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Rugby News |
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NEWS Rugby GEORGIA
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11 September 2003 Georgians announce changes to squad for Australia On Tuesday the Georgia Rugby Union (GRU), with its headquarters in Tbilisi, Georgia, made their team known with an embargo on publication. Then the Georgian office, based in Montpellier, France, where many of the players play, changed the team and sent it out as the official team. The Tbilissi office has now made the official squad known. Out go fly-half David Kiknadze, and uncapped lock Sergo Gujaraidze. In comes midfielder Otar Eloshvili. The official squad: Backs: Bessik Khamashuridze, Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Irakli Machkhaneli, Badri Khekhelashvili, Archil Kavtarashvili, Tedo Zibzibadze, Irakli Guiorgadze, Vassil Katsadze (captain), Gocha Khonelidze, Pavle Jimsheladze, Otar Eloshvili, Irakli Abuseridze, Irakli Modebadze, Merab Kvirikashvili. Management
6 September 2003 Tough Georgia make Italy work in Asti Italy made hard work of a tough Georgia side when the two countries met at the Stadio Comunale Censin Bosia in the Italian town of Asti on Saturday in a pre-World Cup Test, with the Azzurri taking the spoils by a 31-22 margin only. The sides were tied 13-13 at the break, and the Lelos of Georgia even had to battle on without their full numbers, after fullback Bessik Khamashuridze and lock Zurab Mtchedlishvili were both sin-binned - Khamashuridze then being red-carded later in the match. Italian props Leandro Castrogiovanni and Andrea Lo Cicero scored first-half tries to add to a Ramiro Pez penalty, while Lelos wing Makho Urjukashvili scored their only try of the game on the half hour mark. The second half saw Italy score tries through their two most-capped players of all time, captain Alessandro Troncon and back rower Carlo Checchinato. Georgia, meanwhile, had the boot of fly-half Pavle Jimsheladze to thank for the majority of their points with a string of penalties and a conversion for their try, while centre Makho Urjukashvili dropped a goal during the physical encounter. The scorers: For Italy: For Georgia: The teams: Georgia: 15 Bessik Khamashuridze, 14 Makho Urjukashvili, 13 Tedo Zibzibadze, 12 Iraki Guiorgadze, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli (Gocha Khonelidze), 10 Pavle Jimsheladze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze, 8 Ilia Zedguinidze (captain - Guia Labadze), 7 Gregoire Yachvili, 6 George Chkhaidze, 5 Victor Didebulidze (Vano Nadiradze), 4 Zurab Mtchedlishvili, 3 Aleko Margvelashvili (Goderdzi Shvelidze), 2 Akvsenti Guiorgadze, 1 Avtandil Kopaliani (David Dadunashvili). Unused replacements: 20 Irakli Modebadze, 21 David Kiknadze, 22 Gocha Khonelidze. Referee: Ian Ramage (Scotland)
4 September 2003 Kirwan rings the changes against Georgia Italy coach John Kirwan has made nine changes to the team that lost heavily to Ireland in Limerick last week, ahead of the side's final World Cup warm-up match against Georgia on Saturday in the Italian town of Asti. In the backline Gonzalo Canale replaces Gert Peens at fullback, Mirco Bergamasco starts on the right wing while Nicola Mazzucato moves to the left wing as Diego Saccà drops out of the match day 22. At inside centre Giovanni Raineri gets a run ahead of Matteo Barbini, and Ramiro Pez moves in at fly-half. In the forwards, Aaron Persico starts in the No.7 jersey, while Mauro Bergamasco drops to the bench. Marco Bortalami and Santiago Dellapè replace Marc Giacheri and Cristian Bezzi respectively, and Leandro Castrogiovanni takes over from Martin Castrogiovanni at tighthead prop. The Georgia team, of which only one player plays in Georgia - hooker Akvsenti Giorgadze - with the rest playing in France, are coming off two losses to French club sides and are looking for a big performance against the Italians. The Italy team: 15 Gonzal Canale, 14 Bergamasco Mirco, 13 Christian Stoica, 12 Giovanni Raineri, 11 Nicola Mazzucato, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Alessandro Troncon (captain), 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Aaron Persico, 6 Andrea De Rossi, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Santiago Dellapè, 3 Leandro Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero. Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Ramiro Martinez, 18 Checchinato, 19 Mauro Bergamasco, 20 Manuel Queirolo, 21 Vincenzo Zullo, 22 Gert Peens. The Georgia team: 15 Bessik Khamashuridze, 14 Makho Urjukashvili, 13 Irakli Giorgadze, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Machkmaneli, 10 Paliko Jimcheladze, 9 Irakli Abuserideze, 8 ilia Zedginidze, 7 Gregoire Yachvili, 6 George Chkmaidze, 5 Victor Didebulidze, 4 Zurab Mtchedlismuili, 3 Margvelashvili, 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 1 Kopaliani. Replacements: 16 Goderdzi Chvelidze, 17 Dadunashvili, 18 Nadiradze, 19 Labadze, 20 Modebadze, 21 Kiknadze, 22 Kmonelidze. Copyright Georgian Rugby Union © 2003 |