Samoa, Fiji, Tonga vs Georgia

[RugbyPUBtbilisi]

Summer Tests:
11 June
Samoa vs Georgia
Apia park, Samoa

18 June
Tonga vs Georgia
ANZ stadium, Suva, Fiji

25 June
Fiji vs Georgia
ANZ stadium, Suva, Fiji

 

[Brigantine]

Georgia qualified for RWC2015 ahead of the Pacific 3. This is a good chance for them to prove it wasn't just luck of the draw (and their opening game)

I see they scheduled them in the right order to maximize the (upwards) effect on Georgias World Rugby rankings too.

 

[Maxwell]

Georgia will find the conditions oppressive and island boys will run them ragged

 

[welshglory]

Georgia will not have their star Top 14 players available so will have a significantly depleted squad.

I would be frustrated if i was a Georgian supporter as three good results here would go a long way to possibly breaking into the top 8 by next year for the World Cup seeding.

However in the big picture it is a good set of fixtures to test the squad and develop their style of play, they wont get away with just relying on set piece play and physicality that's for sure!

 

[smartcooky]

Georgia will not have their star Top 14 players available so will have a significantly depleted squad.

The question I ask is why are the French, once again, being allowed to push their competition out into the June test window. Its time WR grew a pair and put a stop to this practice. Its a back-door way of preventing players from playing for their countries.

There should be no finals being played after the end of May unless the competition organisers are prepared to suspend the competition over the period of the June window.

 

[welshglory]

They need to do something soon before the Top 14 become too powerful. It's already breached that threshold though to be honest.

 

[FrenchFan]

The question I ask is why are the French, once again, being allowed to push their competition out into the June test window. Its time WR grew a pair and put a stop to this practice. Its a back-door way of preventing players from playing for their countries.

That's the problem with union people, all talk but no action.

There should be no finals being played after the end of May unless the competition organisers are prepared to suspend the competition over the period of the June window.

Agreed. LNR should and could have pushed back to May. But they're run by union jackasses as well.

- - - Updated - - -

They need to do something soon before the Top 14 become too powerful. It's already breached that threshold though to be honest.

Bit late for that...It's not too bad for Wales though I saw Davies and Charteris were released by their clubs for the June tests.

 

[Croket66]

Squads :

Fiji
Props: Campese Ma'afu (Northampton/ENG), Peni Ravai (Nadroga), Leeroy Atalifo (Rovigo/ITA), Taniela Koroi (Mogliano/ITA), Mesake Doge (Naitasiri)
Hookers : Sunia Koto (Narbonne/FRA), Viliame Veikeso (Doncaster/ENG), Jale Sassen (Suva)
Locks : Leone Nakawara (Glasgow/SCO), Tevita Cavubati (Worcester/ENG), Api Ratuniyarawa (Agen/FRA)
Backrow : Malakai Ravulo (Steaua Bucharest/ROM), Eremasi Radrodro (Nadroga), Nemia Soqeta (Biarritz/FRA), Dominiko Waqaniburotu (Brive/FRA)
Scrumhalves : Nemia Kenatale (Steaua Bucharest/ROM), Henry Senioli (Benetton Treviso/ITA), Serupepeli Vularika (Suva)
Flyhalves : Ben Volavola (Crusaders/NZL), Seremaia Bai (Leicester/ENG)
Centres : Eroni Vasiteri (Agen/FRA), Vereniki Goneva (Leicester/ENG), John Stewart (Sunwolves/JPN)
Wingers : Waisea Nayacalevu (Stade Français/FRA), Patrick Osborne (Highlanders/NZL), Savenaca Rawaca (Fidji 7s), Benito Masilevu (Brive/FRA)
Fullback : Kini Murimurivalu (La Rochelle/FRA)

Tonga
Props : Sione Faletau (Canterbury/NZL), Leopold Halavatau (London Irish/ENG), Sione Lea (Taranaki/NZL), Sila Puafisi (Glasgow Warriors/SCO), Ben Tameifuna (Racing92/FRA)
Hookers : Sione Anga'aelangi (Counties Manukau/NZL), Elvis Taione (Exeter Chiefs/ENG)
Locks : Daniel Faleafa (Albi/FRA), Uili Kolo'ofai (Jersey/ENG), Steve Mafi (Western Force/AUS)
Backrow : Villiami Fihaki (Sale Sharks/ENG), Sione Kalamafoni (Gloucester/ENG), Nili Latu (Newcastle Falcons/ENG), Mikaele Mafi (Otago/NZL), Jack Ram (Blues/NZL), Sione Tau (Agen/FRA)
Scrumhalves : Wayne Ngaluafe (West Harbour/AUS), Tane Takulua (Newcastle Falcons/ENG)
Flyhalves : Latiume Fosita (Papatoetoe/NZL), Martin Naufahu (Footscray/AUS)
Centres : Apakuki Ma'afu (Randwick/AUS), Viliami Tahitu'a (Yamaha Jubilo/JPN), Nafi Tuitavake (Narbonne/FRA)
Wingers : David Halaifonua (Gloucester/ENG), Otulea Katoa (Edinburgh Rugby/SCO), Daniel Kiloni (Grenoble/FRA)
Fullbacks : Viliami Hakalo (Nottingham/ENG), Viliami Iongi (San Francisco PRO Rugby/USA)

