RWC Review: No. 12 Georgia

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The 2011 Rugby World Cup has ended and unfortunately for the rugby faithful, this means that we’ll have to wait four years once again, but don’t be disappointed, this was a special tournament. New Zealand hosted this time around, and with that, we realize that we may not see the rugby mad country host again for a very long time.

We hope that you all savored every moment and every match, no matter what the outcomes were, the disappointments or heartache. What impressed us the most is how well second tier nations developed over the past four years, which is great news for the sport on a worldwide scale.

Development is the key to this game, as any, and this world cup has opened the door to a large number of new fans.

As we take a look back, Shaggy, psychic duck and M Two One review the twenty participants from worst to first over the next week. The rankings were put together through several opinions based on performances.

Feel free to debate and discuss. The 2011 Rugby World Cup may have ended, but rugby lives on 24/7.

Georgia performed largely to expectations at this world cup, winning one match against Romania and giving all three tier 1 nations in their pool a decent match. Despite giving Scotland a tight matchâ€"although the Lelos didn’t test the Scottish try line muchâ€"then frustrating England, in a match that was by no means as one sided as the score line suggested and also leading Argentina at half time in their final match, there is a feeling that the Georgians didn’t quite do enough to earn matches with the lower ranked teams from the ten tier 1 nations clique.

The question is, where to from here for the Lelos? For those who don’t know, Georgia has dominated the 6 Nations B over the last four years, losing just one match despite having their Top 14 players being available for only half of those matches. They also demonstrated their dominance over European B sides at this world cup with a comfortable 25-9 win over Romania, despite the Georgian pack looking nervous at the start of the match. That pack, led by talisman Mamuka Gorgodze, did not take a step back against any opposition throughout the tournament.

The England result looks like an insult compared to the way they actually played as the penalties they earned were squandered due to their normally reliable kicker Merab Kvirikashvili’s goal kicking going awfully awry. Kvirikashvili only made one of his six penalty kicks in that match, that combined with the Georgians fading and conceding two tries late on (perhaps due to that entire side playing Scotland midweek) didn’t allow the Lelos the respectable score line they deserved. They also had to play Argentina after midweek and again faded after leading at half time.

The aim going forward in the future must be to break into the 6 nations, but it is very unlikely they will be put in without taking any scalps. There problem is how can the Lelos ever prove they are worthy of entering the 6 Nations if they never play any matches against those sides participating? Georgia didn’t have a single match against any tier 1 side between the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, despite very nearly beating Ireland in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Italy, before being added to what is now the 6 nations, played 17 matches against the 5 nations sides between the 1995 and 1999 world cups. There are critics out there who will say that Georgia is not good enough yet, they may be right, but the Lelos deserve opportunities (especially against Italy and Scotland).

Georgia, right now, is at the same level as Italy as both have good pack and poor backs. - p.d.

 

[kovana]

They need to be admitted to the 6N.. Sooner rather then later.

They need a pro comp.. Maybe combining with Italy? Or the Rabodirect comp?

 

[M Two One]

The problem with Georgia is that they don't have a significant domestic league, unlike Italy and the rest. Perhaps a new team based in Tbilisi could be formed to enter a competition such as the Amlin Challenge Cup, that would be a good start.

 

[Toko_11]

Great review. I would have written the exact same thing if i were writing this review.
some things I could add that you might not know yet.

There was an interview of GRU president few days ago. he said that the performance Georgia showed was probably what everyone expected but what everyone expected wasnt enough for them(those are my words he didnt say it exactly like that) he also said that we are looking for a new coach(at last!) and the most interesting (quoting) "the time for major changes has come for Georgian rugby, from now on we will have several goals that we have(to do everything in order) to achieve.

1 We must play big test matches against the teams that will give us a great competition. we also must play some games that we know we will lose. and that we will start from summer 2012 its almost decided that we will go on a tour to USA-Canada and in 2013 Argentina and maybe Uruguay.

2. A lot of people lately have been talking about us being closest to the six nations but we are not under illusions that we will soon or ever join six nations because it is a private commercial institution for which adding Georgia would mean huge financial loss. (average ticket price in Georgia is 1-5 Euro. avg attendance 35-40thousand. for big games 55thousand. no income from TV rights and minimum income from merchandise sales). instead our goal is to join a competition which will replace (Churchill cup nations cup and ENC) he mentioned Samoa,Tonga, Fiji, US, Canada, Japan. and said he was very hopeful that in couple of years there will be an annual competition involving those nations + Uruguay, Portugal, Romania, Russia.(which i predicted one year ago TBH and was more like a dream to me =D) He also said that If ENC is not Dissolved we would want to compete with our A team if IRB would allow.
and his finish was what i liked the most.

