RWC Match Preview - England Vs Georgia

[Getofmeland]

RWC 2011 game preview – England v Georgia

Georgia may be ranked 12 places below England in the current IRB world rankings but given both sides performances in the first round of Pool B matches they could still pose a threat to former World Champions. Georgia made Scotland work very hard for their win on Wednesday and along with the inclement weather conditions and a below par kicking display from the usually reliable Dan Parks Scotland only made the game safe in the 71st minute when Parks' converted his third successful penalty kick having missed 3 of his previous 5 attempts. Scotland's pack struggled to subdue a Georgian pack who are full of experienced Heineken Cup campaigners like Clermont prop Davit Zirakashvilli, Castre hooker Akvsenti Giorgadze, Toulon prop David Kubriashvilli and the dynamic back rower Mamuka Gorgodze who plays his trade with this year's Top 14 finalists Montpellier.

Georgia won 49% of the possession against a strong Scottish pack including the likes of Euan Murray, once regarded as one of the best tight head props in rugby, Nathan Hines a Heineken Cup winner with Leinster and now team mate of Zirakashvilli at Clermont and the giant lock forward Jim Hamilton who stands an impressive 6 feet 8 inches tall and tips the scales at around 20 stones. England's forward pack on the other hand had struggled against an Argentina team ranked 5 place below them in their first Pool B match, England's forwards, which included campaigned World Cup veterans like Andrew Sheridan, Nick Easter and Louis Deacon alongside World Cup winner Steve Thompson was second best to an Argentinian pack that had been written off as too old by most commentators. England won just 49% of the possession during the game and a very poor 39% of the possession in the final 10 minutes of play, when the Pumas nearly scored a try that would have snatched them a victory.

Georgia's obvious weakness is their back division as none of them play top flight rugby week in and week out with many of them plying their trade in the lower divisions of French rugby and 4 them still playing in Georgia's domestic league competition. The strength, combined with the depth of their talented forward pack does on occasion allow their fleet footed back rowers and mobile second row forwards to become auxillary backs, particularly in defence, so breaking down the stout Georgian defence will require England to show something they've been sorely lacking in their recent games, a touch of creativity to go with their physicality. In order to provide England will have to rely on a different approach at fly half, whether they select Johnny Wilkinson or Toby Flood as they have few options in the centre positions with Mike Tindall and Shontayne Hape both providing similar qualities in the 12 channel, big tackling and straight running and Manu Tuilagi providing the cutting edge at 13. I would expect Flood to come into the starting XV after Wilkinson's woeful kicking display at the weekend, 3 from 8 is hardly the sort of statistic that screams "pick me" to the coaching team. Flood's partnership with winger Chris Ashton was key to England's 6 Nation success but since their 59-3 thrashing of Italy the pair have seriously cooled off and Ashton has failed to score in his last 5 appearances.

This deciding factor in this game will probably be the IRB's decision to give their "associate" members a much shorter rest period between games than the teams who are ranked inside the top 9 positions. Georgia will have had less than 4 days rest between their first 2 Pool matches whilst England have been afforded over a week to recover from their bruising encounter with Argentina. I expect the Georgians to come out all guns blazing for the first 20 minutes and the English forwards will have to weather a fairly heavy storm before their superior fitness will come into effect. England should secure their first try and bonus point win of the World Cup in this game but unless they can improve on their recent ponderous and uninspired displays they could be in for a very frustrating 80 minutes against a Georgian side who will not shy away from physical confrontation and 109 tackles in their first game.

Blog By @Buck_Mitchell

 

[psychic duck]

This deciding factor in this game will probably be the IRB's decision to give their "associate" members a much shorter rest period between games than the teams who are ranked inside the top 9 positions. Georgia will have had less than 4 days rest between their first 2 Pool matches whilst England have been afforded over a week to recover from their bruising encounter with Argentina. I expect the Georgians to come out all guns blazing for the first 20 minutes and the English forwards will have to weather a fairly heavy storm before their superior fitness will come into effect.

​think you've hit the nail on the head there, Georgia will not be as competitive as the Scotland match

 

[Toko_11]

if we don't concede so many fouls we'll have a chance to get a bonus point i guess.... our defense is good enough. when they are rested..... 4 days. only 4 GODDAM Days... :|. Even chess players get at least 5 days off during the world cup.. you do the math

 

[Dougydeluxe]

ya.... this will not be a fair one.

 

[IluvRugby]

ya.... this will not be a fair one.

I must say that I am nervous about this one, not that Eng will loose but that Georgia might give us a scare, I think this game will show where Eng is right now.

 

[Deadmonton]

I think Georgia are probably the strongest NH team outside of the 6 Nations. England will more then likely win, but there will always be a chance that Georgia will pull off the upset.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

If only Georgia had some capable backs. Their forwards are class, but like the game against Scotland, a lack of flair in the backfield will hold them back.

My guess is Georgia keeps it within 14 at the half before their forwards tire in the last twenty minutes and England runs up the score to win by a comfortable 25+