The head coaches of the Georgian and the Russian national teams named those 23 rugby players who will play in the upcoming match.

There are some changes in the Georgian national team. The team has become stronger. Young Merab Sharikadze did not play in Lisbon due to injury. Now he is back in the team. Tedo Zibzibadze is a substitute. Giorgi Shkinini cannot play due to groin injury. Tamaz Mchedlidze will replace him.

Jaba Bregvadze and Davit Zirakashvili are back in the scrum. Zirakashvili has not played since last June. Mamuka Gorgodze is back in the third line. He missed the previous two matches due to injury.

On February 22, in case of beating Russia, the Georgians will guarantee playing at World Cup. It will be the 70^th match for captain Irakli Machkhaneli. Levan Datunashvili will hold the 60^th match and Giorgi Begadze will hold the 20^th match in “The Lelos”.

“Playing Russia is always great event for us – we know what it means for our fans and country. Saturday’s match will unite all Georgian athletes and I know they will support us. As for the rugby players of the Georgian national team, it is a great opportunity for them to continue working on themselves. We were preparing for the whole week and we must play our best game on Saturday” – stated Milton Haig, head coach of “The Lelos”.

The 2014 European Nations Cup. The 2015 World Cup qualifying

II circle. III round

February 22

Tbilisi. “Dinamo Arena”. 17:00

Georgia – Russia

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili (“Vienne”, France, 74 caps, 515 points), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (“Armazi”, Tbilisi, cap. 69, 120), 13. Davit Kacharava (“Yenisey”, Russia, 70, 70), 12.  Merab Sharikadze (“Bourg-en-Bresse”, France, 20, 35), 11. Tamaz Mchedlidze (“Bourg-en-Bresse”, France, 12, 15), 10. Lasha Khmaladze (“Lelo”, Tbilisi, 28, 15), 9. Giorgi Begadze (“Kochebi”, Tbilisi, 19, 0); 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (“Montpellier”, France, 16, 5), 2. Jaba Bregvadze (“Toulousain”, France, 21, 5), 3. Davit Zirakashvili (“Clermont”, France, 42, 35), 4. Kote Mikautadze (“Toulonnais”, France, 17, 5), 5. Levan Datunashvili (“Aurillac”, France, 59, 15), 6. Vito Kolelishvili (“Lyon”, France, 26, 10), 7. Mamuka Gorgodze (“Montpellier”, France, 54, 110), 8. Dimitri Basilaia (“Edinburgh”, Scotland, 30, 25).

Substitutes: 16. Shalva Mamukashvili (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 18, 5), 17. Zurab Zhvania (“Stade Francais”, France, 5, 0), 18. Levan Chilachava (“Toulonnais”, France, 12, 15), 19. Giorgi Nemsadze (“Tarbes”, France, 35, 35), 20.  Giorgi Chkhaidze (“Tarbes”, France, 72, 45), 21. Vazha Khutsishvili (“Kharebi”, Rustavi, 8, 0), 22. Tedo Zibzibadze (“Perigueux”, France, 73, 100), 23. Lasha Malaghuradze (“Bagneres”, France, 43, 105).

Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)

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

Russia: 15. Vasily Artemyev (“Krasny Yar”), 14. Andrey Otrokov (“Krasny Yar”), 13. Dimitry Gerasimov (“Yenisey-STM”), 12. Alexei Makovetskiy (“Krasny Yar”), 11. Igor Galinovsky (“Krasny Yar”), 10. Yuri Kushnarev (“Kuban”), 9. Alexander Yanushkin (“VVA-Podmoskovye”); 1. Aleksey Volkov (“VVA-Podmoskovye”), 2. Vladislav Korshunov (“VVA-Podmoskovye”), 3. Andrey Igretsov (“Slava”), 4. Alexander Voytov (“VVA-Podmoskovye”), 5. Kiril Kulemin (“Sale Sharks”, England), 6. Andrey Ostrikov (“Sale Sharks”, England), 7. Andrei Temnov (“Yenisey-STM”), 8. Viktor Gresev (“Krasny Yar”).

Substitutes: 16. Stanislav Selsky (“Yenisey-STM”), 17. Sergey Sekisov (“Slava”), 18. Innokenty Zykov (“Yenisey-STM”), 19. Pavel Butenko (“Yenisey-STM”), 20. Alexander Khudiakov (“Krasny Yar”), 21. Anton Ryabov (“Krasny Yar”), 22. Sergey Sugrobov, 23. Vladimir Rudenko (“Krasny Yar”).

Head coach: Kingsley Jones (Wales)

Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)

Assistant referees: Arnaud Blondel, Jonathan Gasnier

Romania – Spain

Belgium – Portugal

Zura Ksovreli