The coaches of the Georgian and the Romanian national rugby union teams held a traditional press conference 24 hours before the final match of the 2014 Nations Cup and the 2015 World Cup Qualifying.

This afternoon box offices of “Mikheil Meskhi” were already closed because there was no tickets remained. There were some second-hand dealers who had tickets. They were selling 3 and 5 GEL tickets.

Tomorrow “Mikheil Meskhi” must be crowded. The Prime Minister of Romania will attend tomorrow’s match. He is going to pay an official visit to Georgia.

Lynn Howells, head coach of the Romanian national team, and captain Mihai Macovei held the press conference.

Lynn Howells: “We are expecting a tough match. I think we will show a beautiful match to the spectators. We know the stadium will be crowded and it increases our motivation. We will try to show our Prime Minister that rugby is the most successful sport in our country and perhaps, interest will be increased toward us.

The surface of the field is very good and the both teams have all conditions to show the spectators a beautiful rugby. Our main goal was to play at World Cup and it does not matter which group we will play. I, as a Welsh, want to play New Zealand on “Millennium” in Cardiff”.

Mihai Macovei: “I am happy to play in front of the crowded tribunes. Hopefully, we will show ourselves well. It is a great honor for me to play on the stadium where “Webb Ellis Cup” will be presented”.

“World Sport” asked the guests if the fact that FIRA has a Romanian president will have impact on the match. Lucan Lorini, press attaché of the Romanian Rugby Union, replied: “No impact”.

Milton Haig: “There are some changes in the team. It is good that Davit Zirakashvili and Mikheil Nariashvili are back in the team. We made five changes in the scrum. Romania is a different team from Nations Cup participants. Hopefully, we will play well this time.

Samoa was a different team and we held a different match with it. We made about 230 tackled in that match and did our best. We play higher level teams at the European Nations Cup. Here we play weaker teams and we make some experiments. We think more about offence and fulfilling plans.

We had the back liners of the youth team at the meetings but we cannot call them up for the national team yet. They are good players and will play for the national team in the future.

The fact that “Webb Ellis Cup” is here is very emotional. It means a lot for rugby fans and me. Our goal is to play in Group C at World Cup and tomorrow we will our best to achieve this goal”.

 

The 2014 European Nations Cup. The 2015 World Cup Qualifying

II circle. V round

March 15

Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”. 17:00

Georgia – Romania

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili (“Vienne”, France, 76 caps, 538 points), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (“Armazi”, Tbilisi, cap., 71, 120), 13. Davit Kacharava (“Yenisey”, Russia, 71, 70), 12. Merab Sharikadze (“Bourg-en-Bresse”, France, 22, 35), 11. Tamaz Mchedlidze (“Bourg-en-Bresse”, France, 14, 15), 10. Lasha Khmaladze (“Lelo”, Tbilisi, 30, 15), 9. Giorgi Begadze (“Kochebi”, Tbilisi, 21, 0); 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (“Montpellier”, France, 17, 5), 2. Jaba Bregvadze (“Toulousain”, France, 23, 5), 3. Davit Zirakashvili (“Clermont”, France, 43, 40), 4. Kote Mikautadze (“Toulonnais”, France, 19, 5), 5. Levan Datunashvili (“Aurillac”, France, 60, 15), 6. Vito Kolelishvili (“Lyon”, France, 27, 15), 7. Mamuka Gorgodze (“Montpellier”, France, 56, 120), 8. Dimitri Basilaia (“Edinburgh”, Scotland, 31, 25).

Substitutes: 16. Shalva Mamukashvili (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 20, 5), 17. Anton Peikrishvili (“Castres”, France, 11, 0), 18. Levan Chilachava (“Toulonnais”, France, 14, 15), 19. Giorgi Nemsadze (“Tarbes”, France, 37, 35), 20. Giorgi Chkhaidze (“Tarbes”, France, 74, 50), 21. Vazha Khutsishvili (“Kharebi”, Rustavi, 10, 0), 22. Tedo Zibzibadze (“Perigueux”, France, 75, 110), 23. Lasha Malaghuradze (“Bagneres”, France, 45, 107).

