The Georgian national rugby union team defeated Russia 36:10 at the 204 Nations Cup and in the 2015 World Cup qualifying match and guaranteed playing in England two rounds before the end of the qualifying round.

“The Lelos” will play at World Cup four times in a row but the fight has not finished yet. The managers of the Georgian Rugby Union and the rugby players stated their goal is to finish the qualifying round in the first place in order to be in Group C with current champion New Zealand.

Despite the result, it was not the best match of our team. Natural conditions were the reason. The team was preparing in dry and  warm weather for the whole week. On the day of the match it started raining and it caused us problem. The Russian team did its best, especially in the first half and used the mistakes of the Georgians.

Besides beating Russia, it was expected that “Boris Paichadze” stadium would be crowded and it happened. All 45 000 tickets have been sold but more people wanted to attend the match on the stadium. 50 000 spectators supported the Georgian national team and it is good because Bernard Lapasset, chairman of the International Rugby Board, attended this match. He saw how the Georgian people love rugby and perhaps, the IRB will support Georgia more.

Unfortunately, the tribunes were crowded because our opponent was Russia. The stadium has never been crowded in the match against Romania which is stronger than Russia. Hopefully, this tradition will not continue and on March 15 “Mikheil Meskhi” stadium will be crowded for the most important match.

While the Russian anthem the fans started booing and it was not good in the attendance of Lapasset. It is not acceptable for the rugby traditions. But it comes to Russia, these traditions are left behind for the most Georgians. The fans had posters and flags in support of Ukraine. They showed Russia that Georgia supports Ukraine.

The match started with a minute of silence in memory of 30-year-old Zaza Balishvili, former rugby player of the Georgian national team, and other deceased people who died in Ukraine. The match started and “The Lelos” were to advance but it did not happen. Finally, Merab Kvirikashvili who was named as the best player of the match broke the line and shot the ball. Kvirikashvili and Levan Datunashvili had a chance to score try but “Meko” caught the ball. However, he slipped on the wet grass and Russia survived from 7 points.

The first minutes showed that the Georgian rugby players could not play well in offence. The line was broke several times but they could not score try. Russia defended itself well. Yuri Kushnarev shot high balls and caused problems to the Georgians. At the 11^th minute Andrey Otrokov scored try and after the conversion the score became 7:0.

The unexpected beginning made 50 Russian fans happy. It was followed by the mistake of Giorgi Begadze who threw the ball out. Alexei Makovetskiy caught the ball and assisted Alexander Voytov but the Georgian defense played well. The territorial advantage paid off at the 19^th minute but Kvirikashvili missed penalty from 40 meters.

In spite of that, the Georgians could not play well their advantage was obvious. Soon Kvirikashvili scored penalty from a short distance.

At the 26^th minute Mamuka Gorgodze won lineout and Zirakashvili scored try. Like the match in Trabzon, Zirakashvili scored the first try and the match went on like a few years ago. Before the break Kushnarev had a chance to restore balance but he missed penalty from 40 meters and the first half finished 10:7.

While the break Milton Haig, head coach of the Georgian national team, gave good instructions to the Georgians and the second half proved it. Vito Kolelishvili scored try and Kvirikashvili used conversion. The Georgians started playing more freely.

At the 51^st minute Gorgodze won the lineout and Zirakashvili broke the line. Mamuka Gorgodze scored the third try. Kvirikashvili used this conversion too. Soon Kushnarev scored penalty but it could not save the “Bears”.

 “The Lelos” need another try for gaining bonus point and they had two chances. The Georgians could not use the first chance but at the 71^st minute Tezo Zibzibadze who was a substitute scored try.

It is worth mentioning that the substitutes played well. The play of Zurab Zhvania is worth mentioning. At the end of the match the Georgians scored penalty try. Finally, the match finished 36:10 in the favor of the Georgians.

The 2014 European Nations Cup. The 2015 World Cup qualifying round

II circle. III round

February 22

Tbilisi. “Boris Paichadze”. 50 000 spectators

Georgia – Russia 36:10 (10:7)

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili (23. Lasha Malaghuradze 72), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (cap.), 13. Davit Kacharava (22. Tedo Zibzibadze 65), 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Tamaz Mchedlidze, 10. Lasha Khmaladze, 9. Giorgi Begadze (21. Vazha Khutsishvili 69); 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (17. Zurab Zhvania 56), 2. Jaba Bregvadze (16. Shalva Mamukashvili 56), 3. Davit Zirakashvili (18. Levan Chilachava 56), 4. Kote Mikautadze, 5. Levan Datunashvili (19. Giorgi Nemsadze 65), 6. Vito Kolelishvili, 7. Mamuka Gorgodze, 8. Dimitri Basilaia (20. Giorgi Chkhaidze 56).

5 tries: Zirakashvili, Kolelishvili, Gorgodze, Zibzibadze, penalty (Chkhaidze)

4 conversions: Kvirikashvili (3), Malaghuradze

1 penalty: Kvirikashvili

Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)

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

Russia: 15. Vasily Artemyev, 14. Andrey Otrokov ( 22. Sergey Sugrobov 74), 13. Dimitry Gerasimov (23. Vladimir Rudenko 79), 12. Alexei Makovetskiy, 11. Igor Galinovsky, 10. Yuri Kushnarev, 9. Alexander Yanushkin (21. Anton Ryabov 62); 1. Aleksey Volkov (17. Sergey Sekisov 56), 2. Vladislav Korshunov (16. Stanislav Selsky 43), 3. Andrey Igretsov (18. Innokenty Zykov 60), 4. Alexander Voytov (19. Pavel Butenko 49), 5. Kiril Kulemin, 6. Andrey Ostrikov, 7. Andrei Temnov, 8. Viktor Gresev (20. Alexander Khudiakov 58).

1 try: Otrokov

1 conversion: Kushnarev

1 penalty: Kushnarev

Head coach: Kingsley Jones (Wales)

Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)

Assistant referees: Arnaud Blondel, Jonathan Gasnier

Romania – Spain 32:6

Belgium – Portugal 6:19

March 8

 Spain - Georgia

Russia - Portugal

Romania - Belgium

Zura Ksovreli