The Russian Rugby team’s first visit to Georgia since the 2008 invasion ended in defeat for the visitors. This was a rugby match that was awaited with both great expectation and trepidation.
In 2009, the game between these two teams was played in Ukraine. In 2010 it was in Turkey and last year the fixture was held in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
This year’s game was scheduled for Tbilisi, Georgia’s rugby mad capital. The match was sold out a week ago and 25,000 were in attendance.
There was very tight security but no incidents occurred. A few jeers were heard as a tinny version of Russia’s anthem was played but then support as a Georgian baritone gave a passionate rendition of his country’s anthem.
Georgia kicked off and immediately threatened the Russian line but the Russian defence held. Georgia maintained pressure but bad handling by the back line prevented any try being scored.
Merab Kvirikashvili kicked a penalty and Russia mounted an attack from the kick-off but it was eventually snuffed out. The Georgian forwards seemed to be fed up with their backs errors and taking matters into their own hands, kept the ball to themselves by passing and marching the Russian scrum up to 30 metres to gain more territory.
The French referee allowed the game to flow, scrums did not collapse and there was no resetting of the scrums which was appreciated by both players and spectators. Quite a difference from the games here.
Eventually, the Russians faltered and Georgia’s number eight Mamuka Gorgodze scored and then lock Giorgi Chkhaidze crossed. Both were converted by Kvirikashvili and Georgia went to the break with a 17-0 lead.
The second half was all Georgia as Russia was a pale imitation of its World Cup team of last year. Georgia maintained pressure, running in four second half tries.
The Georgians taunted their opponents at times- Gorgodze crossed the tryline but kept running to the dead ball line, stopped, turned and passed to a support player, winger Irakli Machkhaneli who grounded to score.
The final scoreline of 46-0, six tries to nil, probably flattered the Russians who also went scoreless the previous week when beaten by Romania, 25-0.
The game was played in a great spirit and no untoward or spiteful incidents happened. After full-time, the Georgian players made a slow circuit of the ground to soak up the rapture of their 25,000 fans.
This win means that Georgia will win the European Nations Cup as with one game to go, they cannot be overhauled. Georgia suffered only one loss this year, their first in A European match since 2009. That was to the surprise team of the tournament, Spain, which has now jumped from fifth to third place.
Playing in Madrid in front of a record Spanish Rugby crowd of 10,000, both teams scored three tries but goal kicking made the difference. Also the heavier Spanish forwards held and sometimes out-muscled the vaunted Georgian pack. The Spanish crowd stormed the pitch after the win.
In a topsy-turvy couple of rounds, Spain went down by one point to their Iberian neighbours, Portugal who, in turn, lost to Russia by a solitary point. This week Spain beat second placed Romania 13-12 while Portugal lost 35-33 to Ukraine who were winless in the past two years.
This season marks the end of the two year cycle which means that Ukraine, despite beating Portugal will be relegated to the division 1B while Belgium will be promoted to the top division for the first time. Belgium beat second last placed Germany, 30-29, which means neither Poland nor Moldova can now overtake Belgium for promotion.
kovana
Guest
Over 70k for that match in Rome between Italy and Scotland.. And people still have the gall to say rugby is not growing..
p.Tah
Guest
Look at this crowd in Rome (Scotland Vs. Italy). It seems rugby is doing OK in Europe! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-XMJopk6co&feature=related
Lorry
Guest
KPM I hardly think they're behaving like imbeciles..... I suppose you think the Zimbabweans and Irish behaved like imbeciles too....?
Football United
Guest
how is it any different to the home nations refusing to play as GB every year.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Belgium have had a few crowds over 10,000 of late as well. Poland have managed between 6-7,000 on a few occasions.
Harry Kimble
Guest
To them, they are. They have their own language and culture. Barcelona has even banned bullfighting. In 1934 they joined FIRA as an independent country even though it was part of Spain. The country was in turmoil and the French, in order to get a Rugby nation to play, accepted them. France had been banned from the then Five Nations because of professionalism. This is the reason given for wanting to rejoin FIRA independently, even thogh Spain was now a full member of FIRA>
Emric
Guest
I've read that too soccer in Georgia is very weary (I won't say afraid) of the rise of rugby in the country.
kovana
Guest
Is Catalonia actually a country?
