Georgia at the Rugby World Cup
Georgia has competed in three Rugby World Cup tournaments. Their first appearance was in 2003 when they were placed in Pool C with eventual winners England, South Africa, Uruguay and Samoa. They qualified for the 2007 World Cup and were placed in Pool D with Argentina, France, Ireland and Namibia. In 2011, Georgia qualified for their third straight Rugby World Cup. Georgia was placed in Pool B with Scotland, England, Argentina and Romania
Rising to the World Cup challenge
"I knew it would be physical but was surprised at their organisation and their fitness," Ireland second row Paul O'Connell said after his side escaped with a 14-10 victory over Georgia on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
If the final whistle left Ireland counting their blessings - and their bruises - it was a cause for massive celebration for the Georgian gladiators, who were cheered by the 33,000 crowd on a deserved lap of honour.
Georgia record first RWC win
Georgia recorded their first win in a rugby world cup with a 30-0 win over Namibia in their rain-affected Pool D match at Stade Felix-Bollaert.
The foundation for the three-tries-to-none victory was laid by Georgia's experienced forward pack who wore down their opponents at the breakdown.
Dominating territory and possession in the first half it took 37 minutes for Georgia to break Namibia's defensive line, hooker Akvsenti Giorgadze, in his 50th international, pushing his way over after good lead-up work from his forwards.
Two penalties and a conversion from the boot of fly half Merab Kvirikashvili contributed to Georgia's 13-0 lead at the break, the number 10 becoming Georgia's record point-scorer in rugby world cups.
Georgia's forward pack continued to dominate at the breakdown in the second stanza but Namibia's defence held strong. It was another Kvirikashvili penalty in the 68th minute that got the scoreboard ticking over again.
Wing Irakli Machkhaneli then raced 30m to score in the 70th minute after knocking the ball loose in a bonecrunching tackle.
Centre Davit Kacharava put the finishing touches on the win intercepting a pass and scooting 40m to score on the final whistle.
Namibia's RWC 2007 campaign was over with the Georgia honourable 7-64 defeat to hosts France on 30 September.
By position
Year | Round | Position | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | For | Against |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
1991 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
1995 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
1999 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2003 | Pool | – | 4 | – | – | 4 | 46 | 200 |
2007 | Pool | – | 4 | 1 | – | 3 | 50 | 111 |
2011 | Pool | – | 4 | 1 | – | 3 | 48 | 90 |
2015 | ||||||||
2019 | ||||||||
Total | – | – | 12 | 2 | – | 10 | 144 | 401 |
By matches
1987 Rugby World Cup
Not invited. (The USSR national rugby union team was Georgia's international representation at this time.)
1991 Rugby World Cup
Did not qualify
1995 Rugby World Cup
Did not qualify
1999 Rugby World Cup
Did not qualify
2003
Group C matches -
Team | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | BP | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | 4 | 0 | 0 | 255 | 47 | 3 | 19 |
South Africa | 3 | 0 | 1 | 184 | 60 | 3 | 15 |
Samoa | 2 | 0 | 2 | 138 | 117 | 2 | 10 |
Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 255 | 0 | 4 |
Georgia | 0 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 200 | 0 | 0 |
2003-10-12 |
England | 84 – 6 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Tindall, Dawson, Thompson, Back, Dallaglio, Greenwood (2), Regan, Cohen (2), Robinson, Luger Con: Wilkinson (5), Grayson (4) Pen: Wilkinson (2) |
Pen: Urjukashvili, Jimsheladze |
2003-10-19 |
Georgia | 9 – 46 | Samoa |
---|---|---|
Pen: Jimsheladze (2) Drop: Jimsheladze |
Tries: Tagicakibau, Vaa'a, Sititi, So'oialo, Feaunati, Lima Con: Va'a (5) Pen: Va'a (2) |
2003-10-24 |
South Africa | 46 – 19 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Rossouw (2), Hougaard, van Niekerk, Fourie, Botha, Burger Con: Hougaard (4) Pen: Hougaard |
Tries: Dadunashvili Con: Jimsheladze Pen: Jimsheladze (3), Kvirikashvili |
2003-10-28 |
Georgia | 12 – 24 | Uruguay |
---|---|---|
Pen: Urjukashvili, Kvirikashvili (3) | Tries: Cardoso, Lamelas, Brignoni Con: Aguirre (2), Menchaca Pen: Juan Menchaca |
2007
|
|
11 September 2007 20:00 |
Argentina | 33 – 3 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Borges 47' c, 56' m Albacete 72' m Martin Aramburu 80' c Con: F. Contepomi (1/3) Hernández (1/1) Pen: F. Contepomi (3/3) 12', 35', 54' |
Report | Pen: Kvirikashvili (1/2) 2' |
15 September 2007 21:00 |
Ireland | 14 – 10 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Tries: R. Best 17' c Dempsey 55' c Con: O'Gara (2/2) |
Report | Try: Shkinin 45' c Con: Kvirikashvili (1/1) Pen: Kvirikashvili (1/2) 37' |
26 September 2007 18:00 |
Georgia | 30 – 0 | Namibia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Giorgadze 37' c Machkhaneli 70' c Kacharava 80+' c Con: Kvirikashvili (3/3) Pen: Kvirikashvili (3/6) 8', 26', 69' |
Report |
