Head-To-Head: Ireland v Georgia

A statistical preview of Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup match between Ireland and Georgia at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 2pm).

2020 GUINNESS SERIES/AUTUMN NATIONS CUP: Sunday, November 29

IRELAND (2nd) v GEORGIA (4th), Aviva Stadium, 2pm (live RTÉ One/Channel 4/Amazon Prime (UK only)/RTÉ Player/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/IRFU Live Blog)

IRELAND: Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster); Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster), Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster); Billy Burns (UIster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Will Connors (UCD/Leinster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster).

Replacements: Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Kieran Marmion (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster).

GEORGIA: Soso Matiashvili (Lelo Saracens); Akaki Tabutsadze (Lelo Saracens), Giorgi Kveseladze (RC Armazi Marneuli), Merab Sharikadze (Aurillac) (capt), Tamaz Mchedlidze (Agen); Tedo Abzhandadze (Brive), Vasil Lobzhanidze (Brive); Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier), Shalva Mamukashvili (Leicester Tigers), Beka Gigashvili (Toulon), Nodar Cheishvili (London Scottish), Lasha Jaiani (Exeter University), Beka Saginadze (Lelo Saracens), Tornike Jalagonia (Biarritz Olympique), Beka Gorgadze (Bordeaux-Begles).

Replacements: Giorgi Chkoidze (Lelo Saracens), Lexo Kaulashvili (Bordeaux-Begles), Giorgi Melikidze (Stade Francais), Giorgi Javakhia (Lyon), Mikheil Gachechiladze (Enisei-STM), Mikheil Alania (Jiki Gori), Demur Tapladze (Lelo Saracens), Davit Niniashvili (Unattached).

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television Match Official: Marius Mitrea (Italy)

Head-To-Head:

Played – 4
Ireland Won – 4
Georgia Won – 0

Ireland v Georgia – Previous Meetings:

November 14, 1998 – Rugby World Cup Qualifier: Ireland 70 Georgia 0, Lansdowne Road
September 28, 2002 – Rugby World Cup Qualifier: Ireland 63 Georgia 14, Lansdowne Road
September 15, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Pool D: Ireland 14 Georgia 10, Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux
November 16, 2004 – Guinness Series: Ireland 49 Georgia 7, Aviva Stadium

Biggest Wins:

Ireland: Points & Margin: 70-0, Rugby World Cup Qualifier, November 1998

Georgia: Points & Margin: –

Individual Records In The Series:

Most Points In A Match: Ireland 20 (Eric Elwood 1998); Georgia 5 (by five players – last by Giorgi Nemsadze 2014)

Most Tries In A Match: Ireland 2 (Girvan Dempsey 1998, Brian O’Driscoll 2002, Felix Jones 2014); Georgia 1 (by four players – last by Giorgi Nemsadze 2014)

Most Appearances – Ireland v Georgia:

3 – Giorgi Chkhaidze, Girvan Dempsey, Goderdzi Shvelidze, Ilia Zedginidze
2 – Irakli Abuseridze, Otar Barkalaia, Gordan D’Arcy, Levan Datunashvili, Simon Easterby, Akvsenti Giorgadze, John Hayes, Denis Hickie, Paliko Jimsheladze, Davit Kacharava, Vasil Katsadze, Beso Khamashuridze, Merab Kvirikashvili, Kevin Maggs, Zurab Mtchedlishvili, Vano Nadiradze, Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Malcolm O’Kelly, Peter Stringer, Levan Tsabadze, Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Paul Wallace

Top Points Scorers – Ireland v Georgia:

23 – Ronan O’Gara
20 – Girvan Dempsey, Eric Elwood
19 – Ian Madigan
10 – Felix Jones, Kevin Maggs, Brian O’Driscoll
7 – Merab Kvirikashvili

Top Try Scorers – Ireland v Georgia:

4 – Girvan Dempsey
2 – Felix Jones, Kevin Maggs, Brian O’Driscoll

Ireland – Form Guide From Start Of The 2019 Six Nations:

