LELOS name extended squad for Dublin
TUE, 24
September, 2002
*Amended THU, 26 September, 2002
Georgia announced 25-strong squad
for their
trip to Dublin where the LELOS clash with
Ireland on Saturday, 28 September,
KO 19 hrs Georgia Time
The only notable absentee is flanker Guia Labadze, who cracked his
cheekbone when playing for Toulon on last weekend
Lock Victor Didebulidze led the team in this summer's warm-ups
in place of prop Levan Tsabadze and is likely to retain captaincy
Georgia and Ireland have met once before: on 14 Nov 1998, the
Shamrocks scored ten tries and won at Lansdowne Road by 70-0
in the RWC'99 qualifier
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the LELOS actually fielded
that day their second XV (11 reserves plus ONLY 4 starters as
the tournament squad was limited to 26 players) whilst Ireland
were at their best. Four days later full-strength Georgia played
Romania in the crucial eliminator, lost 23-27 and were sent to the
Repechages where they could not outwit Pacific Islanders from Tonga
XV:
15 Bessik Khamashuridze, 11 Badri Khekhelashvili, 14 Malkhaz Urjukashvili;
13 Tedo Zibzibadze, 12 Kakha Alania, 10 Paul Jimsheladze;
9 Irakli Abusseridze /
1 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 2 Akvsenti Guiorgadze, 3 Levan Tsabadze;
4 Vano Nadiradze, 5 Victor Didebulidze CAPT;
6 David Bolghashvili, 7 George Chkhaidze, 8 Ilia Zedguinidze
BENCH: 22 Otar Barkalaia*, 21 Vassil Katsadze, 20 Elguja Iovadze /
16 Mevlud Mtiulishvili, 17 Tariel Ratianidze, 18 Zurab Mtchedlishvili,
19 Irakli Gundishvili*
EMERGENCIES: David Ashvetia (prop), Zviad Matiashvili* (back row),
George Elizbarashvili* (back three)
* New Cap
* For more detailed info HIT PLAYERS TESTS