Georgia (Lelos)

[beber Profile]

Giorgi Javakhia is on the bench for Aurillac to face Biarritz tomorrow.
This is what his coach André Bester says on him :
"He came for a two-days trial last january and proved his potential. He is big and, like all georgians, he is aggressive and plays with a lot of intensity. Even if he still young, I think he can play at a very good level in ProD2. He even has the potentiel to play at higher level. He is an excellent ball carrier"
https://www.cantalpassion.com/sports-et ... -2018-2019

[Rugga Profile]

Is there any push in Georgia to get a pro team playing in the pro 14 with centrally contracted players?

[fullbackace Profile]

Is there any push in Georgia to get a pro team playing in the pro 14 with centrally contracted players?

There is will from fans and the Union, I'm sure rest of the clubs/players also love the idea.

Problem is financial backing. Capitalism simply doesn't work that well here, Native companies don't have enough finances to own or support a club firstly because they have to compete with rich foreign companies and secondly because Georgia simply isn't a big enough market to have such rich corps. Our one big resource(mineral water) is owned by Nestle Good luck convincing them to sponsor something.

As for government backing, they don't care enough. In their eyes $8mln per year should be enough for Georgia to keep growing exponentially. (newsflash: It's not) Plus sports ministry is owned by football lobby(since they lost the public support to Rugby. lots of former footballers are now in parliament lobbying for football and against Rugby and most of that lobbying decides who the govt financing goes to)

[beber Profile]

Why dont you mean Kakovin? He is regularly on the list of Racing last/this season

Gogichashvili is now ahead of him. He started last two games before Ben Arous was back while Kakovin was on the banch . Now, Ben Arous is starting and Gogichashvili is on the bench while Kakovin is not even on the teamsheet. But If expect Kakovin to play Champions Cup ahead of Gogichashvili thanks to his experience

Gogichashvili is finally starting for Racing92 in the first Champions Cup game, while french international Ben Arous is on the bench. Kakovin not in the squad.What a meteoric rise from this guy who turned 20 last month.

In other news, lock Levan Datunashvili (75 caps) signed for Jiki Gori. Big addition for the Didi10 side, Datunashvili played 3 RWC and about 150 ProD2 games.
Another georgian lock is back to his homeland : Mikheil Archuashvili signed for Kochebi Bolnisi (second division) from Steaua Bucuresti (Romania)

[GeoRugby Profile]

What a meteoric rise from this guy who turned 20 last month.

From Lokomotivi to being Racing regular in short time. It truly is a meteoric rise. Keep it up Guram. As for Datunashvili, Georgia could use him this November. He is of course retired from the national team.

[beber Profile]

Mikheil Nariashvili named in the Champions Cup team of the week by rugbyrama & Midi Olympique
https://video.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/champi ... ideo.shtml

Shalva Sutiashvili named in ProD2 team of the week by the same media. Hope he will play lock for Georgia for November tests considering Mikautadze's injury.

[beber Profile]

Mikheil Gachechiladze player of the week by allrugby.com
The team of the week by allrugby is only based of statistics (explained here : https://www.allrugby.com/news/xv-type-a ... e-162.html )
And Gachechiladze is the player who scored the most points (258)
https://www.allrugby.com/news/challenge ... e-223.html



For information, Gachechiladze stats :
1 try scored, 76 metres runs ball in hand, 4 defenders beaten, 19 tackles made (0 missed), no penalty conceded

[beber Profile]

Zhvania named in the Champions Cup team of the week by lovell-rugby


Allrugby, who picks team of the week only based on statistics, choosed Gogichashvili


Both teams are very different

Planet Rugby named Gogichashvili too

1 Guram Gogichashvili (Racing 92): Another outstanding Georgian scrummager to come through the ranks, the loosehead was outstanding against Ulster. Gogichashvili is only 20 but, after terrorising opposition front-rows at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship for the past two years, the youngster has taken that form into the Champions Cup. Marty Moore and co had no answer as the hosts controlled the battle in the set-piece, while the prop also displayed his ability in the loose in a performance which fended off the challenge of Castres’ Antoine Tichit and Munster’s James Cronin

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/team-o ... und-two-2/

The42.ie also named Gogichashvili
http://www.the42.ie/champions-cup-team- ... 7-Oct2018/

[beber Profile]

According to Enisei and KY websites, Mamukashvili, Gachechiladze, Pruidze and Malaguradze are in Georgian squad for November tests.
When the full squad will be announced?

