Georgian national rugby union team held the last match of 2012 against Fiji on “Mikheil Meskhi” in Vake. The Georgians could not score point in the second half and lost with 5-point difference – 19:24.
After losing to Japan 22:25, it was said that as a result of playing against strong opponents, the Georgians will lose often and it happened. After losing to the USA and Canada in June, the Georgians lost twice in a row in Tbilisi. “The Lelos” lost four matches in a row. It had not happened since 2003.
It is worth mentioning that “The Lelos” has lost 5 matches in Georgia in the last 10 years. Four of them were held in Vake, on “Mikheil Meskhi”. Maybe it is just coincidence but the fact is that more spectators gather on “Borish Paichadze” than on “Mikheil Meskhi”.
We cannot say that Japanese and Fijian teams which arrived in Georgia with weak staffs were stronger than the Georgians but there was something which made them better than us. Perhaps, it is experience which these teams have better than us. They often play against strong opponents and this experience played its role. Overall, the Georgians seemed to play better against the Fijians but the islanders did not give in anything and deserved this victory.
Unfortunately, less spectators attended the match against the Fijians. Perhaps, the previous failure caused it. After the anthems, the spectators watched traditional fighting dance “Sibi” of the Fijians. Rugby is a new for us and perhaps, that is why some spectators booed “Sibi”.
The Fijian team started the match with offence and gained points soon. Saula Radidi attacked the Georgians. Merab Kvirikashvili could not stop him and committed foul. Jonetani Ralulu scored penalty. At the 5th minute the Fijians attacked with hand. Aleksandre Todua could not stop Iliesa Ratuva and he scored try. Ralulu scored conversion and the score became 10:0.
Soon the Fijians attacked the Georgians again. Malakai Ravulo kicked the ball. Nikola Matawalu caught it. Irakli Kiasashvili and Merab Kvirikashvili tackled him. Then Mamuka Gorgodze helped his teammates. But before that the Fijian managed to ground the ball. As there was not video referee, referees could not see grounding and this try was not counted. Who watched this match on TV saw that Matawalu scored the try.
The Georgian team tried to change the situation. Merab Kvirikashvili could not throw the ball out but the Fijians played badly too. “The Lelos” had good line-out and the opponent committed foul. Kvirikashvili scored penalty from 40 meters. The Georgian team played better and the Fijians committed foul again. Kvirikashvili scored another penalty from 55 meters and the score became – 6:10.
At the 19th minute Metuisela Talebula attacked. This attack finished with conversion of Ralelu but he missed it. The Georgians responded with attack. The Fijians committed foul. Kvirikashvili kicked the ball from 25 meters and missed it.
The Georgians attacked again and the Fijians committed foul again. This time Kvirikashvili threw the ball out and made a good line-out. We were close to scoring try but the ball fell forward. This time Api Naikatini was sin-binned. “The Lelos” chose scrum and the guests committed foul. Khinchagishvili scored try. Kvirikashvili used conversion and at the 30th minute the score was 13:15.
Soon the Fijians kicked penalty from 40 meters and Ralulu could not score it. At the 33rd minute Kvirikashvili scored penalty from 45 meters and the Georgian team advanced. The guests scored penalty soon after. The Georgians attacked at the last minutes of the first half. The Fijians committed foul and Kvirikashvili scored penalty. The first half ended up 19:18.
The Georgian team played badly in the second half.
“The Lelos” lost the ball and initiative. It is logical they could not gain point. At the beginning of the second half, there was an episode when the Georgians made some good attacks. The Georgians made more technical mistakes. The Fijians controlled the ball but could not attack well. The both teams often played with foot.
Milton Haig tried to improve the situation with substitutions. Lasha Khmaladze substituted Kiasashvili. This substitute confused the team and made more mistakes. At the 66th minute the Georgian team committed foul. Ralulu did not lose this chance and Fiji advanced. At the 77th minute Ralulu scored penalty from 25 meters and the Fijians had 5-point advantage. “The Lelos” needed try and conversion for victory. Finally, the match ended up 19:24.
Zura Ksovreli
