POOL B – ENGLAND vs GEORGIA
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Sunday 18th Sep 6pm (NZT)
Head-to-head: Played 1, England 1, Georgia 0
Last meeting: England 84 beat Georgia 6 in Perth (Pool stage 2003)
Last meeting at a World Cup: England 84 beat Georgia 6 in Perth (Pool stage 2003)
Team news: Martin Johnson has made nine changes to the side that struggled against Argentina. The English welcome back captain Lewis Moody, added to the pack along side him are Tom Wood, Simon Shaw, Tom Palmer, Dylan Hartley and Matt Stevens. Johnson has also wielded the axe in the backs, Ben Youngs and Toby Flood come in to the halves while Shontayne Hape comes in to create a devestating partnership with Manu Tuilagi. Georgia have made only two changes to the side that battled well against Scotland. Lock Ilia Zedginidze replaces Levan Datunashvili to form a new second row partnership. David Kubriashvili comes into the front row with David Zirakashvili relegated to the bench.
Form: England found the going tough against Argentina before a try to Youngs gave them a lead they would not relinquish. A high error and penalty count was the problem, and for most of the match the English team could not get going. The determination shown to get the win will please Johnson, it was a tough opener and the team will be better for it. Georgia’s 15-6 loss to Scotland was a tight and torrid affair. The Lelos put up a great fight in their World Cup opener and the inclement weather suited Georgia who pride themselves on strong forward play. The enclosed Forsyth Barr Stadium would change most teams strategy, but Georgia will thrive on the chance to mix it with the English Pack.
Prediction: Making nine changes is always dangerous, but the quality that England can bring in cancels that out. Hape and Tuilagi will trouble the Lelos all night, while the injection of Moody will give Georgia something to worry about at the breakdown. Georgia wont give up, but expect the class of England to shine through.
England by 40
Teams:
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Delon Armitage, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody (capt), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Matt Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Tom Croft, 19 James Haskell, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Jonny Wilkinson, 22 Matt Banahan.
Georgia: 15 Revaz Gigauri, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Merab Kvirikashvili, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (capt), 8 Dimitri Basilaia, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Shalva Sutiashvili, 5 Vakhtang Maisuradze, 4 Ilia Zedginidze, 3 David Kubriashvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 David Khinchagishvili.
Replacements: 16 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 17 David Zirakashvili, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Givi Berishvili, 22 Lasha Khmaladze.
By Alex Barlow-Smith