2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup Preview

The 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup kicks off on Saturday, with representative sides from Ireland, Italy, Uruguay, and hosts Georgia taking part. It is the third year of the tournament, first contested in 2013, and has previously included teams from Argentina, South Africa, and Spain.

Both Italy and Ireland have sent teams under the ‘Emerging’ banner, as a large number of those who would normally take part in an ‘A’ side will be involved in World Cup preparations. Georgia and Uruguay meanwhile have sent full test sides, with only a few top professionals absent.

The entire tournament will take place at the Avchala Stadium in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

FIXTURES
June 13 – Emerging Italy v Emerging Ireland (17:00 local)
June 13 – Georgia v Uruguay (19:00 local)

June 17 – Uruguay v Emerging Ireland (17:00 local)
June 17 – Georgia v Emerging Italy (19:00 local)

June 21 – Uruguay v Emerging Italy (17:00 local)
June 21 – Georgia v Emerging Ireland (19:00 local)

 

EMERGING IRELAND

Ireland return to the Tbilisi Cup for the second time, having taken part in the Nations Cup instead last year. The development squad is composed mostly of fringe provincial, with only five – Stephen Archer, James Cronin, Rob Herring, Rhys Ruddock, and Noel Reid – having won full international caps, though several are graduates of the u20 program. Ruddock will captain the side and is one of a handful of players expected to be in contention for a World Cup spot.

Only six members of last year’s team that took part in the Nations Cup have returned – Billy Holland, Luke McGrath, J.J. Hanrahan, Stuart McCloskey, Eoin Griffin, and Andrew Conway. Griffin is the only player in the squad currently based outside of Ireland, though Hanrahan will join him in the Aviva Premiership next season as he moves to Northampton in the off-season.

The team is coached by former Ireland hooker Allen Clarke, capped eight times between 1995 and 1998. The 47-year-old is also currently employed as senior forwards coach for Ulster.

Edit: Ireland have made changes to their squad on 06/12, amendments below:

FORWARDS
Stephen Archer (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Denis Buckley (Connacht), James Cronin (Munster), Andrew Warwick (Ulster), Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Rob Herring (Ulster), Andrew Browne (Connacht), Billy Holland (Munster), Ben Marshall (Leinster), Lewis Stevenson (Ulster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Dan Leavy (Leinster), Eoghan Masterson (Connacht), Eoin McKeon (Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (capt., Leinster), Frankie Taggart (Ulster)

BACKS
John Cooney (Connacht), Luke McGrath (Leinster), J.J. Hanrahan (Munster), Rory Scannell (Munster), Eoin Griffin (London Irish), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Noel Reid (Leinster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Matt Healy (Connacht), Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht), Cian Kelleher (Leinster), Peter Nelson (Ulster)

Head Coach: Allen Clarke

 

EMERGING ITALY

The Italians return for the second consecutive year, and again have selected a side comprised almost entirely of players in the domestic Super 10 league, though several have signed contracts to move into the Guinness Pro 12 with either Zebre or Benetton Treviso next season. Two players are included from second division Serie A sides – Simone Parisotto of Valsugana, and Christian Becerra of Pro Recco – while Pietro Ceccarelli arrives from Mâcon in France and Sebastian Negri from Hartpury College in England.

Former national u20 captain Alberto Chiesa will lead the side that counts five-times-capped Roberto Quartaroli as its only senior international. More than half of the squad boasts experience at the World Rugby u20 tournament. Flyhalf Carlo Canna is the only player named in Jacques Brunel’s World Cup training squad a week ago.

Umberto Casellato takes the head coach role in place of Zebre’s Andrea Cavinato. The 46-year-old has just finished his first year in charge of Benetton Treviso, and was previously the backs coach at Zebre. As a player he won 10 caps for Italy at scrumhalf between 1990 and 1993.

Edit: Italy have made changes to their squad on 06/12, amendments below:

FORWARDS
Pietro Ceccarelli (Mâcon), Giuseppe Di Stefano (Fiamme Oro), George Iacob (Petrarca), Laert Naka (Fiamme Oro), Federico Zani (Petrarca), Luca Bigi (Petrarca), Oliviero Fabiani (Zebre), Ornel Gega (Mogliano), Filippo Gerosa (Viadana), Sebastian Negri (Hartpury College), Federico Ruzza (Viadana), Mirko Amenta (Fiamme Oro), Emiliano Caffini (Rovigo), Matteo Corazzi (Mogliano), Maxime Mbanda (Calvisano), Alessio Zdrilich (Calvisano)

BACKS
Simone Marinaro (Fiamme Oro), Simone Parisotto (Valsugana), Filippo Buscema (Calvisano), Carlo Canna (Fiamme Oro), Giovanni Benvenuti (Mogliano), Alberto Chiesa (capt., Calvisano), Giovanni Massaro (Fiamme Oro), Roberto Quartaroli (Viadana), Gabriele Di Giulio (Calvisano), Filippo Guarducci (Mogliano), Marco Susio (Calvisano), Christian Becerra (Pro Recco)

Head Coach: Umberto Casellato

 

GEORGIA

As tournament hosts, the Lelos are the only side to have taken part in all three years of the tournament. They will use these games as World Cup preparation for their senior side, and have named an enlarged squad mixed with first choice internationals and fringe players. Six uncapped players are included, with imposing lock Nodar Cheishvili, former u20 captain Saba Shubitidze, and promising outside back Giorgi Pruidze among them.