Lost 32-20 v England home (Six Nations)
Won 22-13 v Scotland away (Six Nations)
Won 26-16 v Italy away (Six Nations)
Won 26-14 v France home (Six Nations)
Lost 25-7 v Wales away (Six Nations)
Won 29-10 v Italy home (Guinness Summer Series)
Lost 57-15 v England away (Rugby World Cup Warm-Up)
Won 22-17 v Wales away (Rugby World Cup Warm-Up)
Won 19-10 v Wales home (Guinness Summer Series)
Won 27-3 v Scotland neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool A)
Lost 19-12 v Japan away (Rugby World Cup Pool A)
Won 35-0 v Russia neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool A)
Won 47-5 v Samoa neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool A)
Lost 46-14 v New Zealand neutral (Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final)
Won 18-14 v Scotland home (Six Nations)
Won 24-14 v Wales home (Six Nations)
Lost 24-12 v England away (Six Nations)
Won 50-17 v Italy home (Six Nations)
Lost 35-27 v France away (Six Nations)
Won 32-9 v Wales home (Guinness Series/Autumn Nations Cup)
Lost 18-7 v England away (Autumn Nations Cup)

Georgia – Form Guide From Start Of The 2019 Season:

Won 18-9 v Romania away (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 24-10 v Spain home (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 46-6 v Belgium away (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 52-3 v Germany home (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 22-6 v Russia away (Rugby Europe Championship)
Lost 44-10 v Scotland home (Rugby World Cup Warm-Up)
Lost 36-9 v Scotland away (Rugby World Cup Warm-Up)
Lost 43-14 v Wales neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool D)
Won 33-7 v Uruguay neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool D)
Lost 45-10 v Fiji neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool D)
Lost 27-8 v Georgia neutral (Rugby World Cup Pool D)
Won 41-14 v Romania home (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 23-10 v Spain away (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 78-6 v Belgium home (Rugby Europe Championship)
Won 39-24 v Portugal neutral (Rugby Europe Championship)
Lost 48-7 v Scotland away (Autumn Test)
Lost 40-0 v England away (Autumn Nations Cup)
Lost 18-0 v Wales away (Autumn Nations Cup)

Ireland – Most-Capped Players:

133 Brian O’Driscoll
128 Ronan O’Gara
124 Rory Best
108 Paul O’Connell
105 John Hayes
102 Cian Healy
98 Peter Stringer
95 Jamie Heaslip
95 Rob Kearney
94 Donncha O’Callaghan
94 Jonathan Sexton
92 Malcolm O’Kelly
86 Keith Earls
85 Conor Murray
82 Gordon D’Arcy
82 Girvan Dempsey
72 Sean Cronin
72 David Humphreys
72 Geordan Murphy
72 David Wallace
71 Peter O’Mahony
71 Eoin Reddan
70 Kevin Maggs
70 Devin Toner
70 Andrew Trimble
69 Tommy Bowe
69 Mike Gibson

Ireland – All-Time Leading Points Scorers:

1083 Ronan O’Gara
850 Jonathan Sexton
560 David Humphreys
308 Michael Kiernan
296 Eric Elwood
245 Brian O’Driscoll
217 Ollie Campbell
195 Paddy Jackson
158 Tom Kiernan
150 Tommy Bowe
150 Keith Earls
145 Denis Hickie

Ireland – All-Time Leading Try Scorers:

46 Brian O’Driscoll
30 Tommy Bowe
30 Keith Earls
29 Denis Hickie
21 Shane Horgan
19 Girvan Dempsey
18 Geordan Murphy
18 Jacob Stockdale
17 Brendan Mullin
17 Andrew Trimble
16 Rob Kearney
16 Ronan O’Gara
15 Kevin Maggs
15 Keith Wood
14 Conor Murray
14 Jonathan Sexton
14 George Stephenson
13 Jamie Heaslip
12 Rory Best
12 Keith Crossan
12 David Wallace
11 Alan Duggan
11 Simon Geoghegan
11 CJ Stander

Georgia – Most-Capped Players:

122 Davit Kacharava
115 Merab Kvirikashvili
100 Giorgi Chkhaidze
99 Lasha Malaguradze
95 Giorgi Nemsadze
88 Sandro Todua
85 Irakli Abuseridze
85 Lasha Khmaladze
82 Shalva Sutiashvili
77 Tedo Zibzibadze
76 Shalva Mamukashvili
75 Levan Datunashvili
75 Mamuka Gorgodze

Georgia – All-Time Leading Points Scorers:

840 Merab Kvirikashvili
320 Paliko Jimsheladze
320 Malkhaz Urjukashvili
190 Lasha Malaguradze
155 Soso Matiashvili
135 Mamuka Gorgodze
125 Davit Kacharava
124 Beka Tsiklauri
115 Irakli Machkhaneli
115 Tedo Zibzibadze
104 Nugzar Dzagnidze

Georgia – All-Time Leading Try Scorers:

