Before the match between the Georgian and the Belgian national rugby union teams, the head coaches and the Belgian captain held a press conference in the press conference hall of “Avchala” stadium. 

Richard McClintock, the French head coach of the Belgian team, is sure his team has not arrived in Tbilisi for victory. That is why he did not bring 10 lineup rugby players to Tbilisi. Captain Michael De Molder agrees with the coach.

The Georgian national team is mobilized. The rugby players remember the previous match in Brussels and are fully concentrated.

The match will start at 15:00 on “Avchala” stadium. It is very cold in Tbilisi. Hopefully, the weather will not prevent the rugby players.

The 2014 “Nations Cup” is the qualifying match of the 2015 World Cup. The first-second-placed teams will play in England. The third-placed will play in intercontinental repechage. So, each match is important.

Press conference

Richard McClintock (head coach of the Belgian national team): “Last year the Georgian national team did not know us. We were holding the first match in “A” Division of “Nations Cup” and I think they did not appreciate us. The Georgians needed a half to get to know us. The situation has changed since then. I think they know us better now.

We are a neighboring country of France but there are more Georgians than the Belgians. The French are taking young rugby players from us and they are brought up in young clubs. But it will be paid off in the future. I do not like that so many young players leave the country.

Tomorrow’s match is not as important for us as against Spain, Portugal and Russia. We will have a chance to beat them. We have not come here for victory. We will hold a very important match in Madrid in a week and 10 lineup rugby players are having a rest. I did not bring them here and I gave young players chance to show themselves. They will gain experience by playing the Georgian national team.

It is real Belgian weather and it does not cause us problem”.

Michael De Molder (captain of the Belgian national team):  “I am satisfied I have a chance to play the Georgian national team. Thank you for greeting us. We know we will gain experience by playing the Georgians. We are satisfied by playing in “A” Division of “Nations Cup”. Now our goal is to win a match but we do not expect this victory tomorrow”.

Milton Haig (head coach of the Georgian national team): “It will snow tomorrow. The field will get soft and it will cause us problem. Last year we did not appreciate our opponent. Generally, the Georgian national team finds it hard to play in the first match of the season. Now we have prepared for Belgium. Everybody realized there is no team to beat easily. We respect our opponent. The boys know that disrespect in rugby is fatal.

After beating Samoa our goal is to keep playing this way. The match against Samoa also showed that we made a lot of mistakes and we must improve them. Of course, the weather will cause us problem but our goal is to improve the standard.

I repeat Belgium is not an easy opponent. The fact that debutants play in the Belgian team does not mean anything. When a rugby player plays for the national team for the first time, he becomes a “bulletproof”. The most important match will be against Romania in the last round. This match played perfectly in November”.  

The 2014 Nations Cup. The 2015 World Cup Qualifying

II circle. I round

February 1. Saturday

Tbilisi. “Avchala”. 15:00

Georgia – Belgium

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili (“Vienne”, France, 72 caps, 476 points), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (“Armazi”, Tbilisi, cap. 67, 115), 13. Davit Kacharava (“Yenisey”, Russia, 68, 65), 12. Merab Sharikadze (“Bourg-an-Bresse”, France, 19, 30), 11. Giorgi Shkinini (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 36, 30), 10. Lasha Khmaladze (“Lelo”, Tbilisi, 26, 15), 9. Giorgi Begadze (“Kochebi”, Tbilisi, 17); 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (“Montpellier”, France, 14, 5), 2. Jaba Bregvadze (“Toulousain”, France, 19, 5) 3. Davit Kubriashvhili (“Stade Francais”, France, 32, 10), 4. Kote Mikautadze (“Toulonnais”, France, 15), 5. Levan Datunashvili (“Aurillac”, France, 57, 15), 6. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 8), 7. Giorgi Chkhaidze (“Tarbes”, France, 70, 40), 8. Dimitri Basilaia (“Edinburgh”, Scotland, 28, 25).

Substitutes: 16. Shalva Mamukashvili (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 16, 5), 17. Zurab Zhvania (“Stade Francais”, France, 3), 18. Levan Chilachava (“Toulonnais”, France, 10, 15), 19. Giorgi Nemsadze (“Tarbes”, France, 33, 35), 20. Vito Kolelishvili (“Lyon”, France, 24, 10); 21. Vazha Khutsishvili (“Kharebi”, Rustavi, 6), 22. Lasha Malaghuradze (“Bagneres”, France, 41, 105), 23. Beka Tsiklauri (“Lokomotiv”, Tbilisi, 12, 52).

Not on the list: Irakli Mirtskhulava (“Tarbes”, France), Shalva Sutiashvili (“Massy”, France), Givi Berishvili (“Lokomotiv”, Tbilisi), Tedo Zibzibadze (“Perigueux”, France), Tamaz Mchedlidze (“Bourg-an-Bresse”, France), Levan Gogolashvili (“Kochebi”, Tbilisi).

Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)

Belgium: 15. Silven Rus, 14. Tornike Megrelidze, 13. Guillaume Brebant, 12. Guillaume Piron, 11. Mark Chonge, 10. Christopher Brown, 9. Hendrik Brouwers; 1. Julien Massimi, 2. Thomas Dienst, 3. Maxime Jadot, 4. Cyrille Nana, 5. Pierre Hendrickx, 6. Julien Morelli, 7. Michael De Molder (cap.), 8. Denis Eppe.

Substitutes: 16. Bastian Vermeylen, 17. Alain Miriallakis, 18. Andre Kouemou, 19. Briok Frater, 20. Coranten Le Clu, 21. Simon Marote, 22. Floran Debaty, 23. Alain Williams.

Head coach: Richard McClintock

Referee: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)

Assistant referees: Radu Petrescu, Ionut Bodea

Romania – Portugal

Spain – Russia 

Zura Ksovreli