On September 18, in the city of New Zealand, Dunedin Georgian national rugby team holds the second match of World Cup 2011 against England, which won World Cup 2003, went through final four years ago and keeps the fourth place in the current world ranking. The match started at 10 o’clock (Tbilisi time) at “Otago Stadium”.
There are two changes in the staff of Georgian national team after failure with Scotland four days ago 6:15. Davit Kubriashvili will play instead of Davit Zirakishvili in the first line, who was substituted in the previous match. Maybe this substitution is connected with trauma of Zirakishvili. He is injured and that’s why he misses control match. He will be in substitutes and in case of need he will help the team. Ilia Zedgenidze former captain of “The Lelos”, who broke a toe against France appeared in the main staff. He was operated, recovered and starts competition at World Cup against England as it was expected.
Levan Datunashvili joined substitutes and in case of need he is ready for playing. In compare with the previous match Malkhaz Urjukishvili, Vito Kolelishvili are not even in the substitutes. Instead of them Givi Berishvili –third liner of “Lokomotivi” appeared among substitutes. He played debut match last June in Bucharest.
Richie Dixon, head coach of Georgian national rugby team hopes that the team will play the same defense as they did against Scotland. As he mentioned four days ago, he is going to improve offensive tactic against England.
8 years ago in Australia England beat “The Lelos” 6:84, but the previous match against Scotland showed us that Georgian team is not easy to be beaten. Even coaches and rugby players do not hope that they will win, but they are going to show good resistance.
Martin Jonhson head coach of English national rugby team stated the following about the upcoming match:”
“I used to say before and want to repeat the same now, it is impossible not to see progress. Playing against “new” rugby nation, it does not mean that victory is guaranteed. We beat Georgians 84:6 in 2003 at World Cup, but now such thing is almost impossible. I see development of their professionalism and good organization in their team now, which is start of progress. Defensive line plays much better. It is obvious that they have technic and system”.
He also mentioned that most of Georgian rugby players play for French clubs.
As for Dixon, he made the following statement about this match:” Englishmen saw our match against Scotland and supposedly they know how to play against us. After making mistakes against Scotland my players also know how to improve it. After this failure they are disappointed and now they are more determined”.
2011 World Rugby Championship B group.
Danedin . “Otagp Stadium”. 10:00 o’clock (Tbilisi time)
England- Georgia
Georgia: 15. Revaz Gigauri, 14. Irakli Machkhaneli, 13. Davit Kacharava, 12. Tedi Zibzibadze, 11. Aleksandre Todua, 10. Merab Kvirikashvili, 9. Irakli Abuseridze (captain); 1. Davit Khinchagishvili, 2. Jaba Bregvadze, 3. Davit Kubriashvili, 4. Ilia Zedgenidze, 5. Vakhtang Maisuradze, 6. Shalva Sutiashvili, 7. Mamuka Gorgodze, 8. Dimitry Basilaia.
Substitutes : 16. Akvsenti Giorgadze, 17. Davit Zirakishvili, 18. Levan Datunashvili, 19. Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20. Bidzina Samkharadze, 21. Givi Berishvili, 22. Lasha Khmaladze.
Head coach: Richie Dixon
England: 15. Ben Foden, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Shontayne Hape, 11. Delon Armitage, 10. Toby Flood, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Matt Stevens, 2. Dylan Hartley, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Simon Shaw, 5. Tom Palmer, 6. Tom Wood, 7. Lewis Moody (captain), 8. Nick Easter.
Substitutes:16. Steve Thompson, 17. Alex Corbisiero, 18. Tom Croft, 19. James Haskell, 20. Joe Simpson, 21. Jonny Wilkinson, 22. Matt Banahan.
Head coach: Martin Johnson
1. Scotland 2 2 0 0 49-30 9
2. Argentina 2 1 0 1 52-21 6
3. England 1 1 0 0 13-9 4
4. Georgia 1 0 0 1 6-15 0
5. Romania 2 0 0 2 32-77 0
Zura Ksovreli
