Georgia are desperate to show their quality against Fiji

LYON, France (Reuters) – Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili has reorganized his defense after his team’s disappointing draw against Portugal in the World Cup, with the Lelos looking to finally show their quality against Fiji in their third Group C match on Saturday.

The ambitious Georgia team was deeply disappointed after its opening 35-15 loss to Australia, a feeling that was exacerbated when it led 13-0 against Portugal last week before settling for an 18-18 draw.

“Any result other than a victory over Portugal would be a defeat,” Maisashvili told reporters in Bordeaux on Thursday. “It had an impact on the players and on myself and it was not fun.”

“We all know that rugby is a battle and every time you fall, you have to get back on track. Every player will give everything they can and we are 100% ready to give our best to show the kind of Georgian rugby we are. They are proud of us.”

The much-changed side will be led by Mikhail Naryashvili at Stade Bordeaux in place of midfielder Merab Charikadze, one of a number of Georgian players struggling with injuries.

Luka Matkava and Vaso Lobzhanidze return to flyhalf and scrumhalf respectively, while highly-rated Davit Niniashvili moves from full-back to left wing.

In the back row, Tornik Galagonia, who has yet to miss a tackle so far in the tournament, moved from blindside winger to number eight as Mikhail Gacheshiladze replaced him in the number six jersey on his tournament debut.

Prop Irakli Aptsiauri came on as an injury substitute in the squad this week and has been transferred straight into the squad as a front-row reserve.

Fiji was convincing 45-10 in the encounter between the two teams in the pool stage of the 2019 World Cup but Georgia held the Pacific Islanders to a 15-15 draw in the 2021 test.

Maisashvili added: “If we want to achieve the result we are waiting for, we have to be strong everywhere, in attack and defense.”

“This is our plan, to be strong everywhere, front and back.”

a team:

15-Mirian Modibadze, 14-Akaky Tabotsadze, 13-Dimur Tabladze, 12-Giorgi Kvseladze, 11-Davit Ninishvili, 10-Luka Matkava, 9-Vaso Lubjanidze, 8-Tornik Galagonia, 7-Pekka Saginadze, 6-Mikhail Gatcheladze. 5- Kut Mikautadze, 4- Lasha Gianni, 3- Beka Gigashvili, 2- Tingizi Zamtaradze, 1- Mikhail Naryashvili

Subs: 16-Luka Nioradze, 17-Nika Apoladze, 18-Irakli Abtsiauri, 19-Nodar Cheishvili, 20-Luka Ivanishvili, 21-Gila Aprasidze, 22-Tedo Abjehandadze, 23-Tornik Kakhoidze.

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