POOL B – GEORGIA vs ROMANIA
Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North, Wednesday 28th Sep 7:30pm (NZT)
Head-to-head: Played 13, Romania 8, Georgia 6
Last meeting: Georgia 18 beat Romania 11 in Tbilisi 2011
Last meeting at a World Cup: First meeting
Team news: Georgia have made three changes to the starting side that lined up against England nine days ago. Revaz Gigauri replaces Irakli Machkhaneli on the wing in the only change in the backs, while Flanker Giorgi Chkhaidze and Prop David Zirakashvili come into the pack. Romania have gone back to the side that played against Scotland and Argentina. 14 of the players that will start against Georgia also did so against Scotland in their opener, with players that started against England filling most of the bench.
Form: Despite the 41-10 scoreline, the Lelos played well and threatened the English line on many occasions but failed at the final hurdle, some wayward goal-kicking also hurt Georgia. In their other match the Lelos pushed Scotland hard so they will go into this one confident of another good performance. Romania also had Scotland on the ropes, but were foiled when the Scots scored two late tries. In Tall Oaks next two games against Argentina and England they went down by a combined total of 110-11. The 67-3 thrashing handed out by England was not the way the Romanians wanted to go into this match which is their last.
Prediction: Georgia have had the wood over Romania lately, winning four of previous five meetings. Both teams would have targeted this match as the one where a win was most likely. Romania started the tournament well but have gone off the boil, Georgia on the other-hand have been steady throughout and look the better of the two sides. The Manawatu community have really got behind this match and the stadium should be rocking. The forward battle should match the crowd, Georgia have the edge in that area and should take the match in a tight one.
Georgia by 8
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Revaz Gigauri, 14 Revaz Gigauri, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Merab Kvirikashvili, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (capt), 8 Dimitri Basilaia, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 5 Vakhtang Maisuradze, 4 Ilia Zedginidze, 3 David Zirakashvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 David Kinchagishvili.
Replacements: 16 Goderzi Shvelidze, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Givi Berishvili, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Irakli Chkhikvadze, 22 Malkhaz Urjukashvili.
Romania: 15 Iulian Dumitras, 14 Stefan Ciuntu, 13 Csaba Gal, 12 Tiberius Dimofte, 11 Madalin Lemnaru, 10 Danut Dumbrava, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Daniel Carpo, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Mihai Macovei, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Valentin Ursache, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Marius Tincu (capt), 1 Mihaita Lazar.
Replacements: 16 Bogdan Suman, 17 Silviu Florea, 18 Valentin Poparlan, 19 Daniel Ianus, 20 Valentin Calafeteanu, 21 Constantin Gheara, 22 Florin Vlaicu.
By Alex Barlow-Smith