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Gerogia host the Argentina XV in an interesting match-up on Sunday. It is a test team vs a next-of-XV; a non-capped fixture, but one with players fighting for spots on the roster for Rugby World Cup 2023. Indeed, the Argentina XV have sent a powerful team to Eastern Europe.
Georgia have named a powerful side; it is one that could play against Los Pumas in a Rugby World Cup match. The side is led by veteran center Merab Sharidkadze. He has 84 caps for Georgia. He is joined in the backs by the 64 time capped Vasil Lobzhanidze at scrum-half and the 91 time capped Alexander Todua on the wing. Replacement back Lasha Khmaladze has 97 caps.
The forwards also have plenty of experience. This includes the 87 time capped Shalva Mamukashvili and the 68 time capped Jaba Bregvadze in the front-row. Second-rower Konstantin Mikautadze has 72 caps while the back-row contains Beka Saghinadze, Beka Gorgadze, and Otar Giorgadze. The trio have a combined 83 caps; yet, they are aged between 23 and 26.
In addition to experience, the Georgian players also play their rugby for reputable teams. Some play in Japan and some in Georgia while most do so in France. They do so for Top 14 teams including Brive, Lyon, Pau, Racing 92, Toulon and champions Montpellier.
The Argentina XV line-up also contains names from elite teams. Among them are Glasgow Warriors, Gloucester, London Irish, Pau, Perpignan, Scarlets and the Western Force. There are also Pro D2 players including center Lucas Mensa and captain Francisco Gorrissen.
Gorrissen leads a side that can be said to be experimental. All money was on Tomás Albornoz to play fly half but Gerónimo Prisciantelli will start ahead of him. There is no place for Puma Felipe Ezcurra as the uncapped Eliseo Morales starts at scrum-half and Sebastián Cancelliere covers from the wing.
Cancelliere starting is another surprise given that it is ahead of Mateo Carreras. Cancelliere is, however, one of only two capped backs in the starting line-up. Six of the starting forwards are capped including RWC 2019 players Tomás Lezana and Santiago Medrano. They have 70 test caps between them.
As noted, significant names will take to the field. While there is nothing on the line in the match itself, there is everything on the line for all involved. Players are chasing opportunities one year out from the World Cup. This alone makes Sunday’s match one that will give fans plenty to look forward to.
TEAMS
GEORGIA
1 Guram Gogichashvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 3 Luka Japaridze, 4 Lasha Jaiani, 5 Konstantin Mikautadze, 6 Otar Giorgadze, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 11 Aleksandre Todua, 12 Merab Sharidkadze (capt.), 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 15 David Nimiashvili
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Guram Papidze, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Mikheil Alania, 22 Lasha Khmaladze, 23 Demuri Tapladze
ARGENTINA XV
1 Facundo Gigena, 2 Santiago Socino, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Nahuel Milán, 6 Tomás Lezana, 7 Francisco Gorrissen (capt.), 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 9 Eliseo Morales, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Lucas Mensa, 13 Agustín Segura, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Martín Bogado
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Santiago Ruiz, 20 Andrea Panzarini, 21 Tomás Albornoz, 22 Mateo Carreras, 23 Facundo Cordero
Date: Sunday, July 03
Kick-Off: 10am (Argentina)
Venue: AIA Arena, Kutaisi
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (UK); Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Matteo Lipperini (Italy)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
June 18, 2014 – Georgia 16-26 Argentina (Tbilisi, GE)
June 15, 2011 – Argentina XV 13-14 Georgia (Bucharest, RO)
November 14, 2009 – Georgia 24-22 Argentina XV (Tbilisi, GE)
