Katsadze switched from centre to
flanker
Wed, 20 March, 2002
ENC'2001 Champions, LELOS of Georgia meet Spain at Madrid University
Ground on Sun, 24 March, in the penultimate round of this year's ENC,
doubling as RWC'2003 Classifying tournament. The kick-off is set for
12:30 LOCAL TIME (CET) = 15:30 GeoT = 11:30 GMT
After drawing with Russia in the previous round, Georgia have already
secured a bye to the Stage 4(D) of European Qualifiers but finishing
on top of the ENC's two-year aggregate table still remains LELOS'
priority since the best team of ENC fold will be placed in the
easier pool alongside Italy and probably the 4th-best of the
aforementioned aggregate, and will host the latter come October 2002
For the Madrid clash LELOS are deprived of services of three first-
choice forwards: utility front rower Goderdzi SHVELIDZE (red-carded
in the French league for a high-tackle) and back-row duo of young
David BOLGHASHVILI and seasoned Zurab MTCHEDLISHVILI (both out injured)
This prompted LELOS' French guru Claude Saurel to switch versatile
Vassil KATSADZE from centres to flanker! Indeed, of the last 12 caps
'Vasca' got 7 as inside centre, two at wing, two as flanker, and on
one more occasion, when LELOS were playing Spain in Rustavi last year,
he started in midfield but ended up at the side of scrum!
Of the other squad news, Kakha ALANIA proved himself a worthwhile
penetrator vs Russia and will don #12 jersey on. Shota MODEBADZE
certainly will start at halfback (#9) ahead of incumbent Irakli
ABUSSERIDZE who has not recovered yet from injury. And ending on
a brighter note, star back and reliable kicker Makho URJUKASHVILI
is at full fitness after missing last game due to accidently broken nose
* LELOS of Georgia for Spain
(tabulated under Club Division AGE; CAPS - SCORING
French divisional hierarchy: T16 > D2 > F1 > F2 )
15 Bessik KHAMASHURIDZE Toulon D2 25 21 - 4T
14 Badri KHEKHELASHVILI Angouleme F1 24 16 - 5T
11 Makho URJUKASHVILI Mazamet F1 22 19 - 5T,12c,16p
22 Irakli MACHKHANELI Chateuroux F2 21 1 - 1T
13 Tedo ZIBZIBADZE Mazamet F1 22 14 - 3T
12 Kakha ALANIA Locomotivi GEO 29 18
10 Paliko JIMSHELADZE Grenoble D2 27 29 - 6T,35c,16p
21 Boba KVINIKHIDZE ? FRA 24 NC
9 Shota MODEBADZE Nimes F1 28 21 - 3T, 4c,13p
20 Irakli ABUSSERIDZE Locomotivi GEO 25 13 - 3T
1 Mevlud MTIULISHVILI Agen T16 32 21
2 Akvsenti GUIORGADZE Toulon D2 26 22 - 7T
3 *Levan TSABADZE Castres T16 29 29 - 9T
16 Levan JAVELIDZE Nantes F2 25 7 - 1T
17 Tato RATIANIDZE Beziers T16 22 8
4 Vano NADIRADZE Bourg@Bresse F1 30 24 - 3T
5 Victor DIDEBULIDZE Figeac F2 32 18 - 4T
18 Mamuka MAGRAKVELIDZE Auch D2 25 4
6 Vassil KATSADZE Grenoble D2 26 20 - 3T
7 Guia LABADZE Toulon D2 29 26 - 5T
8 Ilia ZEDGUINIDZE Toulon D2 25 14 - 6T
19 Kakha UCHAVA ? FRA 25 NC
Management (all of FRANCE; age indicated):
Claude SAUREL coach 54
Thierry ROUDIL fitness 51
Jean-Louis SALOMON doc 45
** Georgia and Spain have met two times so far, with teams
winning one each
2000/03/04 Madrid (ENC) Spain 36 (5T) Georgia 32 (5T)
2001/03/17 Rustavi (ENC) Georgia 43 (6T) Spain 10 (T)
END )))