World Rugby Tbilisi Cup Preview: Georgia v Emerging Ireland

Already assured of lifting the World Rugby Tbilisi Cup afterwards, Emerging Ireland will aim to make it three wins out of three when they meet the host nation who are smarting from a surprise defeat to Emerging Italy.

WORLD RUGBY TBILISI CUP – ROUND 3: Sunday, June 21

GEORGIA (3rd) v EMERGING IRELAND (1st), Avchala Stadium, 7pm local time/4pm Irish time (Georgian live stream)

Team News: The Emerging Ireland coaches have named their team to face hosts Georgia in the final game of the 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup. There are nine changes to the starting line-up from Wednesday’s 33-7 victory over Uruguay.

Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson switches to the blindside flank in place of the injured Rhys Ruddock and is joined in the back row by Dan Leavy at openside and Jack Conan at number 8.

Billy Holland takes over the captaincy and is partnered in the second row by Ben Marshall, the fifth and final try scorer against Uruguay. Hooker Rob Herring returns to make it an all-senior international front row alongside James Cronin and Stephen Archer.

Luke McGrath and JJ Hanrahan are the starting half-backs for the second time in the tournament, with Noel Reid and Stuart McCloskey selected together in the centre. Matt Healy has recovered from a stomach bug and will play alongside Andrew Conway and Tiernan O’Halloran in the back-three.

The replacements include Dave Heffernan, Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, Andrew Browne, Frankie Taggart, John Cooney, Eoin Griffin and Peter Nelson.

After two bonus point victories and Georgia’s slip up against Emerging Italy, Emerging Ireland have claimed the Tbilisi Cup title but Sunday’s game gives the squad another chance to impress against a side that are preparing for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Senior head coach Joe Schmidt will be in attendance.

All of the 2015 Tbilisi Cup matches are streamed live online here via the Georgian Rugby Union website.

Meanwhile, Georgia will be looking to make amends for Wednesday’s disappointing 26-10 loss to the Italians. Head coach Milton Haig is selecting his training squad for the Rugby World Cup in a week’s time, so this round 3 match presents a chance for fringe players to to put their case forward. 
 
The Lelos are without out-half Lasha Malagaradze who has injured his quad. He has been replaced by Mamuka Ninidze who has been brought in from outside the initial 27-man squad.

Winger Alexandre Khutsishvili and centre Tamaz Mchedlidze are the only players retained in the back-line, while prop Zurab Zhvania and back rowers Giorgi Chkhaidze and Lasha Lomidze are the three changes in a pack led by captain Levan Datunashvili, who plays his rugby in France with Aurillac.

2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup – Ticket Details

GEORGIA: Beka Tsiklauri; Alexandre Khutsishvili, Revaz Gigauri, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Giorgi Pruidze; Mamuka Ninidze, Giorgi Begadze; Zurab Zhvania, Simon Maisuradze, Anton Peikrishvili, Levan Datunashvili (capt), Konstantine Mikautadze, Beka Bitsadze, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Lasha Lomidze.
 
Replacements: Jaba Bregvadze, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Irakli Mirtskhulava, Otar Giorgadze, Saba Shubititdze, Vazha Khutsishvili, Irakli Svanidze, Giorgi Aptsiauri.

EMERGING IRELAND: Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht); Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster), Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht); JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster), Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster); James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster), Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt), Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht), Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster).

Replacements: Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht), Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht), Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), Andrew Browne (Galwegians/Connacht), Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), John Cooney (Terenure College/Connacht), Eoin Griffin (London Irish), Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster).

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Pre-Match Quotes: Allen Clarke (Emerging Ireland) – “We have spoken as a group about how meaningful this match is and how important it is for us to perform well as a group and, through that team performance, what rewards there could be for individuals.

“We have picked a squad we believe is strong enough to do the job and we’ll use our bench again because of the conditions.

“It is unbelievably unfortunate for Rhys (Ruddock) as person and as a rugby player. It’s a loss for him and it’s a loss for Irish rugby, but it’s a short-term loss, he is a young man. He has kept in touch with us since he’s been home which tells you a lot about him as a person. He’ll come back and we all wish him a speedy recovery.”

Audio: Billy Holland: It’s A Huge Honour To Captain Your Country

Milton Haig (Georgia) – “It is not the game we were hoping for it to be at the start of the tournament, but it is what it is. I have challenged the players to make sure that on Sunday they remember that they are playing at home, we want to finish the tournament well and we are playing against the best team that is here.

“So, it is a big challenge for the group to prove in front of home supporters that we are a good side, a better side than what we showed against Emerging Italy. The squad have trained well and are motivated by the challenge that has been laid done to get the result.”

EMERGING IRELAND – PREVIOUS RESULTS –

2013 – IRB Tbilisi Cup (Runners-Up): Georgia 15 Emerging Ireland 20, Avchala Stadium; Emerging Ireland 8 South Africa President’s XV 19, Avchala Stadium; Uruguay 33 Emerging Ireland 42, Avchala Stadium

2014 – IRB Nations Cup (Champions): Emerging Ireland 66 Russia 0, Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf; Emerging Ireland 51 Uruguay 3, Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf; Romania 10 Emerging Ireland 31, Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf

2015 – World Rugby Tbilisi Cup (Champions): Emerging Ireland 25 Emerging Italy 0, Avchala Stadium; Emerging Ireland 33 Uruguay 7, Avchala Stadium

2015 WORLD RUGBY TBILISI CUP FIXTURES/RESULTS:

Saturday, June 13 –

Emerging Italy 0 Emerging Ireland 25, Avchala Stadium

Georgia 19 Uruguay 10, Avchala Stadium

Wednesday, June 17 –

Uruguay 7 Emerging Ireland 33, Avchala Stadium

Georgia 10 Emerging Italy 26, Avchala Stadium

Sunday, June 21 –

Uruguay v Emerging Italy, Avchala Stadium, 5pm local time
Georgia v Emerging Ireland, Avchala Stadium, 7pm local time/4pm Irish time