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Milton Haig has named a much-changed Georgian side to play the All Blacks on Friday, opting to rest some first choice players but in doing so fielding the most experienced Lelo side ever in test rugby.
Captain Mamuka Gorgodze is the only starting forward remaining from the disappointing 54-9 loss to Argentina, with the vastly experienced pairing of Levan Datunashvili and Giorgi Chkhaidze named in the second row. Gorgodze moves to the side of the scrum to allow bruising Béziers loose forward Lasha Lomidze to line up in his preferred no8 position.
The backs are re-shuffled with three changes, including Giorgi Begadze replacing youngster Vaso Lobzhanidze at scrumhalf. Tamaz Mchedlidze moves inside to line up opposite Sonny Bill Williams, who he matches in size at least, and Sandro Todua fills the gap on the wing. Merab Kvirikashvili is left out of a Georgian World Cup side for the first time ever, with Beka Tsiklauri named at fullback in his place.
This is the first ever meeting between the two sides in test rugby.
GEORGIA
1 Karlen Asieshvili 2 Shalva Mamukashvili 3 Levan Chilachava 4 Levan Datunashvili 5 Giorgi Chkhiadze 6 Shalva Sutiashvili 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (capt.) 8 Lasha Lomidze 9 Giorgi Begadze 10 Lasha Malaguradze 11 Sandro Todua 12 Tamaz Mchedlidze 13 Davit Kacharava 14 Giorgi Aptsiauri 15 Beka Tsiklauri
16 Simon Maisuradze 17 Mikheil Nariashvili 18 Anton Peikrishvili 19 Kote Mikautadze 20 Vito Kolelishvili 21 Vaso Lobzhanidze 22 Merab Sharikadze 23 Muraz Giorgadze
