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Rivals at RWCs 2007, 2011, and 2015 Georgia and Argentina have a special relationship. It has been expanded over into the June Internationals with Georgia playing in Argentina in 2013 and 2017. On Saturday their rivalry will break new ground with the respective national ‘A’ sides facing-off in Tbilisi.
The Sumer Rugby Cup is important for both the Georgia XV and Argentina XV. With the senior sides of both countries having already qualified for RWC 2019 the tournament marks vital match time for fringe players.
The Georgia XV lineup for the match is altogether different to the senior side which played in Georgia’s most recent fixture, a test against Japan last month. Preseason involvement ahead of the 2017-2018 season has been the leading factor though with the tournament serving a developmental purpose and being uncapped there is nothing to be lost for the home side for the fixture.
Captaining the Georgia XV is a player to have faced Los Pumas in the past. Left winger Giorgi Shkinin played against Argentina in Lyon in RWC 2007. In the same tournament he scored a try against Ireland, a score which gave Georgia the lead in what was a nail-biting match in Bordeaux.
The Argentina XV team is a mis-mash of youth and experience, professional and amateur. Felipe Ezcurra captains the team from scrum-half, doing so ahead of Tomás Cubelli who is among the reserves.
Both scrum-halves have Super Rugby experience though neither played for Los Jaguares in 2018. Of all the 25 players only Diego Fortuny received game time this year in Super Rugby. In contrast Santiago Carreras, Santiago Grondona, and Mayco Vivas are all to start for the Argentina XV a month after playing in the Junior World Championship.
The lineup named by Ignacio Fernández Lobbe is a continuation of the widespread use of players as the Argentina XV continues to lack a true identity. The team is, nonetheless, going into Saturday’s match as favorite to win.
The history at senior level has seen Argentina always winning against Georgia. This is expected to continue at Tbilisi’s Mikheil Meskhi Stadium with the Argentina XV entering the game as favorites to win by 15 points.
GEORGIA XV
1 Mikheil Oragvelidze, 2 Giorgi Chkoidze, 3 Tariel Donadze, 4 Arsen Trapaidze, 5 Gelan Shalamberidze, 6 Guram Shengelia, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 8 Nikoloz Sukhashvili, 9 Mikheil Alania, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 11 Giorgi Shkinin (capt.), 12 Temur Iremadze, 13 Revaz Jinjinkhadze, 14 Sandro Svanidze, 15 Irakli Svanidze
Replacements: 16 Jorji Saldadze, 17 Goga Khuroshvili, 18 Mikheil Psuturi, 19 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 20 Khvicha Bujiashvili, 21 Ilia Spanderashvili, 22 Davit Kldiashvili, 23 Demur Tapladze, 24 Giorgi Chuadze, 25 Beka Mamukashvili
ARGENTINA XV
1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Nicolás Leiva, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Francisco Gorrissen, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Felipe Ezcurra (capt.), 10 Lucas Mensa, 11 Julián Dominguez, 12 Santiago Carreras, 13 Santiago Resino, 14 Facundo Cordero, 15 Gastón Arias
Replacements: 16 Agustín Maceiras, 17 Franco Brarda, 18 Marco Ciccioli, 19 Federico Gutiérrez, 20 Lautaro Bavaro, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 23 Leopoldo Herrera, 24 Lucas Favre, 25 Santiago Portillo
Date: Saturday, July 28
Venue: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Kickoff: 19:00 local (11:00 Eastern, 12:00 Argentina)
Referee: Shota Tevzadze (GRU)
Assistants: Onise Mogelaskvhili (GRU) & Shota Tsagareishvili (GRU)
TMO: Gia Amirkhanashvili (GRU)
Broadcast: Facebook
