Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ
Back

Latest Feature

Cutting-edge coaching underlines Red Roses' supremacy

New Zealand's World Cup triumph should not mask the true order of the women's game.

Lomu-like six foot five Georgia wing to debut against England

By PA
Georgian players line up for the anthems /Getty

Georgia have given their promising former under-20 wing Sandro Svanidze his debut in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup match against England.

ADVERTISEMENT

The elevation of Svanidze, 22 (6’5, 100kg) to the starting XV is one of eight changes made to the team thumped 48-7 by Scotland on October 23.

In total, there are 474 caps in the starting XV with centre Merab Sharikadze leading the team.

Video Spacer

Eddie Jones talks ahead of Georgia showdown:
Video Spacer
Eddie Jones talks ahead of Georgia showdown:

Directing operations will be a new-look half-back pairing of Gela Aprasidze and Tedo Abzhandadze.

An experienced pack with a total of 254 caps between them will feature against England. There four changes in total in the pack. Leicester Tigers’ hooker Shalva Mamukashvili is promoted from the bench, while Beka Gigashvili returns at tighthead from an injury layoff.

Lasha Jaiani comes in in the engine while Giorgi ‘Koki’ Tkhilaishvili is promoted from the bench into the back row.

GEORGIA TEAM
Backs: 15. Lasha Khmaladze (83 caps, 53 points), 14. Akaki Tabutsadze (3 caps, 30 points), 13. Giorgi Kveseladze (25 caps, 20 points), 12. Merab Sharikadze (67 caps, 60 points, captain), 11. Sandro Svanidze (*), 10. Tedo Abzhandadze (16 caps, 53 points), 9. Gela Aprasidze (26 caps, 24 points);

ADVERTISEMENT

Forwards: 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (62 caps, 10 points), 2. Shalva Mamukashvili (75 caps, 50 points), 3. Beka Gigashvili (14 caps, 5 points), 4. Lasha Jaiani (2 caps), 5. Grigor Kerdikoshvili (2 caps), 6. Beka Saginadze (13 caps, 5 points), 7. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (58 caps, 60 points), 8. Beka Gorgadze (28 caps, 40 points);

Substitutes: 16. Jaba Bregvadze (59 caps, 15 points), 17. Guram Gogichashvili (15 caps, 5 points), 18. Lexo Kaulashvili (1 caps), 19. Otar Giorgadze (26 caps, 25 points), 20. Tornike Jalagonia (1 caps); 21. Vasil Lobzhanidze (52 caps, 40 points), 22. Deme Tapladze (3 caps, 5 points), 23. Sandro Todua (86 caps, 65 points)

ENGLAND TEAM:
E Daly (Saracens); J Joseph (Bath Rugby), O Lawrence (Worcester Warriors), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), J May (Gloucester Rugby); O Farrell (Saracens, capt), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); E Genge (Leicester Tigers), J George (Saracens), W Stuart (Bath Rugby), C Ewels (Bath Rugby), J Launchbury (Wasps), M Itoje (Saracens), J Willis (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: T Dunn, (Bath Rugby), M Vunipola (Saracens), K Sinckler (Bristol Bears), B Earl (Bristol Bears), T Curry (Sale Sharks), D Robson (Wasps), M Malins (Bristol Bears), J Marchant (Harlequins).

ADVERTISEMENT

additional reporting RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT
FEATURE
FEATURE Mick Cleary: 'Andy Farrell gets it. Head and heart in perfect alignment. Get him in the job now.' Mick Cleary: 'Andy Farrell gets it. Head and heart in perfect alignment. Get him in the job now.'
Search