IRB Nations Cup and Tbilissi Cup

[Croket66]

IRB Nations Cup - Bucharest, Romania
08.06.2013
Romania - Russia
Emerging Italy - Argentina Jaguars

12.06.2013
Romania - Argentina Jaguars
Emerging Italy - Russia

16.06.2013
Argentina Jaguars - Russia
Romania - Emerging Italy

IRB Tbilisi Cup - Tbilissi, Georgia
07.06.2013
Uruguay - South African President´s XV
Georgia - Emerging Ireland

11.06.2013
Emerging Ireland - South African President´s XV
Georgia - Uruguay

16.06.2013
Uruguay - Emerging Ireland
Georgia - South African President´s XV

Squads

IRB Nations Cup
Romania
Props:
Hookers:
Locks:
Back row:
Scrum halves:
Fly halves:
Centres:
Wings:
Full backs:

Russia
Props:
Hookers:
Locks:
Back row:
Scrum halves:
Fly halves:
Centres:
Wings:
Full backs:

Emerging Italy
Props: Dario Chistolini (Gloucester Rugby), Andrea De Marchi (Zebre Rugby), Pietro Ceccarelli (Stade Rochelais), Ornel Gega (Petrarca Padova), Nicola Quaglio (FemiCZ-Rovigo)
Hookers: Tommaso D'Apice (Gloucester Rugby - 10 caps), Giovanni Maistri (Benetton Treviso)
Locks: Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso - 1 cap), Michael Van Vuuren (Zebre Rugby), Leandro Cedaro (Stade Rochelais), Saverio Colabianchi (Mantovani Lazio)
Back row: Nicola Belardo (Zebre Rugby), Filippo Ferrarini (Zebre Rugby), Emiliano Caffini (Zebre Rugby), Frederico Conforti (Petrarca Padova), Enrico Targa (Petrarca Padova)
Scrum halves: Guido Calabrese (FemiCZ-Rovigo), Jean-Marcelin Rorato (Rugby San Dona)
Fly halve: James Ambrosini (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Menniti (Petrarca Padova), Carlo Canna (Fiamme Oro)
Centres: Andrea Pratichetti (Benetton Treviso - 1 cap), Francesco Menon (FemiCZ-Rovigo), Giulio Besigni (Mantovani Lazio), Alessandro Tartaglia (Mantovani Lazio)
Wings: Andrea Bachetti (FemiCZ-Rovigo - 2 caps), Alex Morsellino (Petrarca Padova), Alessandro Castaglioni (Rugby Reggio)
Full backs: Alberto Benettin (Zebre Rugby - 1 cap), Ruggero Trevisan (Zebre Rugby)

Argentina Jaguars
Props: Nahuel Tetaz (Stade Français - 1 cap), Ramiro Herrera (Hindú Club), Ignacio Saenz Lancuba (San Cirano), Roberto Tejerizo (Tucumán Lawn Tennis)
Hookers: Emiliano Coria (Lince RC), Gonzalo Manso (Tucumán RC)
Locks: Matías Alemanno (La Tablada), Tomás Borghi (SIC), César Fruttero (Jockey Club de Villa María)
Back row: Rodrigo Bruno (Jockey Club de Villa María - 1 cap), Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal (Universitario Tucumán), Martín Chiappesoni (Atlético del Rosario), Javier Ortega Desio (SIC), Francisco Panessi (Jockey Club Córdoba)
Scrum halves: Pedro Imhoff (Duendes RC), Santiago Méndez (SIC)
Fly halves: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (Hindú Club), Sebastián Poet (Atlético del Rosario)
Centres: Juan Ignacio Brex (San Cirano), Juan Cappiello (Pucará), Juan Pablo Estelles (Atlético del Rosario)
Wings: Facundo Barrea (Córdoba Athletic - 1 cap), Dan Isaack (Jockey Club Rosario), Matías Masera (Belgrano Athletic), Macario Villaluenga (Huirapuca)
Full backs: Gonzalo Gutiérrez Taboada (Club Newman)

IRB Tbilisi Cup
Georgia
Props: Anton Peikrishvili (Castres Olympique - 8 caps), Davit Kubriashvili (RC Toulon - 28 caps), Levan Chilachava (RC Toulon - 3 caps), Irakli Mirtskhulava (Tarbes PR - 2 caps), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français - 2 caps)
Hookers: Irakli Natriashvili (CA Brive - 37 caps), Simon Maisuradze (Stade Bagnères - 16 caps)
Locks: Giorgi Chkhaidze (Tarbes PR - 63 caps), Konstantin Mikautadze (RC Toulon - 10 caps), Lasha Lomidze (Montpellier HR - 1 cap), Giorgi Nemsadze (Tarbes PR - 25 caps)
Back row: Vito Kolelishvili (ASM Clermont - 18 caps), Dimitri Basilaia (Edinburgh Rugby - 26 caps), Shalva Sutiashvili (RC Massy - 33 caps), Vakhtang Maisuradze (SC Albi - 16 caps)
Scrum halves: Giorgi Begadze (Batumi - 10 caps), Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi - 3 caps)
Fly halves: Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Tbilissi - 19 caps)
Centres: Davit Kacharava (Stade Rodez - 61 caps), Merab Sharikadze (Hartpury College - 13 caps), Tedo Zibzibadze (CA Périgueux - 67 caps)
Wings: Tamaz Mchedlidze (Stade Montois - 5 caps), Giorgi Pruidze (Aia Kutaisi), Irakli Machkhaneli (Armazi - 63 caps)
Full backs: Merab Kvirikashvili (AS St Junien - 69 caps), Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotiv Tbilissi - 5 caps)

