Uruguay demonstrate progress in Tbilisi Cup defeat

Los Teros opened their World Rugby Tbilisi Cup campaign this afternoon in a 19-10 losing effort against Georgia. Neither side was at full strength although Uruguay’s lineup was notable closer to the genuine article than that of Georgia’s expected starting lineup for the World Cup.

With both Georgia and Uruguay involved in the World Cup the World Rugby organized tournament serves as vital preparation and a rare opportunity to experiment ahead of finalizing squad selection for the global event. Georgian progress since the teams met in Rugby World Cup 2003 has seen the Lelos become a stronger team and one with greater depth than Uruguay.

The South Americans, in contrast are attempting to rise out of a period of stagnation that saw the team miss out on qualifying for Rugby World Cups 2007 and 2011 with Portugal and Russia instead reaching their first tournaments and Romania joining Georgia in qualifying for both. While Uruguay’s absence was directly related to the involvement of such European sides it was also a result of the qualifying system which does not award South America’s qualifying champion with direct qualification.

Uruguay’s path was therefore unique as all other continental winners needed not face opposition from outside their defined territorial region. Namibia, for instance, won Africa’s regional qualifying by facing opposition ranked notably lower than the teams Uruguay faced after winning CONSUR.

Uruguay’s success has bought with it a significant boost in more test matches and non-capped fixtures both at home and away. Recent home matches against the USA Select XV and Fiji Warriors proved testing with the South Americans finding the opposition to be substantially superior to teams involved in the recent South American Championship.

Performing well in the Tbilisi Cup therefore signifies something other than winning games. Los Teros require game time against strong opposition to prepare adequately for what lies ahead in September and October in England and Wales. Today’s match was the first between the teams in two years and saw a much-improved Teros performance after having lost 27-3 previously.

The Georgians started the match strongly with Kote Mikautadze scoring from a Uruguayan mistake. It was followed by a lengthy period of Georgia controlling proceedings and the South Americans offering little in attack.  Uruguay’s, defensively, however proved to have corrected areas which were lacking against the Fiji Warriors.

Georgia’s hybrid approach of combining the forward-oriented game plan of old with a more expansive game plan was a test of Uruguay’s strengths and weaknesses more defensively and when in possession. Uruguay is, similarly, looking to adjust albeit retain the strength of the scrum so as to be capable of scoring more points in matches.

Uruguay’s points came from a penalty try converted by Agustín Ormaechea and a penalty from the scrumhalf. The try was crafted from left winger Santiago Gibernau and also involved Ormaechea who started the play from a scrum. From a break Los Teros kicked and chased only for Saba Shubitdze to tackle a player without the ball as the ball was in his sight within the goal area.

Georgia fought back to hold a 13-10 advantage at the interval and the scoreline would remain that way until the final quarter. The Eastern Europeans had opportunities to score second half tries but the Uruguayan defenders were able to respond in time to flush them out. Georgia, instead, had to go to the boot for points and landed two second half penalties which missing a number of others.

The final score of 19-10 sees Georgia well placed to field a stronger side this coming Wednesday. Georgia will take-on Iraly ‘A’ while Uruguay will face Emerging Ireland.

GEORGIA
1 Giorgi Tetrashvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 3 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 4 Levan Datunashvili (Capt.), 5 Kote Mikautadze, 6 Lasha Lomidze, 7 Saba Shubitidze, 8 Beka Bitsadze, 9 Giorgi Begadze, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 11 Giorgi Pruidze, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 13 Revaz Gigauri, 14 Giorgi Aptsiauri, 15 Beka Tsiklauri

16 Giorgi Tedoradze, 17 Archil Beziashvili, 18 Irakli Mirtskhulava, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Beka Gorgadze, 21 Vazha Khutsishvili, 22 Giorgi Talakhadze, 23 Tamaz Mchedlidze

URUGUAY
1 Alejo Corral, 2 Nicolás Klappenbach, 3 Mario Sagario, 4 Santiago Vilaseca (Capt.), 5 Jorge Zerbino, 6 Matías Beer, 7 Fernando Bascou, 8 Juan Manuel Gaminara, 9 Agustín Ormaechea, 10 Manuel Blengio, 11 Santiago Gibernau, 12 Alberto Román, 13 Joaquín Prada, 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Gastón Mieres

16 German Kessler, 17 Carlos Arboleya, 18 Mateo Sanguinetti, 19 Mathias Palomeque, 20 Diego Magno, 21 Mathias Braun, 22 Alejo Durán, 23 Jerónimo Etcheverry