Fourteen years after the only meeting between the two selections (64-7 for the Blues at the 2007 World Cup), France and Georgia will meet again, Sunday, November 14 in Bordeaux. This second test in November, after the victory against Argentina (29-20), may represent a curiosity for the less initiated. Never mind, the Georgian national team is establishing itself, step by step, as a nation that counts on the rugby chessboard.
Because since the World Cup played in France, the selection of the Caucasus has progressed. Integrated into World Rugby in 1992, shortly after the country’s independence, the National Rugby Federation grew. “There was not even a field in Georgia then!”, launches Zaza Kassachvili, president of the Federation between 1997 and 2004. The latter, who also has French nationality, obtained political support to develop the practice. “The state and some private companies have understood that rugby can be a great calling card for Georgia. They have built around 20 stadiums.”, he develops.
The results are clear: stuck around eighteenth place in the World Rugby ranking for more than fifteen years, Georgia has made significant progress over the last decade. Third in its group at the 2015 World Cup, the selection occupies an honorable twelfth place, ahead of Samoa, Italy, Tonga or the United States.
“It is the fruit of a long-term process. Georgian rugby has evolved with the arrival of many players in Top 14 and Pro D2, such as Mamuka Gorgodze or Davit Zirakashvili. They were in competition with French and foreign internationals. and competed. “
Dimitri Yachvili, former French international and consultant for France Télévisionsfranceinfo: sport
Despite this status on the rise, the “Lelos” are still competing for the Rugby Europe Championship, a sort of antechamber to the Six Nations Tournament opposing them to Portugal, Spain, Russia, Romania and the Netherlands. A competition won … nine times over the last ten editions. “It’s not enough for us, sharply analyzes coach Levan Maisashvili. We have to play in a sustainable way against high level opponents. “
2021 Rugby Europe Championship winners -congratulations @GeorgianRugby! pic.twitter.com/WJ7bkdLZDZ
– Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) June 26, 2021
This test match against France therefore represents a good opportunity to rub shoulders with a major nation. Invited to the Autumn Nations Cup last year, the selection resisted Ireland for a long time (23-10 defeat) and cast doubt on Wales (18-0 defeat after falling 10-0 to the half-time). Increasingly regarded by the mastodons of international rugby, Georgia has been received twice by the South African world champions this summer.
Progress such as integration into the Six Nations Tournament is sometimes mentioned. It must be said that Italy, 14th in the international ranking, has not won in the competition since 2015. “I would be curious to see an Italy-Georgia”, asserts Dimitri Yachvili. And the former scrum half from Biarritz, himself of Georgian origin, to continue: “The Argentines have joined the Rugby Championship (tournament with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa), even if it was less good this year, they evolve and manage to make blows. The Georgians should play against teams one level above to improve. “
While waiting to regularly face the best selections, Georgian rugby is progressing in the wake of its youth teams. During the last U20 World Cups, Georgia, for example, beat Argentina, Ireland or Scotland. “This generation was 6-7 years old in 2003, when we developed the infrastructure, points out the former leader Zaza Kassachvili, now owner of a restaurant in Tbilisi. They give rugby a new dimension, with a healthy foundation. “
The Georgian selection is based on a massive and conquering package of forwards. Seven of the eight “big” players play in France, including Gigashvili in Toulon or Melikidze at the Stade Français. But in recent years, the style of the Lelos has gradually adapted to an international rugby made of movements. If the fight remains at the heart of its DNA, the selection has three-quarters more and more mobile, some of which play in Top 14. The full-back or winger Davit Niniashvili steals playing time in Lyon, when the scrum-half Vasil Bozhanidze won in Brive. Both will start in Bordeaux on Sunday.
SQUAD UPDATE | With 14 French-based players Levan Maisashvili named #TheLelos squad to face @FranceRugby in Bordeaux this Sunday
France v Georgia | 11/14, 5:00 p.m. (Geo. Time)
Read more here: https://t.co/nd66oMCYKW pic.twitter.com/LEYozhkX9Q
– Georgian Rugby (@GeorgianRugby) November 12, 2021
“It’s still under construction behind, and a bit light to compete with the big nations, tempers Dimitri Yachvili. The Blues may have technical and physical facilities at the three-quarter level, but it will be a tough fight. “ Abused in the first half by an omnipresent Argentina in the rucks on Saturday, the France team knows what to expect. “Georgians are not funny. The deep culture of Georgian rugby makes this match very difficult”, has also warned Willam Servat, assistant coach of the XV of France in The team.
Proof that the Blues do not neglect Georgia for a penny, the composition lined up on Sunday is not really akin to an bis team. And this even if the All Blacks will be on the menu six days later. “They are right not to underestimate the Georgians, even if they feel superior”, Yachvili nods. “I’m sure it will be a good game”, enthuses Kassachvili for his part. A meeting full of emotion for him, one of the pioneers of the Lelos, who dreamed of a test match against France for more than twenty years.