GEORGIA v GERMANY: RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 1A

07.02.2015

Venue: Heusenstamm

Referee: Laurent Cordona (France)

Preview
Germany gained promotion to Division 1A after heading Division 1B for the 2012-2014 ENC Championship. Germany had previously played at this level for the 2008-10 ENC 1A championship. That was their first step up to the highest ENC level in recent times. It proved a disaster. After two seasons without a win they were relegated. The question is have things changed for German rugby since 2010?

Georgia has consistently proven over the last two seasons that they are perhaps a level up from the rest of the teams in this competition, with Romania perhaps an exception. They should there for have little difficulty defeating the Germans.

In the two games played between these nations over 2008-10 Germany lost both games; 5-38 in Heidelberg and 3-77 in Tbilisi.

Both teams go into this match understrength. Germany because of injuries Georgia with some injury but mostly selections.

Germany’s latest outing was a 20-58 loss to Namibia in Windhoek in late October 2014. Georgia defeated Japan 35-24 in Tbilisi in November. The difference in the quality of opposition must be a concern for the Germans desperate not to repeat the woes of 2008-10.

Germany Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
29.10.2014 v Namibia L 20-58 in Windhoek
24.05.2014 v Russia L 20-31 in Hamburg (WCQ Europe R5 Playoff)
10.05.2014 v Netherlands W 17-7 in Amsterdam (WCQ Europe R4 Playoff)
26.04.2014 v Sweden W 45-20 in Stockholm (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
05.04.2014 v Czech Republic W 76-12 in Heidelberg (WCQ Eur. R4; ENC 1B)

Georgia Last Five P 5, W 2, L 4
23.11.2014 v Japan W 35-24 in Tbilisi
16.11.2014 v Ireland L 7-49 in Dublin
08.11.2014 v Tonga L 9-23 in Tbilisi
22.06.2014 v Emerging Italy W 34-10 in Tbilisi (IRB Tbilisi Cup)
18.06.2014 v Argentina Jaguars L 16-26 in Tbilisi (IRB Tbilisi Cup)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Georgia 15th, Germany 27th
Europe Table: Georgia 7th, Germany 15th

IRB Ranking Points
Georgia 70.76, Germany 56.32

Prediction: Georgia by 35 points

Teams

Germany

15		Steffan Liebig	Heidelberger RK
14		Hendrik van der Merwe	Heidelberger TV
13		Clemens von Grumbkow	Heidelberger RK
12		Anjo Buckman	Heidelberger RK
11		Mark Szytyndera	SC 1880 Frankfurt
10		Jeremy Te Huia	TV Pforzheim
9		Timothy Menzel	TSV Handschuhsheim
8		Alan Kessen	San Isidro Club, Argentina
7		Umberto Pilla	Rugby San Dona, Italy
6		Robert Hittel	Heidelberger RK
5		Robert May	TV Pforzheim
4		Michael Poppmeier	False Bay RFC, South Africa
3		Matthais Schösser	Aberdeen RFC, Scotland
2		Michail Tyumenev	Stade Montois Rugby, France
1		Samuel Fuchsel	Heidelberger RK
16		Dale Garner	Stourbridge RFC, England
17		Marcus Bender	TSV Handschuhsheim
18		Christopher Howells	CA Saint-Etienne, France
19		Falk Duwe	RK 03 Berlin
20		Kehoma Brenner	Heidelberger RK
21		Carlos Soteras-Merz	TV Pforzheim
22		Pierre Mathurin	Heidelberger RK
23		Sean Armstrong	Heidelberger RK
		HEAD COACH: Kobus Potgieter

Georgia

15		Giorgi Aptsiauri	Aia
14		Sandro Todua	Lelo
13		David Kacharava	Enisey-STM Krasnoyarsk, Russia
12		Merab Shairikadze	Stade Aurillacois, France
11		Alexander Khutsishvili	Kochebi
10		Lasha Khmaladze	Lelo
9		Vasil Lobjanidze	Armazi
8		Beka Bitsadze	Locomotive
7		Shalva Sutiashvili (Capt.)	RC Massy, France
6		Georgi Tkhilaishvili	Batumi
5		Giorgi Nemsadze	Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby, France
4		Vakhtang Maisiradze	SC Albi, France
3		Davit Zirakashvili	ASM Clermont Auvergne, France
2		Zurab Zvania	Stade Français, France
1		Mikheil Nariashvili	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
16		Shalva Mamukashvili	Sale Sharks, England
17		Levan Chilachava	RC Toulon, France
18		Davit Kubriashvili	Stade Français, France
19		Konstantin Mikautadze	RC Toulon, France
20		Dimitri Basilaia	Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland
21		Giorgi Begadze	Kochebi
22		Lasha Malaguradze	Stade Bagnérais, France
23		Tamaz Mchedlidze	SU Agen, France
		HEAD COACH: Milton Haig