Today evening, at 19:00 Tbilisi Time, Georgian national rugby team will play against Portuguese team at the Lisbon University stadium and will try to make another step towards World Cup 2015.

Despite the fact that “Lelo” did not loose against this team since 2005, the apprentices of Milton Haig will have a big fight. Georgian team played against “Lobos” 17 times in total and in 11 matches they gained victory, 2 of them ended in a draw and in 4 matches they lost.

Considering the strength of the opponent, this time winning will be a great work more than just gaining a bonus point, which will help the Georgian team to maintain a leadership position at the qualifying stage of Nations Cup 2014 and World Cup 2015. One week ago, “Lelo” scored 6 tries against Belgium team and won 35:0. As for Portugal team, they lost  to Romania 0:24 in Bucharest. It should be also told that last year, Georgian team broke the resistance of the opposing team in the final minutes and won 25:12.

After Mamuka Gorgodze, Davit Zirakishvili, Vasil Kakovin and Davit Kubriashvili, Merab Sharikadze also subtracted from the team due to his injury. Georgian national team arrived in Lisbon on Monday and one of the coaches of the team Ilia Maisuradze said that all the players are in good shape:

“We had some problems due to the weather. It was raining during two days and accordingly, we trained on the heavy stadium. Yesterday and today we trained valuably. As for Merab Sharikadze, he got a minor trauma in his thigh in the match against Belgium. There is nothing dangerous, he has slightest muscle tension. The play is possible in this condition, but we have very important matches against Russia, Spain and Romania and that’s why the coaching staff did not take a risk and advised him to rest”.

Irakli Machkhaneli (captain of “Lelo”): “Tomorrow is a very difficult match for us. After losing to Romania, Portugal will try to restore their prestige with us. So, I am sure that we will not have an easy stroll in tomorrow’s meeting. As for the team, we are going to fight till the end and not to let the opponent to do anything”.

European Nations Cup 2014. Qualifying stage of World Cup 2015.

Second circle. Second round

February 8. Saturday

Lisbon. “Estadiu Universitariu”. 19:00

Portugal - Georgia 

Portugal: 15. Antonio Aguilar, 14. Goncalo Foro, 13. Pedro Bettencourt, 12. Jose Lima, 11. Carl Mari, 10. Diego Miranda, 9. Emanuel Rebelo; 1. Jorge Segurado, 2. Mike Tajer, 3. Bruno Eusa, 4. Eric dos Santos, 5. Goncalo Uva, 6. Orelian Beku, 7. Fernando Almeida, 8. Vasco Uva.

Substitutes: 16. Antony Alves, 17. Joao Correia, 18. Bruno Medeiros, 19. Rui D’Orey, 20. Kevin D’Costa, 21. Luis Salema, 22. Francisco Magalhaes, 23. Nuno Penha  e Costa.

Head coach: Frederico Sousa

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili (“Vienne”, France, 73 cap, 491 point), 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (“Armazi”, Tbilisi, cap., 68, 120), 13. Davit Kacharava (“Yenisey”, Russia, 69, 65), 12. Tedo Zibzibadze (“Perigueux”, France, 72, 95), 11. Giorgi Shkinini (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 37, 30), 10. Lasha Khmaladze (“Lelo”, Tbilisi, 27, 15), 9. Giorgi Begadze (“Kochebi”, Tbilisi, 18); 1. Mikheil Mariashvili (“Montpellier”, France, 15, 5), 2. Shalva Mamukashvili (“Armia”, Tbilisi, 17, 5), 3. Levan Chilachava (“Toulonnais”, France, 11, 15), 4. Kote Mikautadze (“Toulonnais”, France, 16, 5), 5. Levan Datunashvili (“Aurillac”, France, 58, 15), 6. Vito Kolelishvili (“Lyon”, France, 25, 10), 7. Giorgi Chkhaidze (“Tarbes”, France, 71, 45), 8. Dimitri Basilaia (“Edinburg”, Scotland, 29, 25).

Substitutes: 16. Jaba Bregvadze (“Toulousain”, France, 20, 5), 17. Zurab Zhvania (“Stade Francais”, France, 4), 18. Anton Peikrishvili (“Castres”, France, 9), 19. Giorgi Nemsadze (“Tarbes”, France, 34, 35), 20. Shalva Sutiashvili (“Massy”, France, 39, 5); 21. Vazha Khutsishvili (“Kharebi”, Rustavi, 7), 22. Lasha Malaguradze (“Bagneres”, France, 42, 105), 23. Tamaz Mchedlidze (“Bourg-an-Bresse”, France, 11, 15).

Head coach: Milton Haig

Referee: Cedrik Marsha (France)

Wings: Jan-Luk Rebolal, Eric Sulan (both France)

Russia - Romania

Spain - Belgium

Zura Ksovreli