The Georgian national rugby union team proved once again that it is the team and you must respect each member of it.
“The Lelos” not only gained victory but showed us once again there is no unsolved problem. They not only beat Romania but shoed the Georgian people that rugby is our game.
Before the match against Romania, the Georgians had won four matches but it was the most important and the toughest opponent. Only 20-30-minute resistance means a lot from Romania which is a participant of World Cup. Georgia is not only the seventh team in Europe but it has gone far and everybody sees it.
But we are not elite and the Romanians used our mistakes – they advanced 9:3 but then, Merab Kvirikashvili minimized the score by penalty and Davit Zirakashvili scored try. Kvirikashvili used conversion and then, scored penalty – 16:9.
In the second half the opponent did not have a chance to do something. “The Lelos” were more close to scoring another try. So, the Georgian national team won the 2014 Nations Cup, kept the Antimoz Iverieli Cup, will play in the desired group at World Cup and guaranteed playing Ireland in November. The spectators on the tribune saw that the Georgian national team is worth supporting and hopefully, it will always be tough to get tickets on rugby matches.
Georgia has won Nations Cup for the seventh time, gained victory at this level for the 9th time, completed “Grand Slam” (beat all opponents) for the 4th time and won “Antimoz Iverieli Cup” for the 8th time; will play in Group C at the 2015 World Cup where New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and winners of the African qualifying round will be our rivals; in November “The Lelos” will visit Ireland on “Aviva”.
The 2014 European Nations Cup. The 2015 World Cup Qualifying
II circle. V round
March 15
Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”. 27 000 spectators
Georgia – Romania 22:9 (16:9)
Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili (23. Lasha Malaghuradze 61), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (cap.), 13. Davit Kacharava, 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Tamaz Mchedlidze (22. Tedo Zibzibadze 57), 10. Lasha Khmaladze, 9. Giorgi Begadze (21. Vazha Khutsishvili 70); 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (17. Anton Peikrishvili 57), 2. Jaba Bregvadze (16. Shalva Mamukashvili 52), 3. Davit Zirakashvili (18. Levan Chilachava 57), 4. Kote Mikautadze (19. Giorgi Nemsadze 61), 5. Levan Datunashvili, 6. Vito Kolelishvili (20. Giorgi Chkhaidze 67), 7. Mamuka Gorgodze, 8. Dimitri Basilaia.
1 try: Zirakashvili
1 conversion: Kvirikashvili
5 penalties: Kvirikashvili (4), Malaghuradze
Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)
Coaches: Ilia Maisuradze, Ilia Zedginidze, Michael Bradley (Ireland), Didier Bess (France)
Romania: 15. Catalin Fercu, 14. Madalin Lemnaru (23. Cristian Dinis 70), 13. Csaba Gal, 12. Robert Dascalu (22. Florin Surugiu 61), 11. Ionut Dumitru (21. Dorin Manole 52), 10. Florin Vlaicu, 9. Valentin Calafeteanu; 1. Mihai Lazar (17. Andrei Ursache 61), 2. Andrei Radoi (16. Eugen Capatana 74), 3. Paulica Ion (18. Horatiu Pungea 74), 4. Marius Sirbe, 5. Valentin Popirlan, 6. Viorel Lucaci, 7. Mihai Macovei, 8. Stelian Burcea.
Did not play: 19. Cristian Munteanu, 20. Vlad Nistor.
3 penalties: Vlaicu
3 sin-binned: Gal, Lucaci, Calafeteanu
Portugal – Spain
Belgium – Russia
| 1. | Georgia | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 286:106 | 41 | |
| 2. | Romania | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 242:106 | 38 | |
| 3. | Russia | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 185:229 | 23 | |
| 4. | Portugal | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 121:194 | 11 | |
| 5. | Spain | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 131:219 | 11 | |
| 6. | Belgium | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 114:225 | 6 |
Zura Ksovreli
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