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
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments