ITALY A 20-22 GEORGIAGeorgia produced the first upset on the final day of the IRB Nations Cup at the new national rugby stadium, the ‘Arcul de Triumf’ in Bucharest, by defeating Italy A 22-20 on Saturday.
Defying the scorching heat in the Romanian capital, the Italians started strongly and kept pounding the Georgian line, but haste and a certain lack of poise in the opposition 22 prevented them from turning their authority into scoring opportunities.
In an exciting match in which the lead changed hands five times, the well-organised Georgian defence, marshalled by scrum half and captain Irakli Abuseridze, forced Italy A to rely on the boot of Luciano Orquera to put points on the board.
The reliable Brive fly half landed four penalties to Georgia’s solitary try – scored by their abrasive number 8 Giorgio Chkaidze – and subsequent conversion to give Italy A the 12-7 lead at the break.
After half time Georgia kept their composure and following a counter-attack veteran centre Malkhaz Urjukashvili went over for a well-taken try, converted by fly half Merab Kvirikashvili to enable his country to retake the lead.
Another Italian attack ended with Orquera landing a penalty as his side moved back into the driving seat. The stern Georgian challenge up front, though, created time and space for the East Europeans, forcing the Italians on their back foot for most of the second half.
A tentative kick ahead by Italy A was fielded by Georgia’s right wing Giorgi Shkinin, who launched a blistering counter-attack in midfield. Replacement loosehead prop Davit Dadunashvili carried the move forward with a surprising turn of speed and agility before being brought down well into the Italian half.
Abuseridze, who arrived in hot pursuit, swept the ball wide to find Shkinin and the wing went over for a spectacular try. Italy A did bounce back with a try by their dynamic right wing Michele Sepe, although it was too little and too late to change the outcome as the conversion went wide.
A buoyant Georgian side, who had beaten Rugby World Cup opponents Namibia in their first match before losing bravely to the Emerging Springboks, deserved the victory that leaves Italy A without a win in the tournament, having also been beaten by Argentina A and Romania.
Match statistics:
ITALY A: 1. Luigi Milani (17. Giovanni Boccalon) 2. Luigi Ferraro (16. Leonardo Ghiraldini) 3. Lorenzo Cittadini (18. Alberto De Marchi) 4. Enrico Pavanello 5. Mario Vella (20. Fabrizio Parisse) 6. Paul Derbyshire (19. Aldo Birchall) 7. Jaco Erasmus 8. David Dal Maso (Captain) 9. Pino Patelli (21. Nicola Leonardi) 10. Luciano Orquera 11. Ludovico Nitoglia (23. Michele Nitoglia) 12. Matteo Barbini 13. Alberto Sgarbi 14. Michele Sepe 15. Andrea Marcato.
Replacements not used: 22. Giovanni Manozzi 24. Walter Pozzebon 25. Marco Rosa 26. Aaron Persico.
Tries: Michele Sepe
Penalties: Luciano Orquera (5)
GEORGIA: 1. Mamuka Magrakvelidze (18. David Dadunashvili) 2. Irakli Chkonia (16. Iuri Natriashvili) 3. David Khinchagashvili (24. Georgi Jgenti) 4. Zurab Mchedlishvili 5. Viktor Didebulidze (19. Levan Datunashvili) 6. Rati Urushadze (23. Ilia Maisuradze) 7. Zviad Maisuradze 8. Giorgi Chkhaidze 9. Irakli Abuseridze (Captain) 10. Merab Kvirikashvili 11. Otar Eloshvili (26. Rezo Gigauri) 12. David Katcharava 13. Malkhaz Urjukashvili 14. Girogi Shkinin 15. Otar Barkalaia (21. Davit Gurgenidze).
Replacements not used: 17. Elizbar Kuparadze 20. Bidzina Samkharadze 22. Besiki Khamashuridze 25. Shalva Sutiashvili.
Tries: Giorgi Chkaidze, Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Giorgi Shkinin
Conversions: Merab Kvirikashvili (2)
Penalties: Merab Kvirikashvili
Yellow card: Giorgi Chkhaidze
"І прийде час, коли один скаже: "Слава Україні! ", а мільйони відповідатимуть "Героям слава!"
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