Your definitive team guide to the Rugby World Cup.

GEORGIA

Colours: Red shirt, white shorts.

Nickname: Lelos.

World ranking: 16.

Coach: Richie Dixon.

A controversial replacement for Tim Lane last year, when the Australian seemed to be doing a good job. However, the Scot has continued Lane’s fine work with another European Nations Cup Grand Slam.

Squad:

BACKS Born Caps Tries Cons Pens DGs Pts

Irakli Abusseridze 25/11/77 72 7 0 0 0 35

Irakli Chkhikvadze 5/10/87 22 4 0 0 0 20

Revaz Gigauri 9/5/84 30 2 1 0 0 12

Lexo Gugava 17/8/82 21 4 0 0 0 20

Davit Kacharava 16/1/85 42 11 0 0 0 55

Lasha Khmaladze 20/1/88 7 0 0 0 0 0

Merab Kvirikashvili 27/12/83 51 5 66 33 2 262

Irakli Machkhaneli 18/7/81 48 16 0 0 0 80

Lasha Malaguradze 2/1/86 31 3 16 14 3 98

Bidzina Samkharadze 2/10/83 54 6 0 0 0 30

Sandro Todua 2/11/87 22 1 0 0 0 5

Malkhaz Urjukashvili 24/9/80 66 17 44 44 1 308

Tedo Zibzibadze 6/8/80 56 17 0 0 0 85

FORWARDS

Dimitri Basilaia 27/11/85 14 1 0 0 0 5

Givi Berishvili 10/8/87 1 0 0 0 0 0

Jaba Bregvadze 23/4/87 13 1 0 0 0 5

Giorgi Chkhaidze 24/6/82 48 4 0 0 0 20

Levan Datunashvili 18/1/83 41 2 0 0 0 10

Akvsenti Giorgadze 4/6/76 60 12 0 0 0 60

Mamuka Gorgodze 14/7/84 36 18 0 0 0 90

Vassil Kakovin 1/12/89 13 0 0 0 0 0

Davit Khinchagashvili 24/7/82 34 3 0 0 0 15

Viktor Kolelishvili 9/10/89 8 1 0 0 0 5

Davit Kubriashvili 12/3/86 15 0 0 0 0 0

Vakhtang Maissuradze 11/3/87 6 1 0 0 0 5

Giorgi Nemsadze 26/9/84 20 6 0 0 0 30

Goderdzi Shvelidze 17/4/78 59 7 0 0 0 35

Shalva Sutiashvili 24/1/84 19 1 0 0 0 5

Ilia Zedginidze 20/1/77 61 13 0 0 0 65

Davit Zirakashvili 20/9/83 28 6 0 0 0 30

Key player: Mamuka Gorgodze.

Georgia’s strength is their pack and the Montpellier number eight has developed a reputation for translating their dominance into tries, boasting a prolific strike rate for a forward of a try every other game for the Lelos.

2010-11 form:

20/11/10 v Canada (Tbilisi) W 22-15

27/11/10 v USA (Tbilisi) W 19-17

5/2/11 v Ukraine (Tbilisi) W 62-3

12/2/11 v Spain (Tbilisi) W 60-0

26/2/11 v Portugal (Lisbon) W 13-12

12/3/11 v Romania (Tbilisi) W 18-11

19/3/11 v Russia (Sotchi) W 15-9

19/6/11 v Namibia (Bucharest) W 23-18

World Cup pedigree:

Group stage: 2003, 2007.

Did not qualify: 1991, 1995, 1999.

Did not exist: 1987.

Record: P8, W1, D0, L7.

Most appearances: Akvsenti Giorgadze, Merab Kvirikashvili 8.

Most points: Kvirikashvili 35.

Most tries: Six players with 1.

High:

Their solitary victory in the finals so far – the 30-0 drubbing of Namibia in the 2007 World Cup in Lens. Georgia dominated from start to finish, scoring three tries without reply, and thoroughly merited their moment of glory.

Low:

Their 14-10 loss to Ireland in the 2007 tournament. To come so near yet so far to defeating one of rugby union’s major powers was desperately disappointing. The Lelos missed four drop-goals and spent the last five minutes camped on the Irish line without breaking through.

Hero: Merab Kvirikashvili.

The Georgia number 10 converted all his side’s three tries and kicked three penalties to register half of the Lelos’ points in their first World Cup finals win over Namibia at Lens.

Villain: Kvirikashvili.

This choice is maybe a bit severe, but the fly-half fluffed a penalty and four drop-goals against Ireland at Bordeaux in 2007 to deny Georgia what would have been a sensational victory in pool D.

2011 prospects:

Georgia could well improve on their previous best showing of second bottom in their group, which they achieved in 2007. On current form the European Nations Cup Grand Slam winners should beat Romania and they might surprise Argentina or Scotland if they are not at their best.

Group matches:

14/9/11 v Scotland (Invercargill)

18/9/11 v England (Dunedin)

28/9/11 v Romania (Palmerston North)

2/10/11 v Argentina (Palmerston North)

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