Preview: Georgia vs Canada
Georgia and Canada meet in a friendly in Tblisi on Saturday afternoon. It is the second Test ever between the two countries.
They met for the first time last year in the Churchill Cup when Canada beat a much-weakened Georgian side 42-10.
Now Georgia have a full side. Of the 22 18 play in France and two in Romania. The least capped players have 13 caps each – Shalva Sutiashvili, Lekso Gugava, who plays his club rugby in Georgia, and bench player Simon Maisuradze. The oldest player is Grigol Labadze who is 37. Captain Irakli Abuseridze is the most capped player with 66 caps. They are an experienced side.
Against that Canada has eight players with fewer than 10 caps. Of them Connor Braid and Jon Phelan have just one each. Braid, who is just 20 years of age, is the flyhalf. Recalled prop Kevin Tkachuk is the most capped with 54 caps and at 34 years of age.
If only experience counted you would take Georgia to win.
The Georgians have taken trouble to promote the game. It will be on television and celebrities have been out handing out fliers.
Teams
Georgia: 15 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 Irakli Chkhikvadze, 12 Teodore Zibzibadze, 11 Lekso Gugava, 10 Lasha Malaguradze, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (captain), 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Levan Datunashvili, 4 Shalva Sutiashvili, 3 David Zirakishvili, 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 1 David Kinchagishvili
Replacements: 16 Iuri Natriashvili, 17 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 18 Giorgi Nemsadze, 19 Simon Maisuradze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 David Kacharava, 22 Merab Kvirikashvili
Canada: 15 Ciaran Hearn, 14 Justin Mensah-Coker, 13 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Phillip Mackenzie, 11 James Pritchard, 10 Connor Braid, 9 Sean White, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Chauncey O’Toole, 5 Jebb Sinclair, 4 Josh Jackson, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Pat Riordan (captain), 1 Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements: 16 Tom Dolezel, 17 Andrew Tiedemann, 18 Jon Phelan, 19 Tyler Hotson, 20 Sean Michael Stephen, 21 Jamie Mackenzie, 22 Nick Blevins
Date: Saturday, 20 November 2010
Kick-off: 14.00 (local time)
Venue: National Stadium, Tbilisi
Expected weather conditions: Perfect for rugby – clear with a high of 14°C, dropping to 2°C and no wind.
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Ucha Narimanidze (Georgia), Gia Amirkhanashvili (Georgia)