27 Mamuka Gorgodze
25 Davit Kacharava
23 Irakli Machkhaneli
23 Tedo Zibzibadze
17 Merab Kvirikashvili
17 Malkhaz Urjukashvili
15 Bessik Khamashuridze
15 Giorgi Nemsadze
13 Sandro Todua
13 Ilia Zedginidze
12 Akvsenti Giorgadze
12 Grigol Labadze
12 Merab Sharikadze

World Rugby All-Time Top Points Scorers:

1598 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
1246 Jonny Wilkinson (1179-England, 67-Lions)
1090 Neil Jenkins (1049-Wales, 41-Lions)
1083 Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
1010 Diego Dominguez (27-Argentina, 983-Italy)
992 Florin Vlaicu (Romania)
986 Owen Farrell (955-England, 31-Lions)
970 Stephen Jones (917-Wales, 53-Lions)
967 Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand)
911 Michael Lynagh (Australia)
893 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
878 Matt Burke (Australia)
855 Jonathan Sexton (850-Ireland, 5-Lions)
840 Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia)
813 Leigh Halfpenny (764-Wales, 49-Lions)
809 Chris Paterson (Scotland)

World Rugby All-Time Top Try Scorers:

67 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
64 David Campese (Australia)
60 Shane Williams (58-Wales, 2-Lions)
50 Rory Underwood (49-England, 1-Lions)
49 Doug Howlett (New Zealand)
47 Brian O’Driscoll (46-Ireland, 1-Lions)
46 Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
46 Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand)
46 Julian Savea (New Zealand)
44 Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)
42 George North (40-Wales, 2-Lions)
41 Gareth Thomas (40-Wales, 1-Lions)
40 Chris Latham (Australia)

(Note: Daisuke Ohata scored 69 tries for Japan, but not all against major international opposition)

The ‘100 Caps’ Club:

151 Alun Wyn Jones (142-Wales, 9-Lions)
148 Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
142 Sergio Parisse (Italy)
141 Brian O’Driscoll (133-Ireland, 8-Lions)
139 George Gregan (Australia)
134 Gethin Jenkins (129-Wales, 5-Lions)
132 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
130 Ronan O’Gara (128-Ireland, 2-Lions)
129 Stephen Moore (Australia)
127 Victor Matfield (South Africa)
127 Kieran Read (New Zealand)
124 Rory Best (Ireland)
124 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
124 Florin Vlaicu (Romania)
122 Davit Kacharava (Georgia)
121 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)
121 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
119 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)
119 Jason Leonard (114-England, 5-Lions)
119 Alessandro Zanni (Italy)
118 Fabien Pelous (France)
118 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
117 Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)
116 Nathan Sharpe (Australia)
115 Yuri Kushnarev (Russia)
115 Merab Kvirikashvili (Georgia)
115 Paul O’Connell (108-Ireland, 7-Lions)
112 Marco Bortolami (Italy)
112 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
111 Ross Ford (110-Scotland, 1-Lions)
111 Philippe Sella (France)
111 John Smit (South Africa)
111 George Smith (Australia)
110 Will Genia (Australia)
110 Stephen Jones (104-Wales, 6-Lions)
110 Sekope Kepu (Australia)
109 Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
109 Catalin Fercu (Romania)
109 Chris Paterson (Scotland)
108 Owen Franks (New Zealand)
107 John Hayes (105-Ireland, 2-Lions)
106 Mauro Bergamasco (Italy)
106 Leonardo Ghiraldini (Italy)
105 Sean Lamont (Scotland)
105 Rob Simmons (Australia)
105 Ben Youngs (103-England, 2-Lions)
104 Michael Hooper (Australia)
104 Martyn Williams (100-Wales, 4-Lions)
103 Matt Giteau (Australia)
103 Victor Gresev (Russia)
103 Andrea Lo Cicero (Italy)
103 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
103 Gareth Thomas (100-Wales, 3-Lions)
102 Cian Healy (Ireland)
102 Stephen Larkham (Australia)
102 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
101 David Campese (Australia)
101 Alessandro Troncon (Italy)
101 Goncalo Uva (Portugal)
101 Vasco Uva (Portugal)
100 Valentin Calafeteanu (Romania)
100 Giorgi Chkhaidze (Georgia)
100 Andrei Garbuzov (Russia)
100 Jamie Heaslip (95-Ireland, 5-Lions)
100 Adam Jones (95-Wales, 5-Lions)
100 Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)
100 George North (97-Wales, 3-Lions)
100 Jonathan Sexton (94-Ireland, 6-Lions)
100 James Slipper (Australia)