The Georgian national rugby union team defeated Romania 22:9 in the last match of the 2014 Nations Cup and the 2015 World Cup qualifying round. The team maintained “Nations Cup” and “Antimoz Iverieli Cup”, got in the desired group at World Cup, will play Ireland on “Aviva” in November. Before that, coaches of the teams held a press conference.

Lynn Howells: “We lacked a player 30 minutes and it impacted on the match. You won the match deservedly and I, as a coach of the Romanians, am disappointed. Our main goal was playing at World Cup. Georgia wanted to take the first place but I cannot say that Group C is an easy one.

I think our scrum offered a good resistance to Georgia but we could not maintain the ball and that is why we lost. Georgia and Romania must hold more matches against strong countries. Even regular playing Samoa, Fiji and Tonga is very important”.

Milton Haig: “Not only the rugby players but the whole management was very tense. That is why we were scored penalties in the first minutes but then, we calmed down and improved the playing quality. We all know Romania has a strong team with good scrum and we could not gain advantage in it but we managed to beat the opponent by other methods. We have to work hard before World Cup. For me it is a great feeling to play “All Blacks”. Now we will celebrate this victory and then, will start preparing for the future matches.

Our goal will be to win two matches in England. Georgia has held some matches against Argentina, including under my guidance in June and I think we did not play badly. I know Tonga and we can beat it. The Tbilisi chance is ahead and many will have a chance to show themselves. Todua, Khinchagishvili, Zhgenti – we have a list with 40 players on it and everybody will play. I want to mention the role of the spectators who helped us in the last 20 minutes and there are not enough words to express our gratitude toward them”.

Irakli Machkhaneli: “We were very happy after the final whistle. We had a very tough week and we were worrying after the mistakes we made in Spain. We had a pretension that we are the seventh team in Europe and I think we justified all hopes by winning the final. Our team has grown and this victory is very good for the future generations”.

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 24:28

Belgium – Russia 20:34

Zura Ksovreli