Georgia vs Fiji
World Cup
6:15am Thursday 3rd October
Georgia can move top of reserve their place and Pool D at the 2023 Rugby World Cup at Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Thursday with victory over Fiji.
The Georgians have to score a win over a top-tier nation in precisely the exact same vein as Japan victories over Ireland and South Africa, but they are eager to show the world how much theyve improved.
Beating at two-times quarter-finalists Fiji, on the back of an impressive five-try triumph over Uruguay, will all-but a spot and guarantee place in another World Cup.
It might be a method for head coach Milton Haig to bid farewell after eight years in charge.
You would be honest in saying that if Georgia wins this match, well qualify for the next World Cup, said Haig.
Logistically, nobody else could capture us unless there are a few huge, huge upsets.
We are convinced that should we get this task done, we will get qualified. This is what weve worked for over the past few decades. It has come down to this and we knew it would.
Hes fully braced for a Fiji backlash, however, and hopes to find the group which fared well early against Australia rather than the side that lost to Uruguay.
The whole world knows about the Fijian group, said Haig. Theyll look to run the ball, so Im absolutely certain of that.
Fiji had an eight-day turnaround since losing to Uruguay, in what is a match before it faces pool leaders Wales.
Georgias national-record tally of five attempts against Uruguay carried to the momentum generated to Wales from the second half of its 43-14 loss. The Georgians asserted that one 29-0 however matched the Welsh 2-2 in attempts after the break and often dominated in the scrum.
Fijis package has its work cut out, considering five of the seven tries of Georgia so much have been scored by forwards.
They have to manage before putting their backs that are flying into the match, Georgias imposing pack.
They are a really powerful set-piece team and its about getting our collection piece right to provide some good ball for our mortal backline, explained Fiji prop Campese Maafu.
Anybody who understands the Flying Fijians well, we receive our name from flying round the pitch a whole lot. However, this week that the major focus is to perform our plays and really apply some stress at the set-piece.
Fiji head coach John McKee has made 11 changes in the Uruguay match, deciding upon a comprising 13 of the 15 players that started against Australia.
Peceli Yato, who overlooked the Uruguay match after demonstrating signs of concussion after a heavy and high tackle in the Australia game, returns at No 8 in a substantial increase for McKees side.
Peceli was a large loss to us, said McKee. He had been in excellent form from the Wallabies, and also in the time that he got injured was probably among the greatest players on the playground.
Its been good to have experienced an eight-day turnaround to provide us some time to regroup and have a complete weeks training heading to this game.
Georgia: 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Giorgi Kveseladze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze (c), 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze; 1 Mikheil Nariashvili, two Shalva Mamukashvili, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 8 Beka Gorgadze
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili 19 Otari Giorgadze 21 Gela Aprasidze 23 Miriani Modebadze
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani; 1 Campese Maafu, two Samuel Matavesi, 3 Manasa Saulo, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c), 7 Semi Kunatani, 8 Peceli Yato
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Eroni Mawi 19 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa 21 Nikola Matawalu 23 Josh Matavesi
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