Samoa
Props : Viliamu Afatia (Agen/FRA), Sam Aiono (Counties Manukau/NZL), Jake Grey (SCOPA Rugby Club), Census Johnston (Stade Toulousain/FRA), James Johnston (Worcester Warriors/ENG), Nuuli Lene (Oriental Rongotai/NZL), Zak Taulafo (Stade Français/FRA)
Hookers : Seilala Lam (Nevers/FRA), Manu Leiataua (Aurillac/FRA), Motu Matu'u (Hurricanes/NZL)
Locks : Talaga Alofipo (Vaimoso), Piula Faasalele (Castres Olympique/FRA), Fa'atiga Lemalu (Sunwolves/JPN), Filo Paulo (Benetton Treviso/ITA)
Backrow : Elia Elia (University of Canterbury/NZL), Oneone Fa'afou (Vaiala), Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Bath/ENG), Greg Foe (Wellington Lions/NZL), TJ Ioane (Sale Sharks/ENG), Jack Lam (Bristol/ENG), Jeff Lepa (Tasman Makos/NZL), Faifili Levave (Toyota Verblitz/JPN)
Scrumhalves : Pele Cowley (Counties Manukau/NZL), Auvasa Faleali'i (Nevers/FRA), Dwayne Polataivao (Pakuranga/NZL)
Flyhalves : Patrick Fa'apale (Vaiala), D'Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe/NZL), Tusi Pisi (Sunwolves/JPN), Mike Stanley (Old Elthamians/ENG)
Centres : Faialaga Afamasaga (SCOPA Rugby Club), Rey Lee Lo (Cardiff Blues/WAL), Paul Perez (Stade Toulousain/FRA), Winston Stanley (Harlequins/ENG)
Wingers : Alofa Alofa (La Rochelle/FRA), Malu Falaniko (Vaiala), David Lemi (Bristol/ENG), Isaia Petelo (Marist St Pats/NZL), Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby/NZL)a
Fullbacks : Fa'atoina Autagavaia (Nevers/FRA), Tim Nanai Williams (Ricoh Black Rams/JPN)

Georgia
Props : Karlen Asieshvili (Brive/FRA), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français/FRA), Anton Peikrishvili (Bayonne/FRA), Irakli Mirtskhulava (Tarbes/FRA), Nikoloz Khatiashvili (Aurillac/FRA)
Hookers : Jaba Bregvadze (Worcester Warriors/ENG), Shalva Mamukashvili (Glasgow Warriors/SCO)
Locks : Nodar Cheisvhili (Lelo Saracens), Giorgi Chkhaidze (unattached), Giorgi Nemsadze (Tarbes/FRA)
Backrow : Giga Tkhilaishvili (Batumi), Lasha Lomidze (Béziers/FRA), Shalva Sutiashvili (Soyaux-Angoulême/FRA), Beka Bitsadze (Chambery/FRA), Saba Shubitidze (Academia Tbilisi), Giorgi Mchedlishvili (Jiki Gori)
Scrumhalves : Giorgi Begadze (Qochebi Bolnisi), Vazha Khutsishvili (Locomotive Tbilisi)
Flyhalves : Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Saracens), Lasha Malaguradze (Krasny Yar/RUS), Revaz Jinchvelashvili (Aia Kutaisi)
Centres : Tamaz Mchedlidze (Agen/FRA), Merab Sharikadze (Aurillac/FRA), Davit Kacharava (Enisei-STM/RUS)
Wingers : Sandro Todua (Lelo Saracens), Giorgi Pruidze (Aia Kutaisi), Anzor Sichinava (Academia Tbilisi)
Fullbacks : Merab Kvirikashvili (Montluçon/FRA), Beka Tsiklauri (Locomotive Tbilisi)


Most of these squads missed some key players
As for Georgia, the team will play without their their Top14 players who are qualifyied for the play off : Gorgodze, Chilachava, Mikautadze (all Toulon), Nariashvili, Kubriashvili (both Montpellier), Kolelishvili (Clermont), Kakovin (Stade Toulousain). Scrumhalf Lobzhanidze (Armazi), eightman Gorgadze (Stade Montois) and prop Melikidze (Stade Français) who took part of the 6 Nations B will play U20 World Championship. Aptsiauri is suspended and Giorgadze is injured.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

No Veainu for Tonga WTF?!?!?!?