Match thread

Stargazer

Fiji
1 Campese Ma'afu
2 Samuel Matavesi
3 Manasa Saulo
4 Tevita Cavubati
5 Leone Nakarawa
6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (capt.)
7 Semi Kunatani
8 Peceli Yato
9 Frank Lomani
10 Ben Volavola
11 Semi Radradra
12 Lepani Botia
13 Waisea Nayacalevu
14 Josua Tuisova
15 Kini Murimurivalu

16 Tuvere Vugakoto
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Peni Ravai
19 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
20 Viliame Mata
21 Nikola Matawalu
22 Jale Vatubua
23 Josh Matavesi

Fiji coach John McKee has made 11 changes to his team for Fiji's Pool D match against Georgia on Thursday 3 October. 

Only Manasa Saulo, Leone Nakarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, and Semi Radradra return following the surprise 30-27 defeat by Uruguay. 

McKee has largely reverted to the selection which lost to Australia in the Flying Fijians' opening match, his line-up containing 13 players who started the 39-21 defeat.

The only changes from that day's starting XV are prop Manasa Saulo, who comes in for Peni Ravai, and Semi Kunatani, who has recovered from injury to make his Rugby World Cup debut in place of Viliame Mata. 
Stargazer

Georgia

1 Mikheil Nariashvili
2 Shalva Mamukashvili
3 Beka Gigashvili
4 Giorgi Nemsadze
5 Konstantine Mikautadze
6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
7 Mamuka Gorgodze
8 Beka Gorgadze
9 Vasil Lobzhanidze
10 Lasha Khmaladze
11 Alexander Todua
12 Merab Sharikadze (capt.)
13 David Kacharava
14 Giorgi Kveseladze
15 Soso Matiashvili

16 Jaba Bregvadze
17 Guram Gogichashvili
18 Levan Chilachava
19 Otari Giorgadze
20 Beka Saginadze
21 Gela Aprasidze
22 Lasha Malaguradze
23 Miriani Modebadze

Georgia have made 11 changes for the game against Fiji in Hanazono on Thursday, with Merab Sharikadze returning as captain to the starting XV for the crucial Pool D encounter.

His steady hand will underpin a more familiar-looking line-up, after coach Milton Haig rotated the squad in the opening defeat to Wales and the win over Uruguay.

Centre Sharikadze is the third player to lead Georgia at Rugby World Cup 2019. Mikheil Nariashvili took the captaincy against Wales, as Sharikadze nursed a knee injury. Jaba Bregvadze led the Lelos against Uruguay, with Sharikadze on the bench.

Georgia are third in Pool D, just one point behind Australia, and will see this as a much-win game.

Young number eight Otari Giorgadze drops to the bench after a huge effort in the rampaging Georgian scrum that Uruguay found so hard to stop.

Georgia will again be hoping for set-piece dominance against a team known for playing a much looser style.
MiketheSnow

A BP win for Georgia will really put the cat amongst the pigeons

Duluth

Wet weather making the chase for a bonus point difficult

nzzp

I'm enjoying this game.

No idea why ref's aren't carding people, goes against world rugby direction

African Monkey

Fiji have been better in this game but are getting sloppy when they get on attack.

NTA

@nzzp said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

I'm enjoying this game.

No idea why ref's aren't carding people, goes against world rugby direction

Fucking hell does it what! That hit by Fiji's right wing was a terrible shot. And Fiji 12 clutching his jaw but nothing.

nzzp

@NTA said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

@nzzp said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

I'm enjoying this game.

No idea why ref's aren't carding people, goes against world rugby direction

Fucking hell does it what! That hit by Fiji's right wing was a terrible shot. And Fiji 12 clutching his jaw but nothing.

and now bloody Fiji at it again. Totally accidental yes, but World Rugby just want consistency. W hat's the point of a framework if refs ignore it?

Bizarre.

Edit: not fussed about Fiji - just the consistency and contrast between public statements and how things are being reffed

nzzp

Also, how good could this Fijian side be if they had decent adminstrators and a coach like Hansen or Henry. Would be amazing to see what they could do, just full of freakish athletes

NTA

Reckon that was a forward pass for Fiji's first try actually

NTA

Radrada is having a stormer

African Monkey

I'm still baffled as to how Fiji lost to Uruguay.

nzzp

@African-Monkey said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

I'm still baffled as to how Fiji lost to Uruguay.

They switched off mentally, showboated, and didn't take them seriously. Uruguay tackled like their lives depended onit, and snatched every chance they got.

But yeah, the physical mismatch was remarkable

NTA

Jeez rough penalty to Fiji I thought. Hooker went off his feet initially

NTA

Nothing about this will scare Wales

African Monkey

@nzzp Yeah I get that, but they should never have let it happen. It was an embarrassment.

NTA

Three try assists to semi now?

NTA

Aw fucking huge from the old bloke. Nice one Godzilla.

If Georgia stopped pausing every ruck they'd have more tries.

Duluth

Fijians are getting better the longer this game goes

That last try great

mariner4life

Semi Radradra is a fucking weapon, doubt there is a more dangerous runner of the football getting around right now.

NTA

@mariner4life said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

Semi Radradra is a fucking weapon, doubt there is a more dangerous runner of the football getting around right now.

After I finish drinking $5 happy hour bourbon at this hotel bar I'll give that last 15 minutes a watch

MiketheSnow

Fantastic skills from both sides considering the shithouse conditions.

Looks like rain in the open air isn't as difficult as sweat in a dome.

Fiji scored some cracking tries fair play.

And great to see the great man score for Georgia. Highest national award confirmed.

The non YC was an absolute fucking joke.

This whole 'the ball carrier ducked into the tackle' is horseshit.

If the ball carrier was diving in horizontal 12 inches off the ground in the act of attempting to score a try and was hit in the head by the tackler then it would be penalty try and YC at least. If not red.

So what's the difference in open play?

YC all day.

Would Georgia have seized that one man advantage and put daylight between them and Fiji?

Would Fiji have fallen apart a man down?

Who knows?

Would have liked to see it.

Wales know exactly what to expect from Fiji. Need to play to Wales' strengths not focus on nullifying Fiji's strengths.

Wales are good enough to starve Fiji of possession and that's what it's going to take to win.

ACT Crusader

@nzzp said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

@African-Monkey said in RWC: Georgia v Fiji (Pool D):

I'm still baffled as to how Fiji lost to Uruguay.

They switched off mentally, showboated, and didn't take them seriously. Uruguay tackled like their lives depended onit, and snatched every chance they got.

But yeah, the physical mismatch was remarkable

They were outpassioned I tells ya

It was a good solid effort tonight. Better work at the ruck and when they got a sniff they executed better than the Uruguay match.