[GeoRugby Profile]

I am guessing Haig will wait till the last moment to announce the squad to take into account possible injuries.

[4N Profile]

The new Gorgodze... is Giorgadze

https://mobile.twitter.com/Bebz__/statu ... 24/video/1

[RugbyPUBtbilisi Profile]

The new Gorgodze... is Giorgadze

https://mobile.twitter.com/Bebz__/statu ... 24/video/1

Yea Giorgadze is classic Georgian style forward. Physical performance on 8/10, handling 7/10. He is best U23 player together with Gorgadze (N8) and Tsutskiridze excellent tackler on N6.

Others are coming up, like Jalaghonia(N8) or Saghinadze on flanker. 3'd row will be very good for 2019.

Hope Mamuka will show up 2 month before the 2019 and Scotland warm up series.

optimal Georgia looks like this for me.

1- Nariashvili, Asieshvili, Zhvania
2- Bregvadze, Mamukashvili
3- Chilachava, Kubriashvili
4- Nemsadze, Tcheishvili
5- Gorgodze, Mikautadze
6- Sutiashvili, Tsutskiridze, Lomidze
7- Kolelishvili, Giorgadze, Gachechiladze
8- Gorgadze, Bitsadze

9- Lobzhanidze, Aprasidze, Begadze
10- Abzhandadze, Khmaladze
11- Todua, Pruidze
12/13- Sharikadze, Katcharava, Kveseladze, Malaguradze
14- Mchedlidze, Sitchinava
15- Matiashvili, Kvirikashvili

[Bogdan_DC Profile]

If he continues like that i think Gogichashvili will push to a place at loosehead in the squad (of course after Nariashvili). He is very young, especially for a prop, but he doesn't look like he cares. I will put my money on him.
Tsutskiridze first option in front of Sutiashvili. Definetely Sutiashvili should be in the squad because he can cover lock also.
Anyway you will need two squads on the same level for World Cup. This will be the key for a successful tournament.

[Scoob Profile]

They need to find some more depth at 12-13. Sharikadze is a shoe in. Kacharava while good defensively and getting turnovers is getting on in years and does not pose attacking threat. Malaghuradze has good kicking game but again not much in attack. Kvesiladze has been in very good form for Armazi and looks a good prospect.
Others? Koshadze is always injured. Liparteliani is solid. Lasha Lomidze is probably the best prospect but way to young yet. Ditto Tapladze. Keep an eye out for young Temur Kokhadze,he is some talent.

[beber Profile]

Squad for November tests

Loosehead Prop
Mikheil Nariashvili (28, Montpellier, France) - 51 caps
Zurab Zhvania (27, Wasps, England) - 34 caps
Guram Gogichashvili (20, Racing92, France) - uncapped

Hookers
Shalva Mamukashvili (28, Enisei-STM, Russia) - 57 caps
Jaba Bregvadze (31, Sunwolves, Japan) - 51 caps
Badri Alkhazashvili (23, Toulon, France) - 9 caps

Tighthead Props
Davit Kubriashvili (31, Grenoble, France) - 45 caps
Levan Chilachava (27, Montpellier, France) - 41 caps
Beka Gigashvili (26, Grenoble, France) - uncapped

Locks
Shalva Sutiashvili (35, Soyaux-Angoulême, France) - 68 caps
Nodar Cheishvili (27, Cornish Pirates, England) - 14 caps
Grigor Kerdikoshvili (24, Glendale Raptors, USA) - uncapped

Loose Forwards
Lasha Lomidze (26, Aurillac, France) - 41 caps
Beka Bitsadze (27, Narbonne, France) - 26 caps
Otar Giorgadze (22, Brive, France) - 13 caps
Beka Gorgadze (22, Bordeaux-Bègles, France) - 11 caps
Saba Shubitidze (24, Batumi, Georgia) - 11 caps
Giorgi Tsutskiridze (21, Aurillac, France) - 9 caps

