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Georgia head coach still in critical condition

Levan Maisashvili /Getty

Georgian head coach Levan Maisashvili remains in critical condition in hospital over a month after being admitted with Covid-19 complications.

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Maisashvili is said to have suffered serious lung damage and continues to be treated on a ventilator in Johannesburg. He remained in South Africa after the rest of the team returned to Georgia in July.

Georgia Rugby Union president, Ioseb Tkemaladze, issued the following statement on Levan Maisashvili’s health condition:

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“As you may be aware, the head coach of the Georgian National Team, Mr. Levan Maisashvili has been on ongoing treatment in Netcare Milpark Hospital, in Johannesburg, South Africa, with serious Covid-19 complications of over one month period already.

“Unfortunately his condition is yet critical, but we do not lose hope of his recovery. Our optimism is motivated with the current cutting-edge and most attentive medical care, along with Levan’s uncompromising fighting ability.

“I would like to express my gratitude towards top management of the Netcare Hospitals network for their support, especially to the Netcare Milpark Hospital team, for their dedicated work and great attention.

“We have high hopes that this compassionate attention, professional care and uncompromising fight will soon result inLevan’s full recovery. I would encourage all our friends in Georgia and in South Africa to pray for Levan’s health.

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“On behalf of the Georgian Rugby and Levan’s family, I’d like to underline my utmost and sincere gratitude to to Dr. Vakhtang Rekhviashvili and his family. And to HE Ambassador of Georgia in South Africa Mr. Beka Dvali, who standsby Georgia and Georgian Rugby at this very hard, special and important moment.”

Georgia had been attempting to play a two match series with the Springboks as Jacques Nienaber’s men prepared for the British & Irish Lions.

The first match was played but the second game was abandoned due to a Covid-19 outbreak in both camps.

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cw 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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