Brazil downed the Georgia XV to write history in Tbilisi. Os Tupis completed a 20-18 victory, one of the greatest ever recorded by the South Americans. With it being the Georgia XV it was the country’s ‘next of XV’ rather than test side. As such rankings points will not be traded.
With an eye to playing host to the Maori All Blacks in November, downing the Georgia XV suggests the Brazilians are very much a team rapidly on the rise. In South America Brazil is now regularly defeating Chile while Os Tupis have also claimed the scalps of the Argentina XV, Belgium, Canada, Portugal, and the USA in recent years.
Against the Georgia XV, Brazil started the scrum battle well. Having won a penalty Josh Reeves turned it into a 3-0 lead as he landed his first of two penalties of the match.
The 19-year-old Tedo Abzhandadze, hit-back for the Georgia XV. His penalty level the scores in what was a tense opening 10 minutes. It was followed by the game’s opening try as hooker and captain of the home side, Giorgi Chkoidze went over.
The try would go unconverted and Brazil would cancel it out and reclaim the lead. First Reeves slotted a penalty and then came the first of two tries from the Sancery twins. Fullback Daniel Sancery claimed the first, breaking through the defense to put Brazil 13-8 ahead.
In the final minutes of the opening half the Georgia XV scored their second try. The capped international flanker Guram Shengelia scored and with the conversion the home side held a 15-13 lead at half time.
In the second half the Georgia XV scored first. An Abzhandadze penalty opened a five point lead though it would be the final score of the match for the Eastern Europeans.
Brazil’s victory came with Felipe Sancery competing the Sancery twins double. The try came following a 50 meter run from Daniel Sancery. Quick ball enabled Os Tupis to score the try and with Reeves’ conversion Brazil hit the lead with limited time remaining.
Both the Georgia XV and Brazil missed late penalties, enabling Brazil to write history with a victory over the Georgia XV.
SCORERS
GEORGIA XV
Try: Chkoidze, Shengelia
Conversion: Abzhandadze
Penalty: Abzhandadze (2)
BRAZIL
Try: D Sancery, F Sancery
Conversion: Reeves (2)
Penalty: Reeves (2)
GEORGIA XV
15 Beka Mamukashvili, 14 Demur Tapladze, 13 Revaz Jinjikhadze, 12 Guram Kandaurishvili, 11 Aka Tabutsadze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Giorgi Margalitadze, 8 Nikoloz Sukhashvili, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 6 Guram Shengelia, 5 Gela Shalamberidze, 4 Tornike Akubardia, 3 Tariel Donadze, 2 Giorgi Chkoidze (capt.), 1 Mikhel Oragvelidze
Replacements: 16 Jorji Saldadze, 17 Goga Khuroshvili, 18 Mikheil Psuturi, 19 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 20 Khvicha Bujiashvili, 21 Arsen Trapaiadze, 22 Giorgi Kakauridze, 23 Davit Kldiashvili, 24 Temur Iremadze, 25 Irakli Svanidze, 26 Davit Gobejishvili
BRAZIL
15 Daniel Sancery, 14 Lucas Tranquez, 13 Felipe Sancery, 12 Moisés Duque, 11 Robert Tenório, 10 Josh Reeves, 9 Lucas Duque, 8 André Arruda, 7 Arthur Bergo, 6 Cléber Dias, 5 Gabriel Paganini, 4 Luiz Vieira, 3 Jardel Vettorato (capt.), 2 Wilton Rebolo, 1 Lucas Abud
Replacements: 16 David Muller, 17 Caíque Silva, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Lucas Piero, 20 Michael Moraes, 21 Daniel Lima, 22 Stefano Giantorno, 23 De Wet van Niekerk, 24 Matheus Claudio, 25 Valentin Garcia