Mella
Guest
The Russian sevens team will be competing to be a core team on the IRB circuit at the Hong Kong sevens this weekend, I wonder if they are focused on that. Could be an explanation for the thrashing.
anon
Guest
there would have even been more in Georgia but soccer won't let them use the 60,000 seater anymore. i heard somewhere this stadium might even be taken off them (by the soccer owners) and they might be stuck with a 5000 seater
Harry Kimble
Guest
The Basques are not calling to be separate in Rugby, only Catalonia. A number of Basques play in French Rugby teams and are available to turn out for Spain. The French club, Biarritz, plays several games in Spain and sometimes plays in a guernsey in the form of a Basque flag. At the moment, French League is wooing Catalonia to switch to league and the Catalans league side has played in Barcelona and already a couple of league teams are in Barcelona. The Catalonia problem goes back to 1934 and then the Spanish Civil War. It is very deep in their psyche.
Harry Kimble
Guest
This stadium is called thed Mikheil Meshki Stadium (also called the Locomotive Stadium), capacity 27,100 and is run by the Georgian Football Federation. It is smaller than the National Stadium (also known as Dinamo Stadium), capacity 35,000 where the big games are usually played but bigger than the Avchala Stadium where lesser games are staged. I think it was staged at the Locomotive Stadium because of the security requirements for this sensitive match.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Harry if Catalonia and the Basque country insist on playing only as independent nations, then that will set rugby in Spain back for years. These regions behave like imbeciles and have been doing so for hundreds of years, so there's unlikely to be an end in sight.
Harry Kimble
Guest
Spain is doing all right but could do better because the Catalonians based in Barcelona will not join the Madrid-based Spanish Rugby Federation. Catalonia asked to join FIRA as a separate nation but was refused. (Catalonia was a founder member of FIRA in 1934.) Rugby is strong in the Basque region and interact with their French neighbours. Also, Spain has a problem attracting good players. Most top athletes gravitate to soccer and basketball but they do have big strong forwards. Becase of boby shape, the big men suit Rugby and they do play the game. The Federation does a good job in publicising the game, hence the 10,000 at the Georgia match.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Is this a different stadium to their usual one they play in? it seems a bit smaller? I would love to see Australia stop in there after the November tests. would be huge for the game.
allblackfan
Guest
It's worth noting that after last year's RWC, the Georgian RU approached the NZRFU and asked them for a head coach. The NZRFU sent two (Milton Haig being the head coach). I wish those two countries could have met at the RWC!! Agreed about Tier 1 nations playing there (or at least sending players to run clinics there)
Tigranes
Guest
Exactly my thoughts, when will the day arrive when the likes of Wallabies, England, etc will no longer only play Georgia, Russia at World Cups. I suspect rugby is benefiting from Georgian nationalism these days. Smashing Russia would have helped. The country hasnt really had much to contribute on the world stage sadly apart from rugby. Hopefully rugby can help bring the world to Russia. Who knows, in 30 years Georgia could well be a host for a world cup?
AussieKiwi
Guest
this is so true. Everyone loves a winner but loyalty is not just for the good times. I think it is incredibly poor form to boo one's own team. What are they (the booers) saying, we are supporters as long as you play well? How demoralising for the team. Its almost like a parent saying to their child, I will love you as long as you come top fo the class. I appreciate that if a team is playing poorly, fans might not turn up, but having gone to the game, unless your team is obviously simply not trying, then DO NOT BOO THEM! It seems to be a Waratahs thing more than any other team. Is there some entitlement mentality there????
hotdog
Guest
The Georgians are great rugby people. Tahs fans should take note of how to get behind your team and support them through thick and thin, instead of being so frickin' precious !!
Emric
Guest
25,000 in georgia when will the tier one nations finally play a game there as that ground is only 10,000 less then Wellington, and 5,000 less then Otago