A number of front line players are absent, including star players Davit Zirakashvili and Mamuka Gorgodze, as well as European Nations Cup captain Shalva Sutiashvili. Vastly experienced second row Levan Datunashvili will lead the side in his absence.

Returning from long-term injury are former Toulouse hooker Jaba Bregvadze and Clermont flanker Vito Kolelishvili, while Brive prop continues his comeback from a serious neck injury, having made one appearance in the ENC. Highly rated Toulouse prop Vasil Kakovin has been included having not appeared in national colours since June of 2013.

This is head coach Milton Haig’s fourth year in charge of the side, having been appointed to replace Richie Dixon following the 2011 World Cup. Among his previous coaching experience, Haig served assistant coach for both the Chiefs and New Zealand Maori, and head coach of Counties Manukau.

Edit: Georgia have made changes to their squad on 06/12, amendments below:

FORWARDS
Archil Bezhiashvili (Lokomotivi), Vasil Kakovin (Toulouse), Nikoloz Khatiashvili (Aurillac), Irakli Mirtskhulava (Tarbes), Anton Peikrishvili (Brive), Giorgi Tetrashvili (Agen), Jaba Bregvadze (Kochebi), Simon Maisuradze (Valence), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français), Giorgi Tedoradze (T.S.U.), Nodar Cheishvili (La Seyne), Levan Datunashvili (capt., Aurillac), Kote Mikautadze (Toulon), Dimitri Basilaia (Perpignan), Beka Bitsadze (Lokomotivi), Giorgi Chkhaidze (Lille), Beka Gorgadze (Mont-de-Marsan), Vito Kolelishvili (Clermont), Lasha Lomidze (Béziers), Saba Shubitidze (Akademia)

BACKS
Giorgi Begadze (Kochebi), Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi), Giorgi Aptsiauri (Aia), Lasha Malaghuradze (Bagnères), Revaz Gigauri (Montluçon), Tamaz Mchedlidze (Agen), Merab Sharikadze (Aurillac), Giorgi Talakhadze (Lelo), Muraz Giorgadze (Armazi), Aleksander Khutsishvili (Kochebi), Giorgi Pruidze (Aia), Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotivi)

Head Coach: Milton Haig

 

URUGUAY

Los Teros return to Tbilisi after a year’s absence in the Nations Cup, and have also brought with them the majority of their senior side. They enter the tournament as the most prepared group on paper, having played seven matches since early April. Uruguay defeated Russia in October to earn a spot in this year’s World Cup.

Notable absentees include Castres lock Rodrigo Capo Ortega and Chambéry flyhalf Felipe Berchesi, but Los Teros will have Italy-based duo Franco Lamanna and Jerónimo Etcheverry at their disposal, as well as Mont-de-Marsan scrumhalf Agustín Ormaechea. Experienced second row Santiago Vilaseca has been named captain.

Pablo Lemoine continues as head coach, a post he has occupied since 2012. He won 48 caps as a tighthead prop for Uruguay between 1995 and 2010, playing in both the 1999 and 2003 World Cups. During that time he also enjoyed a successful professional career, most notably with Stade Français in the French Top 14.

FORWARDS
Carlos Arboleya (Trébol), Alejo Corral (S.I.C.), Alejandro Nieto (Champagnat), Mario Sagario (Massy), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos), Germán Kessler (Los Cuervos), Nicolás Klappenbach (Champagnat), Matías Beer (Old Christians), Mathias Palomeque (Trébol), Santiago Vilaseca (capt., Old Boys), Jorge Zerbino (Old Boys), Agustín Alonso (Cricket Club), Fernando Bascou (P.S.G.), Mathias Braun (P.S.G.), Juan Manuel Gaminara (Old Boys), Franco Lamanna (Perugia), Diego Magno (Cricket Club)

BACKS
Alejo Durán (Trébol), Agustín Ormaechea (Mont-de-Marsan), Manuel Blengio (Old Christians), Jerónimo Etcheverry (Valpolicella), Joaquín Prada (Los Cuervos), Alberto Román (P.S.G.), Andrés Vilaseca (Old Boys), Santiago Gibernau (Carrasco Polo), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians), Gastón Mieres (Punta del Este)

Head Coach: Pablo Lemoine