David Dadunashvili became the youngest hooker in Rugby World Cup history at 21 years and 270 days when he replaced Akvsenti Giorgadze in Georgia’s starting line up against South Africa in 2003.
Smashed by England 84-6, and then comfortably beaten by Samoa, Georgia were expected to be easy meat for South Africa, especially when the Springboks raced to a 24-3 lead after 23 minutes.
But the Georgians showed great spirit and used their powerfully built forwards to take it to South Africa in the second half.
After an intercept Georgia tried to play on quickly, but were deliberately slowed by the Springboks, giving referee Stuart Dickinson no choice but to issue a yellow card to Hendro Scholtz.
Dadunashvili threw the ball into the resulting lineout, ran in behind the maul, and barged his way over to score his first try and Georgia’s first at the tournament.
Dadunashvili went onto play 29 times for Georgia, but didn’t take part in any other World Cups.
The Roar’s World Cup Countdown:
30. Grant Fox’s record 30 conversions from the 1987 World Cup
29. All Blacks claim the 1987 World Cup, 29-9
28. Tonga stun Italy with Sateki Tuipulotu’s boot, winning 28-25
27. 27 per cent of tries came from scrums in 2003 with Canada showing the value of the set piece
26. David Pocock made 26 tackles in a fantastic performance against South Africa in the 2011 quarter-finals
25. South Africa’s 25 wins from 29 matches at the World Cup
24. Wales scores 24 points in the first half against New Zealand but still lose in 2003
23. Nick Farr-Jones 23 wins as Australian captain including an historic 1991 World Cup win against England
22. The Wallabies notch a cricket score with 22 tries in a 142-0 thumping of Namibia in 2003
21. Georgia’s David Dadunashvili becomes the youngest (21) to start at hooker in a World Cup match
20. The first World Cup classic finishes 20-all between Scotland and France in 1987
19. 19-year-old George North becomes youngest World Cup try scorer in 2011
18. Since their first and only win Japan has gone 18-straight World Cup games without victory
17. New Zealand coaching staff present 17 alleged refereeing errors to explain 2007 loss
16. George Gregan and Jason Leonard involved in 16 wins each at World Cup level
15. Jonah Lomu’s 15 tries in 11 matches
14. Jonny Wilkinson’s 14 World Cup drop goals including his most famous one in England’s 20-17 win over the Wallabies
13. Philippe Sella’s fantastic career at No.13 with 13 starts for France at Rugby World Cups
12. The Wallabies record 12-game winning streak from 1999 to 2003
11. Fiji win 11 out of 11 lineouts against Wales during a stunning 38-34 win in 2007
10. David Campese’s 10 tries for the Wallabies at Rugby World Cups
9. Matt Burke’s 9 points per game average after an amazing 1999 tournament
8. Diego Ormaechea, at age 40, was the oldest number 8 to play at a World Cup
7. No.7 Michael Jones scores the first ever World Cup try
6. Marc Ellis’ record six tries in a match against Japan
5. Jannie de Beer’s five drop goals in a match against England in the 1999 quarter-finals
4. Michael Lynagh’s four tries in World Cup matches including his match-winner against Ireland
3. Cardiff has hosted World Cup matches for three tournaments and will make it a record four in 2015
2. Christophe Lamaison’s two drop goals in semi-final blinder
1. The Webb Ellis Cup.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks moa. Good team, a lot of class players miss out
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, Louw asks Bismarck and Thor. That's how the breakdown works
Harry Jones
Expert
Pocock pilfers more than Louw. Read offloads more than Burger. Usain Bolt is faster than Habana. There you go. Now we're real.
canadiankiwi
Guest
The fact that Louw requires Vermuelen and Bismarck to poach ball is my point.
canadiankiwi
Guest
Your right Harry. This team is flawless. The openside is the best fetcher in world rugby, the backup No8 has silky distribution skills to put Kieran Read to shame, and the fastest wing in world rugby who leaves a trail of fire in his wake. Now I am a fiction novelist.
Harry Jones
Expert
Okay. Got it. Habana is slow. Burger can't pass. Louw can't fetch. You're a satirist!
canadiankiwi
Guest
Louw is a blindside playing openside and Pocock and Hooper will expose him in the RWC if they meet in the QF. Brussow is a world class openside who would have given the Springboks a fighting chance. Burger is not one of the best handling forwards in the game- you are dreaming. He is a very powerful, physical player with huge heart and very admirable person for his courageous comeback. Skillfull- no. Habana is slow for a wing. Great chaser, great defender, but slow with ball-in- hand.
You were talking about Ouw and I corrected your ignorance, then added we hunt as a pack and have more than one pilferer.
Harry Jones
Expert
C-Kiwi, all the top coaches and clubs rate Louw at the top of the openside (top 3-5 at least). You're the only one who thinks Hooper pilfers, jackals, and fetches better than Louw.
canadiankiwi
Guest
i thought we were talking about Louw?
Harry Jones
Expert
At Brisbane, Louw made 18 tackles (6 more than Hooper), out-pilfered Hooper, and ruled the breakdown. Burger might be one of the 4-5 best handling big forwards in the game. He's a link man now; offloads. Check his stats. Watch highlights. Coetzee is injured; his replacement is Kolisi--not a big guy. Habana slow? Come on. When he's 60, he'll still be sub-12:00 in the 100.
You ignore the fact that Bismarck and Vermeulen are brilliant pilferers. Well then , I must be mistaken, you just don't think much of South African rugby
canadiankiwi
Guest
What bias? I just don't think Louw is a top openside- that does not make me bias. Henrich Brussow is a fantastic openside- but he is unloved by Meyers- who is biased!
canadiankiwi
Guest
Brisbane 2015 Burger is a battering ram, he sure the hell is no Kieran Read or Warren Whitely when it comes to passing and linking. When was the last time Habana scored a try, at test level, beating his man one-on-one?
Francois Louw is one of the best fetchers in world rugby, your bias is showing again.
Harry Jones
Expert
C-Kiwi: Show me one game where Hooper out dueled Louw. Explain how Burger isn't skillful. And demonstrate Habana's lack of pace.
canadiankiwi
Guest
A very good team but there are flaws. There is no fetcher on this team who can compete against Pocock and Hooper. Flouw is not in the same league, only Brussow was. Once again, Springbok select size/weight (Alberts, Burger) over skill and athleticism (Brussow, Coetzee, Whitely). The back three are all out of form and the wings (Habana and Petersen) are old and slow. Meyers selected the team (matchday 23 anyways) that I expected. He picked a very traditional Springbok team- a very large forward pack (which lacks mobility and speed) and halfbacks that are excellent kickers. Expect FDP and Morne Steiyn will start at 9 and 10 and implement Blue Bulls rugby. De Allende/JDV and Habana/Petersen are there to chase kicks and play defense. This plan will destroy their pool opponents but will it be enough to defeat England (identical game plan but with more explosive wings) or Australia (complete opposite plans) in a he QF?
Lorry
Guest
Is anyone actually gonna discuss the article? A great try to the Georgian hooker something he'll no doubt remember forever. He's achieved far more than us armchair wannabes! These are the great moments of the World Cup. Something only rugby league, aussie rules, american football, basketball and ice hockey can only dream about! Heres hoping some of the ”minnows" cause some upsets,
Harry Jones
Expert
Hola. JPP, Pollard, Habana, Lambie have all played 12/13 at Super Level or above.
Nobrain
Guest
Don you think you are short a center? just three? who else can play those two positions?