Rugby World Cup 2023 is rapidly approaching, with less than a week until the opening game. Rugby.com.au examines every team's chances in France, looking at Georgia.
Georgia have emerged as a serious team on the rise capable of matching it with their more favoured European rivals.
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The Georgians are sitting at a career-high 11th in the World Rankings, reflective of their rise over the past couple of years.
They claimed their first two wins over Tier 1 nations in 2022 and shape as a real chance of jagging their third in an open Pool C.
Here's everything you need to know about Australia's first opponent
Qualified as ‘Europe 1’, winning the Rugby Europe Championship
Georgia announced themselves in style with wins over Italy and Wales in 2022, leading to talks of them joining the Six Nations.
They have since swept through the Rugby Europe Championship, defeating Portugal in the Final.
This has been backed up with wins over the likes of Romania and the USA
Centre Merab Sharikadze leads Georgia's side, the winners of the past five second-tier Rugby Europe Championships.
Winger Alexander Todua as well as full-back Lasha Khmaladze, both 35, will feature in their fourth World Cups, with Khmaladze also being able to feature at fly-half.
There is also a place for exciting full-back Davit Niniashvili, who scored nine tries for French club Lyon last season as well as his domestic team-mate, the abrasive flanker Beka Saghinadze
Backs: Gela Aprasidze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tengiz Peranidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze, Aleksandre Todua, Merab Sharikadze, Tornike Kakhoidze, Modebadze Mirian, Akaki Tabutsadze, Davit Niniashvili, Lasha Khmaladze, Giorgi Kveseladze
Forwards: Mikheil Nariashvili, Guram Gogichashvili, Nika Abuladze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Luka Nioradze, Tengiz Zamtaradze, Beka Gigashvili, Luka Japaridze, Guram Papidze, Lasha Jaiani, Konstantine Mikautadze, Nodar Cheishvili, Vladimer Chachanidze, Beka Saginadze, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Luka Ivanishvili, Beka Gorgadze, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Tornike Jalagonia
Vasil Lobzhanidze has been one of the key leaders of Georgia’s Rugby revolution.
He has thrived at Top 14 club Brive in France, regularly tearing open defences around the ruck and with his pin-point passing.
Lobzhanidze is heading to his third World Cup, becoming the youngest to play in 2015 whilst breaking the record for youngest player to 50 caps in 2020.
Davit Niniashvili has the potential to become a genuine superstar in World Rugby.
There’s similarities to countryman and footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: two insanely talented players that are about to become household names across the world.
The 21-year-old is the shining star in a golden generation of Georgian talent coming through the ranks that have picked up wins in the U20s over Scotland, England and Italy.
He is currently plying his trade for Lyon in France’s Top 14 and showed he isn’t out of place on the big stage when playing for Barbarians against England in 2022.
Played: 20
Wins: 5
Loses: 15
Best Finish: Group Stages (five)
Last Five World Cups
2019: Group Stages
2015: Group Stages
2011: Group Stages
2007: Group Stages
2003: Group Stages
A true battle of styles: one of the best scrums v one of the best backlines in the world.
There will be a lot of discussion around whether they make the quarter-finals, however, they need to beat Fiji in Bordeaux if they are to have any chance.
The Fijians blew them out 45-10 at the 2019 World Cup, with that result likely still stinging for Georgian fans.
Sun Sep 10 (2:00 AM): Australia v Georgia, Stade de France, Paris
Sat Sep 23 (10:00 PM): Georgia v Portugal, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sun Oct 1 (1:45 AM): Fiji v Georgia, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sun Oct 8 (12:00 AM): Wales v Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
