Preview: Georgia v USA

Editor

Montpellier flanker Mamuka Gorgodze will captain Georgia for their November Test clash against the USA in Tbilisi on Saturday.

Montpellier flanker Mamuka Gorgodze will captain Georgia for their November Test clash against the USA in Tbilisi on Saturday.

The back-row powerhouse, who is joining Toulon at the end of the Top14 season, wears the armband from the openside flank, and leads a bruising Georgian pack that also includes experienced tighthead David Kubriashvili.

Despite missing a number of first-team players last week, the Lelos overcame touring Canada in Tbilisi 19-15 amid much controversy.

Full-back Merab Kvirikashvili won his 70th cap in that victory, and is retained in the number fifteen jersey.

Vito Kolelishvili misses out having been sent-off following the mass brawl that broke out with the Maple Leaves early in the first-half, resulting in a flurry of cards and injuries.

Meanwhile, Todd Clever again captains the USA from the blindside flank, while Cameron Dolan continues in the number eight jersey.

Dolan won the Man of the Match award last week as the Eagles were beaten by New Zealand Maori 29-19, and the side can take heart from subjecting the Blacks to something of a scare.

He notched a try, carried excellently, and alongside Clever, was a thorn in the Maori's side at the breakdown. Their battle with the hulking Gorgodze will be crucial.

Northampton Saints second-row Samu Manoa has been in fine Premiership form with the Franklin's Gardens side, and he joins fellow professionals Blaine Scully and Chris Wyles at wing and full-back respectively.

On the left wing, Tim Maupin makes his Eagles debut, while Adam Siddall – who scored fourteen points against NZ Maori – shifts to fly-half for this clash.

Recent results:

2010: Georgia won 19-17 in Tbilisi
2009: USA won 31-13 in Colorado

The teams:

Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Tamaz Mchedlidze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Tedore Zibzibadze, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Giorgi Begadze, 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (c), 6 Shalva Sutiashvili, 5 Levan Datunashvili, 4 Konstantine Mikautadze, 3 David Kubriashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 David Khinchagishvili
Replacements: 16 Simon Maisuradze, 17 Mikheil Nariashvili, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Giorgi Nemsadze, 20 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 21 Vazha Khutsishvili, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Beka Tsiklauri

USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Folau Niua, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Tim Maupin, 10 Adam Siddal, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Cameron Dolan, 7 Derek Asbun, 6 Todd Clever (c), 5 Samu Manoa, 4 Graham Harriman, 3 Shawn Pittman, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Nick Wallace
Replacements: 16 Zach Fenoglio, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Eric Fry, 19 Inaki Basauri, 20 John Quill, 21 Shaun Davies, 22 Seamus Kelly, 23 Luke Hume

Date: Saturday 16th November
Venue: Rustavi Stadium, Tbilisi
Kick-off:1400 local (1000 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (NZRU)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies (WRU), tba
TMO: Jim Yuille