Beating the Scots highlights how Georgia's age-grade evolution is in full swing
A dominant scrum and an array of hard as nails front rowers have long been the staple of Georgia rugby. However, while that strength and philosophy is not departing anytime soon, there are signs of evolution on the pathway for the Lelos.
The Georgian under-20s had suffered two defeats so far in the World Under-20 Championship in Argentina. That shouldn’t come as too much of a surpriseal given they were in a pool with South Africa and New Zealand.
What they will be pleased with this Wednesday, though, is how competitive they were with New Zealand and their performance in their 17-12 win over Scotland.
It wasn’t just that they were competitive up front, either. It was the creativity and composed execution of their back line which shone through, something which hasn’t always been the case with Georgia as a rugby-playing nation.
As touched on earlier, their scrummaging is consistently among the best in the world and that shows no signs of abating with this group of under-20s. Loosehead pair of Nika Gvaladze and Luka Azariashvili are standing out as destructive set-piece operators.
?? Georgia 17-12 Scotland ??????? #???????????? #???????? ???
FT in Rosario, with the #JuniorLelos winning a massively tough match against very tough U20 @Scotlandteam 17-12 ? pic.twitter.com/zkq96nEYvU— Georgian Rugby (@GeorgianRugby) June 12, 2019
With the regular pipeline of young Georgian front rowers to the top two leagues in France, where scrummaging is particularly prized, the continued existence of a strong Lelos scrum is one of the more certain things in international rugby.
Away from that area of strength, 19-year-old fly-half Tedo Abzhandadze is the potential spearhead of an evolution, if not revolution, in the way Georgia operate.
Despite still being at the forefront of Georgia’s efforts in Argentina at the age-grade championship, he already has seven senior caps to his name and has been touted by coach Milton Haig as potentially “world class”. The playmaker is – barring injury – a certainty to be part of Georgia’s World Cup bid in Japan later this year.
Abzhandadze’s ability to play late on the gain line is bolstered by the handling skills of his midfield options of Lasha Lomdize and Demur Tapladze, with Georgia at U20 level as adept at drawing defenders, off-loading and running at and exploiting space as they are at playing a more direct style. The creativity and distribution ability of players like Dachi Papunashvili and Teimuraz Tchitchinadze at full-back also adds to the variety and incision on offer.
With Georgia having ambitions of being regularly competitive with tier one nations, this evolution of their game, that has to start in the age-grades, bodes well for the Lelos. It’s not that they are exciting talents for a tier two nation, either. It’s that they are exciting talents full stop.
The front row is in fine shape at senior level, there are a handful of controlling and opportunistic scrum-halves, and now playmakers are being found and developed at fly-half and in the centres and at full-back.
It leaves Georgia with two substantial holes as they bid to compete with the world’s best – the lack of athletically-gifted second and back rows that have come to the fore for most other nations over the last few years, and the more dynamic wings, who either prosper through power or game-changing speed.
Current under-20 No8 Ioane Iashagashvili has impressed in Argentina with a turn of pace that has seen him break plenty of tackles. The young back rower is comfortable with the ball in his hands beyond the gain line, whether passing, off-loading or continuing to run at space.
Unfortunately for Georgia, there isn’t a Maro Itoje or James Ryan coming through in the locks quite yet, but with a set-piece focus built around a dominant scrum rather than lineout ability, particularly on the defensive side of the throw, that’s not too surprising.
The @GeorgianRugby U20s belt out their anthem as match day three kicks off at the #WorldRugbyU20s
It's GEO v SCO and ITA v IRE.
Watch live https://t.co/CL5sVkoYl9 pic.twitter.com/yOQXGQDshc
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 12, 2019
Wings Otar Lashkhi and Kote Marjanishvili have had good tournaments so far and generate a noticeable amount of power through their footwork prior to contact, but they aren’t the physical specimens that some of the tier one nations are able to call upon, nor do they have the speed to be threats to score from anywhere on the pitch.
The power and size of Georgia is never going to be called into question and with the skilful playmakers that are being produced alongside that now, they have players capable of exploiting those advantages that their forwards can give them.
Huge celebrations as @GeorgianRugby secure their first win on the #WorldRugbyU20s 2019, beating Scotland 17-12 pic.twitter.com/q0EiU8zCOk
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 12, 2019
Top-end speed, especially away from the half-back and fly-half positions, and vertical ability remain the missing ingredients, but it is impossible not to be encouraged by the quality and quantity of player that Georgian rugby is producing at present.
As formidable as the senior side have been in one-off games against Tier 1 opponents at times over the last few years, Haig and his staff will know that they need to be a balanced and versatile squad if they are to compete on a more consistent basis.
It’ll take time to blood these youngsters and get them up to speed with international rugby, but the calibre and all-round skill set of the players being developed speaks to a bright future for the Lelos.
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Comments on RugbyPass
9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to comments