30 September 2007 15:00 |
France | 64 – 7 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Poitrenaud 6' c Nyanga 30' c Beauxis 37' c Dominici (2) 45' m, 57' m Bruno 52' c Nallet 63' c Martin 67' m Bonnaire 80' m Con: Beauxis (5/9) Pen: Beauxis (3/3) 4', 18', 24' |
Report | Try: Z. Maisuradze 72' c Con: Urjukashvili (1/1) |
2011
Team |
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | BP | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 137 | 34 | +103 | 2 | 18 |
Argentina | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 90 | 40 | +50 | 2 | 14 |
Scotland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 73 | 59 | +14 | 3 | 11 |
Georgia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 48 | 90 | −42 | 0 | 4 |
Romania | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 44 | 169 | −125 | 0 | 0 |
14 September 2011 19:30 |
Scotland | 15 – 6 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Pen: Parks (4/7) 24', 34', 71', 76' Drop: Parks (1/1) 39' |
Report | Pen: Kvirikashvili (2/2) 17', 73' |
18 September 2011 18:00 |
England | 41 – 10 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Try: Hape (2) 4' c, 21' c Armitage 47' m Tuilagi 62' c Ashton (2) 65' c, 80' m Con: Flood (4/6) Pen: Flood (1/1) 35' |
Report | Try: Basilaia 40' c Con: Kvirikashvili (1/1) Pen: Kvirikashvili (1/6) 27' |
28 September 2011 19:30 |
Georgia | 25 – 9 | Romania |
---|---|---|
Try: Gorgodze 56' c Con: Kvirikashvili (1/1) Pen: Kvirikashvili (5/7) 9', 24', 31', 36', 70' Urjukashvili (1/1) 76' |
Report | Pen: Dumbravă (2/4) 12', 34' Vlaicu (1/1) 72' |
2 October 2011 13:00 |
Argentina | 25 – 7 | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Try: Imhoff 32' m Contepomi 68' c Gosio 79' c Con: Contepomi (1/2) Bosch (1/1) Pen: Contepomi (2/4) 51', 60' |
Report | Try: Khmaladze 39' c Con: Urjukashvili (1/1) |
2015 Rugby World Cup
Place | Nation | Games | Points | Bonus points |
Table points | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference | ||||
1 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Argentina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | Tonga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | Georgia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Overall record
Country | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Uruguay | 1 | - | - | 1 | 12 | 24 | -12 | 0 |
South Africa | 1 | - | - | 1 | 19 | 46 | -27 | 0 |
Samoa | 1 | - | - | 1 | 9 | 46 | -35 | 0 |
England | 2 | - | - | 2 | 16 | 125 | -109 | 0 |
Argentina | 2 | - | - | 2 | 10 | 58 | -48 | 0 |
Ireland | 1 | - | - | 1 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 0 |
Scotland | 1 | - | - | 1 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 0 |
Romania | 1 | 1 | - | - | 25 | 9 | 16 | 100 |
Namibia | 1 | 1 | - | - | 30 | 0 | 30 | 100 |
France | 1 | - | - | 1 | 7 | 64 | -57 | 0 |
TOTAL | 12 | 2 | - | 10 | 144 | 401 | -257 | 17 |
Year(s) | Result |
---|---|
1987 | No qualifying tournament held. |
1991 to 1999 | Did not qualify. |
2003 | Qualified. Group stages. |
2007 | Qualified. Group stages. One Win. |
2011 | Qualified. Group stages. One Win. |
2015 | Qualified. |
Team Records
- Most Points in a Game
- 30 vs Namibia (2007)
- 25 vs Romania (2011)
- 19 vs South Africa (2003)
- 12 vs Uruguay (2003)
- 10 vs Ireland (2007)
- 10 vs England (2011)
- Biggest Winning Margin
- Highest Score Against
- 84 vs England (2003)
- 64 vs France (2007)
- 46 vs South Africa (2003)
- 46 vs Samoa (2003)
- 41 vs England (2011)
- Biggest Losing Margin
- Most Tries in a Game
- 3 vs Namibia (2007)
- 1 vs South Africa (2003)
- 1 vs Ireland (2007)
- 1 vs France (2007)
- 1 vs England (2011)
- 1 vs Argentina (2011)
- 1 vs Romania (2011)
Individual Records
- Most World Cup Matches
- Most Points Overall
- Most Points in a Game
- 18 vs Romania - Merab Kvirikashvili 2011
- 15 vs Namibia - Merab Kvirikashvili 2007
- 11 vs South Africa - Paliko Jimsheladze 2003
- 9 vs Uruguay - Merab Kvirikashvili 2003
- 9 vs Samoa - Paliko Jimsheladze 2003
- Most Tries Overall
- 1 - David Dadunashvili 2003
- 1 - George Shkinin 2007
- 1 - Akvsenti Giorgadze 2007
- 1 - Irakli Machkhaneli 2007
- 1 - David Kacharava 2007
- 1 - Zvaid Maisuradze 2007
- 1 - Dimitri Basilaia 2011
- 1 - Mamuka Gorgodze 2011
- 1 - Lasha Khmaladze 2011
- Most Tries in a Game
- 1 vs South Africa - David Dadunashvili 2003
- 1 vs Ireland - George Shkinin 2007
- 1 vs Namibia - Akvsenti Giorgadze 2007
- 1 vs Namibia - Irakli Machkhaneli 2007
- 1 vs Namibia - David Kacharava 2007
- 1 vs France - Zvaid Maisuradze 2007
- 1 vs England - Dimitri Basilaia 2011
- 1 vs Romania - Mamuka Gorgodze 2011
- 1 vs Argentina - Lasha Khmaladze 2011
- Most Penalty Goals
- Most Penalty Goals in a Game
- 5 vs Romania - Merab Kvirikashvili 2011
- 3 vs South Africa - Paliko Jimsheladze 2003
- 3 vs Uruguay - Merab Kvirikashvili 2003
- 3 vs Namibia - Merab Kvirikashvili 2007
- 2 vs Samoa - Paliko Jimsheladze 2003
- 2 vs Scotland - Merab Kvirikashvili 2011
- Most Drop Goals
References
- Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
- Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)
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