Scrumhalves
Giorgi Begadze (32, Locomotive Tbilisi, Georgia) - 63 caps
Vasil Lobzhanidze (22, Brive, France) - 35 caps
Gela Aprasidze (20, Montpellier, France) - 8 caps

Flyhalves
Lasha Malaguradze (32, Krasny Yar, Russia) - 87 caps
Lasha Khmaladze (30, Batumi, Georgia) - 65 caps
Tedo Abzhandadze (19, Aia Kutaisi, Georgia) - uncapped

Centres
Merab Sharikadze (25, Aurillac, France) - 57 caps
Giorgi Kveseladze (20, Armazi Marneuli, Georgia) - 10 caps
Giorgi Koshadze (22, Kharebi Rustavi, Georgia) - 10 caps
Zurab Dzneladze (26, Locomotive Tbilisi, Georgia) - 1 cap

Outside Backs
Sandro Todua (30, Batumi, Georgia) - 74 caps
Tamaz Mchedlidze (25, Agen, France) - 47 caps
Giorgi Aptisauri (24, Locomotive Tbilisi, Georgia) - 22 caps
Soso Matiashvili (25, Lelo Saracens, Georgia) - 12 caps
Anzor Sichinava (23, Batumi, Georgia) - 8 caps

So, Nemsadze, Mikautadze, Kolelishvili, Asieshvili, Tkhilaishvili, Modebadze outs of injury
Gachechiladze (best tackler of Challenge Cup after 2 rounds), Pruidze, Jinchvelashvili (current best Didi10 flyhalf) not chosen for some reasons? Shubitidze, Bitsadze ahead of Gachechiladze is a really strange choice...
Surprising to see Kerdikoshvili, while Javakhia is making Aurillac teamsheet for the second time in a row.

[ZUKER Profile]

Defenetly strange not to see Gachecheladze in the 3d line.....

[GeoRugby Profile]

I cant recall so many injuries in the national team ahead of test matches. Hopefully the youngsters will perform to the level. There are some good ones on the list.

[Coloradoan Profile]

Wow so thin at lock. Grigor Kerdikoshvili didn't play that much in MLR and when he did it wasn't at lock, despite the league being very thin at lock as well.

[beber Profile]

Wow so thin at lock. Grigor Kerdikoshvili didn't play that much in MLR and when he did it wasn't at lock, despite the league being very thin at lock as well.

There are only 2 quality locks for Georgia : Nemsadze (Ospreys) and Mikautadze (Montpellier) and both are injured.
But there are plenty of choices for Haig instead of Kerdikoshvili, especially from Didi10 or Federale1.
IMO, the best option at lock will be Lomidze-Cheishvili, with Giorgadze moving in the tight-five during scrum to use his power (Lomidze moving flanker). Sutiashvili on the bench to cover the second row.

[fullbackace Profile]

Damn Our most dependable and hard working players are out. Even if 100% were fit these tests would've been difficult. Now it seems almost impossible.


You know you have problems when Dzneladze and Aptsiauri are called up.

[datodato Profile]

You know you have problems when Dzneladze and Aptsiauri are called up.

Really sad yes.

[beber Profile]

A nice clip about Matiashvili

[beber Profile]

Wyatt Crockett, 71 caps for New Zealand, on Levan Chilachava and the georgian scrum

[Bogdan_DC Profile]

Wow so thin at lock. Grigor Kerdikoshvili didn't play that much in MLR and when he did it wasn't at lock, despite the league being very thin at lock as well.

There are only 2 quality locks for Georgia : Nemsadze (Ospreys) and Mikautadze (Montpellier) and both are injured.
But there are plenty of choices for Haig instead of Kerdikoshvili, especially from Didi10 or Federale1.
IMO, the best option at lock will be Lomidze-Cheishvili, with Giorgadze moving in the tight-five during scrum to use his power (Lomidze moving flanker). Sutiashvili on the bench to cover the second row.

Davit Gigauri from CSM Bucuresti is a decent lock (197 cm / 121 kg).

[4N Profile]

Ex-Wallabies prop on the connection between wrestling and scrummaging.

https://mobile.twitter.com/bendarwin/st ... 8181528576