Georgia pick for Glasgow
Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:22
Georgia play the first of their two matches against Scotland A at Firhill in Glasgow on Friday evening.
Their second match is against Edinburgh on ??.
It is not a full Georgian team. Not being an IRB Test match Georgia has not been able to extricate top players from top French clubs as the Top 14 and Pro D2 are on again this weekend.
Most Georgians play abroad, even more so now with the instability in the country. Davit Katcharava and Rati Urushadze play in Russia, Malaghuradze in Ukraine and a quartet in Romania - Irakli Natriashvili, Khaka Uchava, Bidzina Samkharadze and Kakha Uchava. But most are in France.
Those from France chosen are either from cluibs willing to release them because they are not wanted by the first team or from Federale sides (amateur clubs) - Irakli Abusseridze (Orleans), Levan Datunashvili (Aurillac), Irakli Machkhaneli (Agen), Shalva Sutiashvili and Guiorgui Chkhaidze (Massy), Besso Udessiani (Chalon), Otar Barkalaia (Figerac), Dimitri Bassilaia and Simon Maissuradze (Clermont Auvergne), Davit Gasviani (Bobigny), Davit Katcharava (Nantes), Merab Kvirikashvili (Pau), Rati Urushadze (Nice), Ilia Zedguinidze (Aix-en-Provence) and Guram Kavtidze (Lyon).
That leaves the following based in Georgia: Irakli Chkhikvadze, Sandro Todua, Guiorgui Shkinini and Vassil Kakovini.
The new caps in the side are props Guram Kavtidze and Vassil Kakovini, who is on the bench.
The following were at the 2007 World Cup in France: Irakli Abusseridze, Otar Barkalaia, Irakli Chkhikvadze, Levan Dadunashvili, Davit Kacharava, Irakli Machkhaneli, Besso Udesiani, Rati Urushadze, Ilia Zedguinidze, Simon Maisuradze, Bidzina Samkharadze, Merab Kvirikashvili and Guiorgui Shkinini.
Georgia: 15 Otar Barkalaia, 14 Irakli Chkhikvadze, 13 Sandro Todua, 12 Davit Kacharava, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Lasha Malaguradze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze (captain), 8 Dimitri Basilaia,
7 Besso Udesiani, 6 Rati Urushadze, 5 Khaka Uchava, 4 Ilia Zedguinidze, 3 Guram Kavtidze, 2 Irakli Natriashvili, 1 Davit Gasviani
Replacements:16 Levan Dadunashvili, 17 Vassil Kakovini, 18 Shalva Sutiashvili, 19 Simon Maisuradze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Merab Kvirikashvili, 22 Guiorgui Shkinini
Date: Friday, 15 November 2008
Kick-off: 18.00 (local)
Venue: Firhill, Glasgow
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Touch judges: David Bodilly (Wales), Sean Brickell (Wales)
