Kvirikashvili used conversation and Georgians had 17 points. Georgians had advantage till the end of the first half. It was obvious the second half would be more difficult for “Bears”.
The second half started like the first one. At the 43rd minute, Merab Kvirikashvili kicked penalty kick well. At the 47th minute, Irakli Machkhaneli scored try and kvirikashvili scored conversion – 25:0.
Head coach made substitutions. Revaz Belkania and Giorgi Nemsadze started playing. Belkania substituted Natriashvili and Nemsadze – Chkhaidze. Chkhaidze did not want to leave the field but had to. At the 60th minute, Levan Datunashvili scored try and Kvirikashvili again scored conversion well – 34:0.
At the 66th minute, Giorgi Nemsadze scored the fifth try, this time Kvirikashvili could not score conversion.
Three minutes before the end of the match, Russians started quarreling with Berishvili but he did not respond the provocation. After that, Georgians punished Russians with the sixth try. Machkhaneli scored the sixth try and Kvirikashvili scored conversion – 46:0.
Press conference
Kingsley Jones (head coach of Russian national rugby union team): “We started the match normally but your scrum caused a lot of problems. We spent a lot of time in defense. It was impossible to stop Gorgodze. You have 2-3 world class rugby players. I can distinguish Kvirikashvili and Kubriashvili with Gorgodze. Kubriashvili is one of the best No.3 in world. We must grow up with such matches. I am disappointed that we lost on dry. Our players gained experience with playing against strong opponent. Unfortunately, there is not such big interest toward rugby in Russia as it is in your country. It is a great pleasure for me to play in front of such tribunes. I think such number of fans gave 10-point advantage to your team before the start of the match”.
Alexander Yanushkin: “We held the first half not so bad but the second one was fatal. Today Georgian national rugby union team beat us not only psychologically but physically too”.
Milton Haig (head coach of Georgian national rugby union team): “I heard now that it is a record score between Georgia and Russia. I want to thank the team, management and fans, whose support helped us to achieve such important victory.
We did not play ideally today. There were three episodes in the first half which must have been ended up with tries but we could not do that. It is difficult to talk about problems when you win with such big difference. Though, when we use our potential we will have the team like Italy and Scotland and will beat grands.
I want to thank the boys who controlled emotions. It is a merit of Irakli Abuseridze who controlled the situation and worked on it during the preparation period.
Experienced rugby players Machkhaneli, Kacharava and Gorgodze played the best.
Today, we showed only 30 per cent of our possibilities. There were technical mistakes. When we minimize these mistakes, any team will find it difficult to beat us. Georgian team is a sleepy giant and little time is left till it wakes up. Rugby world will see it soon.
We must work on improving tactical elements, especially in defense”.
Irakli Abuseridze: “We always had difficult matches against Russian team but this time we won easily. We are proud that we defeated the opponent with record score and made fans happy. I want to thank those people who supported us with their words. I will be glad if there will be such atmosphere in other matches too”.
The match, which started at 7 o’clock was very important for this year’s tournament. The match in Madrid turned out tense and Spain gained victory with conversation scored three minutes before the final whistle. Spain advanced 13:12. They had a chance to score the second try but could not do that. Romanians did not a chance to score a free kick. Spain won the match but could not gain bonus point. Romania gained one bonus point but both teams are behind Georgia.
Now, the situation is like this: if Georgian team wins Ukraine over and scores four tries, no one will overtake Georgians. Spain will hold its last match on May 19 against Russia. It is worth mentioning that Ukrainian team coached by Zaza Lezhava hosted Portugal and won 35:33. Ukrainians scored four tries and gained bonus point. It is the first victory of Ukrainians in 8 matches of Nations Cup.
2012 Nations Cup. V round
Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”. 25000 spectators
Georgia – Russia 46:0
Georgia: 15. Irakli Kiasashvili (21. Lasha Malaghuradze 68), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli, 13. Davit Kacharava, 12. Merab Sharikadze (22. Tedo Zibzibadze 61), 11. Aleksandre Todua, 10. Merab Kvirikashvili, 9. Irakli Abuseridze (20. Giorgi Begadze 68); 1. Vasil Kakovin (17. Davit Khinchegashvili 41), 2. Irakli Natriashvili (16. Rezo Belkania 52), 3. Davit Kubriashvili (1. Vasil Kakovin 65), 4. Giorgi Chkhaidze (18. Giorgi Nemsadze 52), 5. Levan Datunashvili, 6. Shalva Sutiashvili (19. Dimitri Basilaia 61), 7. Givi Berishvili, 8. Mamuka Gorgodze.
6 tries: Gorgodze (2), Chkhaidze, Machkhaneli (2), Nemsadze
5 conversations: Kvirikashvili
2 penalties: Kvirikashvili
Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)
Assistants: Chris Gibbs (New Zealand), Ilia Maisuradze, Ilia Zedginidze
Russia: 15. Yuri Kushnaryovი, 14. Mikhail Babaev, 13. Sergey Trishin, 12. Alexet Makovetsk, 11. Andrey Otrokov, 10. Anton Riabov, 9. Alexander Yanushkin; 1. Alexey Volkov, 2. Nazir Gasanov, 3. Inokenti Zikov, 4. Denis Antonov, 5. Kiryl Kulemin, 6. Artem Patakhov, 7. Andrey Garbuzov, 8. Viktro Gresev.
Substitutes: 16. Kiryl Kopeshkin, 17. Maxim Struza, 18. Vladimir Boltenkov, 19. Pavle Kvernadze, 20. Alexander Shakirov, 21. Pavel Butenko, 22. Dmitry Gerasimov.
Head coach: Kingsley Jones (Wales)
Referee: Matew Reinal (France)
Assistants: Sedrik Marsha, Salem Atala (Both of them from France)
Commissar: Rossano Pacoli (Italy)
2012 Nations Cup
February 4
Romania - Potugal 15:7 (5:7)
February 11
Spain - Georgia 25:18 (18:8)
Portugal - Russia 32:33 (20:16)
Romania - Ukraine (was delayed)
February 25
Georgia – Portugal 32:7 (7:0)
Russia - Romania 0:25 (0:12)
Ukraine - Spain 6:41 (6:20)
March 10
Russia - Ukraine 38:19 (21:12)
Romania - Georgia 13:19 (10:6)
Portugal - Spain 23:17 (6:8)
March 17
Georgia – Russia 46:0 (17:0)
Spain - Romania 13:12 (3:6)
Ukraine - Portugal 35:33 (13:16)
1. Georgia 4 3 0 1 115-45 15
2. Spain 4 3 0 1 96-59 14
3. Romania 4 2 0 2 65-39 11
4. Russia 4 2 0 2 71-122 9
5. Portugal 5 1 0 4 102-132 7
6. Ukraine 3 1 0 2 60-112 5
May 19
Russia - Spain
June 1
Romania - Ukraine
June 9
Ukraine - Georgia
2011-12 Nations Cup
1. Georgia 9 8 0 1 283-80 37
2. Romania 9 5 0 4 231-108 27
3. Spain 9 5 0 4 188-234 24
4. Portugal 10 4 0 6 215-230 21
5. Russia 9 4 0 5 171-220 20
6. Ukraine 8 1 0 7 121-337 5
Zura Ksovreli
