In the third round of the 2015 European Championship the Georgia national rugby union team defeated Spain 26:13 in Madrid and is in the first place.

World Cup will be held in September-October and we are expecting good matches from the Georgians. However, those three matches, held this year, are far away from ideal.

Yes, we won all three matches at Nations Cup but we made lots of mistakes in those matches. Teams with better levels would not have forgiven us these mistakes.

Everything has objective explanation. The national team lacks leaders due to injuries. Germany, Portugal and Spain are not those teams which the Georgian rugby players will play with absolute motivation. The Georgians have to hold two more matches – against Russia and Romania. These matches must show what the Georgia national team really can do.

We always find it tough to play Spain away. This year “The Lions” added French, New Zealander, Argentine and Italian rugby players. It was clear the match would not be easy but we put ourselves in trouble, especially in the first half. However, our scrum played well and finally, everything ended up in our favor.

The hosts opened score. Bradley Linklater scored penalty at the 21^st minute.

At the 11^th minute Merab Kvirikashvili scored penalty. The Georgians made one of the good offences at the 23^rd minute. Khmaladze and Davit Kacharava played well but we made mistake and could not use advantage. “The Lelos” tried to make another offence but the Spaniards caught the ball and Julen Goia scored try. Linklater used conversion – 10:3.

The Georgians started playing with better motivation. Zurab Zhvania scored try and Kvirikashvili equalized score with conversion. At the 34^th minute Kvirikashvili scored penalty and the Georgians advanced. However, Linklater restored balance and the first half finished 13:13.

“The Lelos” earned 13 points in the second half. Kvirikashvili scored penalty and the Georgians gained advantage. Spain could do nothing and started to provoke the Georgians. At the 58^th minute after the whistle of referee Thibaut Visensang grabbed Kote Mikautadze who fell down. Then, the Spaniard punched Shakiradze.

The clash finished with victory of the Georgians. The referees discussed and sin-binned Giorgi Nemsadze. This could not help Spain. At the 64^th minute Kvirikashvili scored penalty – 19:13.

At the end of the match Kacharava scored try and Kvirikashvili used conversion. The match finished 26:13.

In other matches Russia beat Romania 16:13 and Portugal defeated Germany 11:3.

The 2015 European Championship

III round. 28 February

Spain – Georgia 13:26 (13:13)

Spain: 15. Bradley Linklater, 14. Julen Goia, 13. Marcos Poggi, 12. Thibaut Visensang, 11. Sergi Aubanell, 10. Daniel Snee (Pablo Fontes), 9. Guillaume Rouet; 1. Frank Labbe (Lorenzo Ortiz 71), 2. Benat Auzqui, 3. Jesus Moreno (Fernando Lopez 57), David Gonzales, 4. Jesus Recuerda, 6. Gautier Gibouin, 7. Ignacio Villanueva Martin (Javier de Juan 57), Jaime Nava.

1 try: Goia

1 conversion: Linklater

2 penalties: Linklater

1 sin-bin: De Juan (63)

Georgia: 15. Merab Kvirikashvili, 14. Tamaz Mchedlidze, 13. Davit Kacharava, 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Sandro Todua (22. Aleksi Khutsishvili 73), 10. Lasha Khmaladze (23. Giorgi Aptsiauri 76), 9. Vazha Khutsishvili (21. Vasil Lobzhanidze 59); 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (17. Karlen Aseishvili 59), 2. Zurab Zhvania (16. Simon Maisuradze 45), 3. Levan Chilachava (18. Anton Peikrishvili 59), 4. Giorgi Nemsadze, 5. Kote Mikautadze (19. Levan Datunashvili 63), 6. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 7. Shalva Sutiashvili, 8. Lasha Lomidze (20. Giorgi Chkhaidze 67).

2 tries: Zhvania, Kacharava

2 conversions: Kvirikashvili

4 penalties: Kvirikashvili

2 sin-binned: Nemsadze (58), Datunashvili (65)

Head coach: Milton Haig (New Zealand)

Coaches: Ilia Maisuradze, Ilia Zedginidze, Irakli Machkhaneli, Michael Bradley (Ireland), Didier Bes (France)

Russia – Romania 16:13

Portugal – Germany 11:3

Next round. 14 March

Georgia – Russia

Germany – Romania

Portugal – Spain