On November 14, on the Matmut Atlantique field in Bordeaux, a man burst the screen. At the head of his Georgia team, against the monstrous XV of France of Dupont, Penaud and Ntamack, a man will sound the revolt. His name is Vasil Lobzhanidze, who scores after a good effort by Luka Japaridze.He is greeted by commentators and taken in the arms of another man known in Brive: Tedo Abzhandadze.
Vasil & Tedo have been part of the Georgian hinge for a long time. At 26, Vasil remembers. “I’ve known Tedo for three to four years. We played games with Georgia, then with Brive when Tedo arrived.” Vasil Lobzhanidze landed in Corrèze in 2016, like another Georgian player, Soso Bekoshvili. It is later that Vasil & Tedo meet at the club, while Tedo Abzhandadze arrives from Kutaisi, Georgian third largest city. Brive is not unknown to him; he arrives with Vano Karkadze, the hooker. “We played together when we were little” says the young 22-year-old opener, “they were at the same club, they come from the same city and played with the U18 and U20 together” adds Vasil Lobzhanidze.
Vasil, big brother of the Georgians
During Vano Karkadze’s first interview in front of the Georgians, Vasil will help translate the words of the very young Brivist hooker, he who still has difficulty speaking French. “He has made good progress in French” explains Goderzi Shvelidze, the CAB forward coach and “daddy” of all Georgians in Brive. “Vasil brings confidence and has matured. As soon as he announces things, for the big ones or the three-quarters, it is important“underlines the manager, who adds of the young opener Abzhandadze.” Tedo communicates more too. ”
“Vasil brings confidence to Tedo and Tedo also gives confidence to Vasil.” – Goderzi Shvelidze, said Obé, Brive forwards coach and former Georgian player
However, do not tell him that he is the “big brother” of the Georgians. “No, no, I don’t agree “ Vasil Lobzhanidze answers, a little embarrassed. “Yes Yes” adds Tedo Abzhandadze. “He’s the little boss, when Godo (Shvelidze, editor’s note) is not there!”
Understand each other without speaking
If the two Brivist players are accomplices, they are no less efficient. Three times starting with the CAB this season, they also played their three international matches together. This necessarily gives rise to automatisms. “I know what he’s going to do” explains Tedo Abzhandadze. “We don’t need to talk to understand each other” adds Vasil Lobzhanidze.
Insurance together that sometimes hits the mark, as in the second half of the match against France. “It was a very positive match for Georgia, against France, which I consider to be the best nation in the world,” Vasil Lobzhanidze declared calmly. A major asset for Brive then? Even if the game against Lyon could not really bring this truth to light, the game against Castres proved it otherwise.