3. I see that a lot of our fans are very disappointed about the result against Argentina(you should've seen what was happening on Georgian forums after Geo vs arg match).. some because of the ref decisions others because of the scoreline, but we should understand that Argentina has a big history in rugby, They have been working since 1965 to come where they are now and we just started twenty years ago. Im not saying we are happy with the result but I am happy with the speed of our improvement and if everything goes like we hope(like what he said in 1. and 2.) we are sure that we can cover the same ground Argies needed 46+ years for in the next 8 years. and I am stating with full responsibility that in 2015 anything below the 3rd place in our pool will be considerd a huge failure Period.

 

[beerholder]

I've always been a fan of Georgian rugby but they need a team in ECC to ensure that quality players still emerge from the country. They have a great team right now, but so did Romania a few years back and now are backpedaling due to the lack of young players. The Romanian federation stated at one point that the domestic leagues cannot supply with international competitive players and we must scout the pacific nations for players eager to perform for Romania. I don't know where that idea is now, but the fact that they thought of it reflects how desperate the situation is...

 

[Toko_11]

I've always been a fan of Georgian rugby but they need a team in ECC to ensure that quality players still emerge from the country. They have a great team right now, but so did Romania a few years back and now are backpedaling due to the lack of young players.

Exactly my point. Romania had a great team back in the day but they stayed in ENC and weren't allowed to play anywhere else that's why they are struggling so much now.. if they had adjusted their doctrine before this wouldn't have happened and they could have been one of the top nations by now.

 

[psychic duck]

2. A lot of people lately have been talking about us being closest to the six nations but we are not under illusions that we will soon or ever join six nations because it is a private commercial institution for which adding Georgia would mean huge financial loss. (average ticket price in Georgia is 1-5 Euro. avg attendance 35-40thousand. for big games 55thousand. no income from TV rights and minimum income from merchandise sales). instead our goal is to join a competition which will replace (Churchill cup nations cup and ENC) he mentioned Samoa,Tonga, Fiji, US, Canada, Japan. and said he was very hopeful that in couple of years there will be an annual competition involving those nations + Uruguay, Portugal, Romania, Russia.(which i predicted one year ago TBH and was more like a dream to me =D) He also said that If ENC is not Dissolved we would want to compete with our A team if IRB would allow.

but that is unfair, then it will just stay the same teams forever and be so frustrating, I think Georgia has to play Italy in the next two years, that match I really want to happen

Georgia mustn't rest on their laurels after achieving as much as they have so far, they must really take rugby as far as they can manage, and I would be really cross if at the end of players such as Gorgodze's career he could never say he had many chances against teams from 6N

the good thing about Georgia is the side isn't that old, many of the Georgian side from 2003-2007 such as Ckhaidze, Urjukashvili and Giorgadze, the Lelos have found perhaps even better replacements such as Bregvadze, and due to Georgia becoming more prominent in rugby, there are now more and more Georgians being signed up to French academies, Toulon are starting a young 18 year lock in the Amlin Challenge Cup this weekend, there is Kolelishvili at Clermont, even a young back Jimsheladze at Clermont too and of course an abundance of front rowers such as Zhvania (Stade Francais), Nariashvili (Montpellier), Jashitashvili (Clermont), Chilichava (Toulon) and Kakovin who looks like he could be better than Khinchagashvili

the success of Georgian national team is really adding to the player base and honestly there are better players than the current side aged 18-23 who will be there in 2015

3. I see that a lot of our fans are very disappointed about the result against Argentina(you should've seen what was happening on Georgian forums after Geo vs arg match).. some because of the ref decisions others because of the scoreline, but we should understand that Argentina has a big history in rugby, They have been working since 1965 to come where they are now and we just started twenty years ago. Im not saying we are happy with the result but I am happy with the speed of our improvement and if everything goes like we hope(like what he said in 1. and 2.) we are sure that we can cover the same ground Argies needed 46+ years for in the next 8 years. and I am stating with full responsibility that in 2015 anything below the 3rd place in our pool will be considerd a huge failure Period.

as I said above, although 2015 is likely to be Georgia's best player Gorgodze's last World Cup, there are far more players who will be there in 2015

