In the second match of the Tbilisi Cup, “The Lelos” defeated Uruguay 27:3 but the main goal – to gain bonus point – was not achieved.
Beka Tsiklauri scored penalty from 42 meters at the beginning of the match. Soon the Uruguayans had a chance to restore balance but Jeronimo Etcheverry missed. Like the first match, the Georgians committed a lot of penalties – 15 penalties against 6. If Uruguay did not punish us for that, another team, like “Emerging Ireland”, will punish us for sure.
At the 10th minute, Todua scored try and Tsiklauri used conversion – 10:0. Sharikadze shone at the 34th minute. He started offence, assisted Zibzibadze who scored try and Tsiklauri used conversion. The first half ended up 17:0.
At the beginning of the second half Tsiklauri scored penalty – 20:0. At the 48th minute Nemsadze scored try and Tsiklauri used conversion – 27:0.
Half hour was left till the end of the match and we needed to score one try for gaining bonus point but the Georgians did not play well. Uruguay gained advantage and scored penalty at the 55th minute. The match ended up 27:3.
In the last round the Georgians will play against South Africa. If Georgians win and gain bonus point, Tbilisi Cup will stay in Georgia but it is difficult to score four tries against this opponent.
Vito Kolelishvili was named as the best rugby player of the match. But I think Merab Sharikadze was the best and he deserved this recognition.
Press conference
Pablo Lemoine (head coach of the Uruguayan national rugby team): “I think we did not play worse than in the previous matches. Today some rugby players lacked concentration. Georgia has a very good team which held good first half. I liked your No.10 (Khmaladze) – he played brilliantly with foot”.
Nicolas Klappenbach (captain of the Uruguayan national team): “We played well in scrum but were bad at line-out. We have worked a lot on this component but in vain. When you make so many mistakes, you will be punished by strong opponent and it happened today. We did nothing in offence”.
Milton Haig (head coach of the Georgian national team): “I am satisfied with our play in the first half. We made good moments and started the second half well but we played terribly in the last 20 minutes. Our goal was to take bonus point. I think some rugby players lacked good physical preparation and that is why they lose concentration. Now we must see who has injuries. Vasil Kakovin, Jaba Bregvadze and Levan Datunashvili are leaving for Argentina earlier than us. After the end of this tournament we will find out who else will depart for South America with them”.
Irakli Machkhaneli (captain of the Georgian national team): “When we watched the video of the first match, we saw that we must not have lost there. We had some good moments but could not use them. Ireland did not have such moments. We were more motivated against Uruguay. It was not an easy match but scrum and the back line showed balanced rugby and this is our goal. We changed tactic twice during the match”.
Tbilisi Cup. 2013. “Avchala”
11 June. Tuesday. II round
Emerging Ireland – South Africa President’s XV 8:19 (3:10)
Georgia – Uruguay 27:3 (17:0)
Georgia: 15. Beka Tsiklauri, 14. Irakli Machkhaneli (cap.), 13. Tedo Zibzibadze (22 Davit Kacharava. 64), 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Sandro Todua, 10. Lasha Khmaladze (21 Lasha Malaguradze. 80), 9. Giorgi Begadze (20 Vazha Khutsishvili. 41); 1. Irakli Mirtskhulava (17 Levan Chilachava. 48), 2. Revaz Belkania (16 Simon Maisuradze. 57), 3. Davit Zirakashvili, 4. Vakhtang Maisuradze, 5. Giorgi Chkhaidze (19 Givi Berishvili. 74), 6. Shalva Sutiashvili (18 Giorgi Nemsadze 32), 7. Viktor Kolelishvili, 8. Beka Bitsadze.
3 tries: Todua, Zibzibadze, Nemsadze
3 conversions: Tsiklauri
2 penalties: Tsiklauri
Head coach: Milton Haig
Uruguay: 15 Jeronimo Etcheverry, 14. Maximiliano Gonzalez (22 Gaston Gibernau. 41), 13. Joaquin Prada, 12. Alberto Roman, 11. Leandro Leivas, 10. Alejo Duran (21 Agustin Del Castillo, 41, 20 Juan Tasistro, 54), 9. German Albanell; 1. Alejo Corral (17 Francisco Jimenez, 52), 2. Nicolas Klappenbach (cap.) (16 Arturo Avalo, 52). 3. Mario Sagario (18 Rodolfo De Mula, 72), 4. Rodrigo Espiga, 5. Franco Lamanna, 6. Sebastian Sagario (19 Juan De Freitas, 41), 7. Fernando Bascou, 8. Juan Gaminara.
1 penalty: Albanell
Head coach: Pablo Lemoine
Referees: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)
Assistant referees: Gia Amirkhanashvili, Ucha Narimanidze
- South Africa 2 2 0 0 56-17 9
- Georgia 2 1 0 1 42-23 5
- Ireland 2 1 0 1 28-34 4
- Uruguay 2 0 0 2 12-64 0
16 June. Sunday. III round
Georgia - South Africa President's XV (14:00)
Uruguay - Emerging Ireland (16:00)
Zura Ksovreli
