Lobzhanidze to become youngest ever at RWC

Milton Haig has named his side to face Tonga in the vitally important match at Kingsholm this Saturday, with Vaso Lobzhanidze set to become the youngest ever to play in a World Cup match. At 18 years and 340 days, the scrumhalf will eclipse the record of US Eagles centre Thretton Palamo, who was two days past his 19th birthday when he made his debut against the Springboks in September 2007.

Mamuka Gorgodze will lead out an impressive forward pack that includes six players with Top 14 experience, and highly-rated breakdown specialist Giorgi Tkhilaishvili the only not to have played professionally outside of Georgia. Lasha Malaguradze stands in at flyhalf with vice-captain Lasha Khmaladze still recovering from injury, and fullback Merab Kvirikashvili jumps ahead of Giorgi Chkhaidze and Irakli Abusuridze to become the Lelos’ most capped player of all time.

Georgia have played Tonga on three occasions, winning only once in 1999. Their most recent meeting was in November of last year, when the Tongans came out on top by a score of 23-9 in Tbilisi. The Lelos will field eight of the same group that started that match, while Tonga have selected 10.

GEORGIA
1 Mikheil Nariashvili 2 Jaba Bregvadze 3 Davit Zirakashvili 4 Kote Mikautadze 5 Giorgi Nemsadze 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili 7 Vito Kolelishvili 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (capt.) 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze 10 Lasha Malaguradze 11 Giorgi Aptsiauri 12 Merab Sharikadze 13 Davit Kacharava 14 Tamaz Mchedlidze 15 Merab Kvirikashvili

16 Shalva Mamukashvili 17 Karlen Asieshvili 18 Levan Chilachava 19 Levan Datunashvili 20 Shalva Sutiashvili 21 Giorgi Begadze 22 Giorgi Pruidze 23 Muraz Giorgadze