Basilaia, Bregvadze, Kolelishvili and Kakovin hopefully will be some of Georgia's best players by then, as well as Kubriashvili who is still just 24

the backs are still a problem, but you can reach a certain level without them as long as you've got a good goal kicker

 

[Toko_11]

but that is unfair, then it will just stay the same teams forever and be so frustrating, I think Georgia has to play Italy in the next two years, that match I really want to happen

Georgia mustn't rest on their laurels after achieving as much as they have so far, they must really take rugby as far as they can manage, and I would be really cross if at the end of players such as Gorgodze's career he could never say he had many chances against teams from 6N

the good thing about Georgia is the side isn't that old, many of the Georgian side from 2003-2007 such as Ckhaidze, Urjukashvili and Giorgadze, the Lelos have found perhaps even better replacements such as Bregvadze, and due to Georgia becoming more prominent in rugby, there are now more and more Georgians being signed up to French academies, Toulon are starting a young 18 year lock in the Amlin Challenge Cup this weekend, there is Kolelishvili at Clermont, even a young back Jimsheladze at Clermont too and of course an abundance of front rowers such as Zhvania (Stade Francais), Nariashvili (Montpellier), Jashitashvili (Clermont), Chilichava (Toulon) and Kakovin who looks like he could be better than Khinchagashvili

the success of Georgian national team is really adding to the player base and honestly there are better players than the current side aged 18-23 who will be there in 2015

Psychic duck.
Its hard to reply to your posts because i usually agree with most of the stuff.

well the thing is, we are not given many choices here. so if this opportunity comes along we pretty much have to take it... I mean playing Fiji and Samoa every year ? that is terrific. and we can not wait until they let us in six nations, that might never happen. yes I would also be disappointed if a player like Gorgodze doesn't get few shots against top nations... it will just be a talent wasted. Hopefully though we will have another Gorgodze, although i can't quite see one in the current youth sides.. maybe he's just 10 who knows. yes i can see a good generation of youngsters coming in future, our rugby federation has done a great job raising these kids as professionals. when i look at u19 enc and u17 enc and i see the scores there I'm hopeful because when this current Gorgodze generation was in u19(remember this generation grew up in terrible conditions unlike current youths) they weren't doing as well as that. so maybe some quality backs too in future ?.. I certainly know one or two great kickers coming.. if they keep their skill it will be dreamland for us in the future world cups.

and one thing I'm afraid of is that this talk will never turn into anything and we'll be left to rot in ENC forever now that will be hell for Georgian rugby.



and what do you think will be the right thing to do ? not join the tournament like that and wait until another opportunity comes along ?

 

[psychic duck]

well the thing is, we are not given many choices here. so if this opportunity comes along we pretty much have to take it... I mean playing Fiji and Samoa every year ? that is terrific. and we can not wait until they let us in six nations, that might never happen.

yes, I live in the UK and the casual rugby fan still sees Georgia more on a par with Romania than Italy, Canada, Samoa and Scotland

there is no way that the authorities will even consider Georgia to be in the 6N unless a few victories over big teams are picked up, but of course it's impossible to get those victories when the Georgians never play any matches, like I mentioned above Italy had 17 matches against the teams in the Five Nations between 1995 and 1999, since then the top 10 nations have become very cliquey, only really the Pacific sides Fiji and Samoa get a look in for occasional matches as they are better ticket sellers than Georgia, Canada and Tonga

I'm mixed about playing Fiji and Samoa every year to be honest, it should be good you're right but all the Pacific teams really struggle to get their best players in between World Cups, for example Fotuali'i, Fa'asavalu, Tuilagi etc were nowhere to be seen in a Samoa shirt in 2008 or 2009 they all just started playing in the 2010 Autumn Internationals to play in the World Cup

the annual Pacific Nations Cup only really gets half each teams first choice, as they struggle to get players released by clubs look at these teamsheets for Fiji v Samoa matches in the PNC over the past few years

2008 (http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/25673.html)
2009 (http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/94181.html)
2010 (http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/112874.html)

they're still far better than the opposition in the ENC, but a long way of the sides that were in the World Cup

whenever ideas for tournaments for the Tier 2 nations are being thought of, one should always consider the timing, money and organization of the tournament so all sides can have sides as strong as they would play in a World Cup

I hate it when an teams like the understrength USA side that lose by 80 points to England Saxons, or the Georgia B side which play in the IRB Nations Cup plays

there isn't much point of Tier 2 tournaments if the strongest teams don't play