The Georgia national rugby union team started the second round match of European Championship perfectly and Davit Kacharava scored try in the first minute. Fans believed we would have beat Portugal easily but it did not happen and this victory turned out to be tough – 20:15.

The Georgia national team tried to attack quickly but made a lot of mistakes which did not let us finish offences logically. Besides that, Portugal found a good way to stop our scrum.

The first minute was the best when our back line attacked so that the opponent could do nothing: Giorgi Begadze started offence which finished with try of Davit Kacharava. Kvirikashvili missed conversion but 5:0 gave a great hope to everybody.

But it did not happen. Portugal spent the next 9 minutes on our half and we were not good at scrum. It seemed Romanian referee wanted to take this advantage from the Georgians and he did it.

Portugal scored 3 points during these 9 minutes on our half. Pedro Bettencourt Avila scored penalty and he scored another at the 16^th minute. Before that the Georgians made a good offence. Lasha Lomidze scored try but before that he touched sideline. At the 23^rd minute while the Georgians were making offence, the opponent hit the ball on purpose but he did not receive a yellow card. Kvirikashvili scored penalty.

At the 29^th minute Portugal scored penalty – 8:9.

In spite of that the Georgians often made mistakes, they played much better than Portugal and won the first half 17:9. “The Lelos” wanted to earn bonus point. They needed to score three tries. Kvirikashvili started offence and Kacharava scored try.

At the 67^th minute we made foul in scrum and the referee sin-binned Shalva Sutiashvili. Avila minimized the score by penalty.

Soon our scrum proved the referee was wrong and beat the opponent with 7 players. Portugal made foul and the referee had to sin-bin the Portuguese player. Kvirikashvili scored penalty. However, Portugal defended itself well. Mamukashvili left the field due to injury. Probably, he has a knee problem.

Later, the referee sin-binned Zurab Zhvania. Bettencourt scored penalty and the difference was only 5 points (20:15). “The Lelos” will hold the next match against Spain in Madrid.

2015 European Rugby Championship

II round. 14 February

Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”

Georgia – Portugal 20:15 (14:9)

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili, 14. Tamaz Mchedlidze, 13. Davit Kacharava, 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Muraz Giorgadze (23. Giorgi Aptsiauri 80+), 10. Lasha Malaguradze (22. Lasha Khmaladze 50), 9. Giorgi Begadze (21. Vasil Lonzhanidze 61); 1. Karlen Aseishvili (17. Mikheil Nariashvili 41), 2. Zurab Zhvania (16. Shalva Mamukashvili 41), 3. Levan Chilachava (18. Davit Zirakashvili 41), 4. Giorgi Chkhaidze (19. Giorgi Nemsadze 61), 5. Kote Mikautadze, 6. Dimitri Basilaia, 7. Shalva Sutiashvili, 8. Lasha Lomidze (20. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili 61).

1 try: Kacharava

5 penalties: Kvirikashvili

2 sin-binned: Sutiashvili (67), Zhvania (80+)

Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)

Coaches: Ilia Maisuradze, Ilia Zedginidze, Irakli Machkhaneli, Michael Bradley (Ireland), Didier Bes (France)

Portugal: Pedro Bettencourt Avila, 14. Manuel Murteira (Manuel Vilela Pereira 53), Francisco Appleton, 12. Tomas Appleton, 11. Tomas Noronha (Martins 75-80+), 10. Nuno Penha e Costa, 9. Francisco Magalhaes; 1. Francisco Fernandes, 2. Michael Tadjer, 3. Tony Martins (Bruno Rocha 53-62, 69), 4. David Dusreis, 5. Miguel Vilas (Salvador Vasalu), 6. Vasco Uva (cap.), 7. Julien Bardy, 8. Francisco Sousa.

5 penalties: Bettencourt Avila

1 sin-binned: Rocha (72)

Referee: Vlad Iordachescu

Linesmen: Radu Petrescu, Ionut Bodea

Romania - Spain 29:8

Germany – Russia 22:46

III round. 28 February

Spain - Georgia

Russia - Romania

Portugal - Germany