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Claude Saurel © Getty Images
Georgian coach Claude Saurel issues instructions during a training session in Perth

England versus Georgia preview

12/10/2003

By Derek Tipper

Georgia will take a winning frame of mind into their Rugby World Cup debut in Pool C against a full strength England on Sunday 12 October at Subiaco Oval in Perth.

England have made two changes from the team that beat the world champion Wallabies 25-14 in June, with Matt Dawson coming in for Kyran Bracken at scrum half.

In late injury news Iain Balshaw has been ruled out with an ongoing calf strain, his place on the bench taken by Dan Luger.


Injured Georgian captain Ilia Zedginidze says the Georgians will play with intelligence and grace against the number one ranked team in international rugby.

Georgian dream

"The dream of generations of Georgian rugby players has been realised and we are going to try to win every match,” Zedginidze says.

"We are not going to play with the mentality of losers."

Experienced squad

The Georgian line-up is vastly experienced with a total of 425 caps in the 22-man squad. The most capped player is flyhalf Paliko Jimsheladze who has won 38 caps.

“Georgia usually play only five matches a year, now we are playing four in a month. It is a great experience for us. We have experienced players but our success depends on a collective effort, not on individuals," Zedginidze added.

In the absence of Zedginidze, who is recovering from facial surgery, vice-captain and wing Vassil Katsadze will skipper the team. Also injured is forward Irakli Gundishvili, who has a leg injury.

The referee is Pablo Deluca from Argentina with Peter Marshall and Kelvin Deaker touch judges.

Teams

England: 15 Josh Lewsey; 14 Jason Robinson; 13 Will Greenwood; 12 Mike Tindall; 11 Ben Cohen; 10 Jonny Wilkinson; 9 Matt Dawson; 8 L Dallaglio; 7 Neil Back; 6 Richard Hill; 5 Ben Kay; 4 Martin  Johnson (capt); 3 Trevor Woodman; 2 Steve Thompson; Phil Vickery

Replacements: 16 Mark Regan; 17 Jason Leonard; 18 Danny Grewcock; 19 Lewis Moody; 20 Kyran Bracken; 21 Paul Grayson; 22 Iain Balshaw.

Georgia team: Goderzi Shvelidze,  Aksventi Giorgadze, Alexandre Margvelashvili,  Zurab Mtchedlishvili, Victor Didebulidze, Gia Labadze, Gregoire Yachvili, George Chkhaidze, Irakli Abuseridze, Paliko Jimsheladze, Vasil Katsadze (captain), Irakli Giorgadze, Tedo Zibzibadze, Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Besik Khamashuridze.

Replacements: David Dadunashvili, Soso Nikolaenko, Vano Nadiradze, David Bolghashvili, Merab Kvirikashvili, Irakli Machkhaneli, Badri Khekhelashvili.

Stay tuned

Stay tuned to rugbyworldcup.com for every minute of every match with our live match commentary, match highlights on audio and video, photo galleries of every match and much much more.

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Links to Member Union websites

Georgian R.U.
The RFU

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