Not on the list: Zurab Zhvania (“Stade Francais”, France, 7, 0), Givi Berishvili (“Lokomotiv”, Tbilisi, 15, 0), Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 10, 5), Shalva Sutiashvili (“Massy”, France, 41, 5); Beka Tsiklauri (“Lokomotiv”, Tbilisi, 14, 52), Irakli Kiasashvili (“Lelo”, Tbilisi,14, 29).

Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)

Coaches: Ilia Maisuradze, Ilia Zedginidze, Michael Bradley (Ireland), Didier Bess (France)

Romania: 15. Catalin Fercu (“Timisoara”, Romania), 14. Madalin Lemnaru (“Timisoara”, Romania), 13. Csaba Gal (“Baia Mare”, Romania), 12. Robert Dascalu (“Steaua”, Romania), 11. Ionut Dumitru (“Steaua”, Romania), 10. Florin Vlaicu (“Constanta”, Romania), 9. Valentin Calafeteanu (“Timisoara”, Romania); 1. Mihai Lazar (“Castres”, France), 2. Andrei Radoi (“Ealing Trailfinders”, England), 3. Paulica Ion (“Perpignan”, France), 4. Marius Sirbe (“Tarbes”, France), 5. Valentin Popirlan (“Timisoara”, Romania), 6. Viorel Lucaci (“Steaua”, Romania), 7. Mihai Macovei (“Saint-Nazaire”, France, cap.), 8. Stelian Burcea (“Timisoara”, Romania).

Substitutes: 16. Eugen Capatana (“Timisoara”, Romania), 17, Andrei Ursache (“Carcassonne”, France), 18. Horatiu Pungea (“Scarlets”, Wales), 19. Cristian Munteanu (USRP), 20. Vlad Nistor (“Castres”, France), 21. Dorin Manole (“Orthez”, France), 22. Florin Surugiu (“Bucuresti”, Romania), 23. Cristian Dinis (“Baia Mare”, Romania).

 

Portugal – Spain

Belgium – Russia 

 

1	Romania	9	8	1	0	233-84	38
2	Georgia	9	8	1	0	264-97	37
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

 

All matches of Georgia and Romania

17 (7 home, 8 away, 2 neutral) 8-8-1; P.: 310:324; T.: 26:29

1998. November 18

Dublin (Ireland). World Cup Qualifying

Romania - Georgia 27:23

2000. April 2

Tbilisi. “National”. Nations Cup

Georgia - Romania 20:23

2001. April 7

Bucharest. Nations Cup

Romania - Georgia 20:31

2002. April 6

Tbilisi. “National”. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Georgia - Romania 23:31

2003. March 30

Tbilisi. “National”. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Georgia - Romania 6:19

2004. March 27

Iasi (Romania). Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Romania - Georgia 25:18

2005. March 12

Tbilisi. “National”. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Georgia - Romania 20:13

2006. February 25

Bucharest. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Romania - Georgia 35:10

2006. October 7

Bucharest. World Cup Qualifying

Romania - Georgia 20:8

2007. February 3

Bucharest. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Romania - Georgia 17:20

2008. February 9

Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Georgia - Romania 22:7

2009. March 14

Tbilisi. “National”. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Georgia - Romania 28:23

2010. March 13

Bucharest. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Romania - Georgia 22:10

2011. March 12

Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Georgia - Romania 18:11

2011. September 28

New Zealand. Pamerstone. World Cup

Georgia - Romania 25:9

2012. March 10

Bucharest. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Romania - Geogria 13:19

2013. March 16

Bucharest. Nations Cup+A.I.C.

Romania - Georgia 9:9

 

Zura Ksovreli