Uruguay
Props: Mario Sagario (RC Massy - 24 caps), Alejo Corral (San Isidro Club - 19 caps), Juan Rombys (Trébol - 16 caps), Rodolfo De Mula (PSG - 11 caps)
Hookers: Arturo Avalo (Carrasco Polo - 13 caps), Nicolás Klappenbach (Champagnat - 21 caps)
Locks: Mathias Palomeque (Trévol - 6 caps), Cristofer Soares de Lima (MVCC - 10 caps), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos - 2 caps), Diego Magno (MVCC - 24 caps)
Back row: Franco Lamanna (Carrasco Polo), Agustín Alonso (MVCC - 2 caps), Juan Gaminara (Old Boys - 5 caps), Fernando Bascou (PSG - 8 caps), Rodrigo Espiga (Old Christians - 1 cap)
Scrum halves: Alejo Durán (Trébol - 8 caps)
Fly halves: Rodrigo Silva (Carrasco Polo - 3 caps)
Centres: Juan De Freitas (Champagnat - 15 caps), Joaquín Prada (Los Cuervos), Santiago Core (Old Boys), Alberto Román (PSG - 11 caps)
Wings: Santiago Gibernau (Carrasco Polo - 12 caps), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians - 16 caps), Francisco Bulanti (Trébol - 13 caps)
Full backs: Jerónimo Etcheverry (Valpolicella Rugby - 18 caps)

Emerging Ireland
Props: Michael Bent (Leinster - 2 caps), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Ricky Lutton (Ulster), Martin Moore (Lansdowne RFC)
Hookers: Sean Cronin (Leinster - 26 caps), Robert Herring (Ulster)
Locks: Lewis Stevenson (Ulster), David Foley (Munster), Niall Nagle (Munster)
Back row: Rhys Ruddock (Leinster - 1 cap), Robbie Diack (Ulster), Eoin McKeon (Connacht), Dominic Ryan (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster)
Scrum halves: John Cooney (Leinster), Michael Heaney (Ulster)
Fly halves: Ian Keatley (Munster - 2 caps), Cathal Marsh (Dublin University)
Centres: Mike Allen (Ulster),Eoin Griffin (Connacht), Brendan Macken (Leinster)
Wings: Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht), Dave Kearney (Leinster)
Full backs: Andrew Conway (Leinster)

South African President´s XV
Props: Martin Dreyer (Leopards), Ivann Espag (Pumas), Vincent Koch (Pumas), Khwezilokusa Mkhafu (Border Bulldogs)
Hookers: Ashton Constant (Boland Cavaliers), Frank Herne (Pumas)
Locks: Marius Coetzer (Pumas), Giant Mtyanda (SWD Eagles), Brendon Snyman (Leopards)
Back row: Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), Jaco Bouwer (Pumas), Uzair Cassiem (Pumas), Vincent Gwavu (Valke), Zandré Jordaan (Boland Cavaliers), Brian Shabangu (Border Bulldogs)
Scrum halves: Ntando Kebe (Boland Cavaliers), Inus Kritzinger (Griffons), Sinovuyo Nyoka (Border Bulldogs)
Fly halves: Carl Bezuidenhout (Pumas), Ricardo Croy (Boland Cavaliers)
Centres: Adriaan Engelbrecht (Leopards), Wilmaure Louw (Pumas), Jerome Pretorius (Pumas)
Wings: Alshaun Bock (SWD Eagles), Joe Seerane (Border Bulldogs), Rosco Speckman (Pumas)
Full backs: Jacquin Jansen (Boland Cavaliers), Hoffman Maritz (Leopards)

 

[Croket66]

Emerging Ireland selection added, pretty strong squad!

 

[Croket66]

SA President's XV squad added, only 2 players with Super Rugby experience (Wilmaure Louw et Marius Coetzer)

 

[Croket66]

Uruguay squad added

 

[Croket66]

3 changes in the georgian squad
Mikheil Nariashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili and Beka Bitsadze out
Anton Peikrishvili (Castres), Simon Maisuradze (Bagnères) and Vakhtang Maisuradze (Albi) in

 

[Big Ewis]

wow..."Tbilissi" is so hard to pronounce.

 

[Toko_11]

At last we will see peikrishvili in NT jersey

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland team to play Georgia on Friday.

15- David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
14- Niall Morris (Leicester/Exiles)*
13- Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
12- Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
11- Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht)*
10- Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9- Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
1- Jack McGrath (St. Mary's/Leinster)*
2- Robert Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
3- Michael Bent (Leinster)
4- Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster)*
5- David Foley (UL Bohemian/Munster)*
6- Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's/Leinster) (Capt)
7- Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
8- Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)*

Replacements:
16-Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
17-Richard Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
18- Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
19- Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
20- John Cooney (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
21-Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)*
22- Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)*

Good team, would have liked Cooney ahead of Heaney and maybe Reid over Allen.

Match will be streamed by the IRB here:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S1pAn8q8U_0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Croket66]

[TABLE="class: kmsg, width: 908"]
<tbody>[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: kmessage-left"]Georgia
1. Irakli Mirtskhulava (Tarbes PR/France)
2. Rezo Belkania (Lelo Tbilisi/Georgia)
3. Levan Chilachava (RC Toulon/France)
4. Vakhtang Maisuradze (SC Albi/France)
5. Kote Mikautadze (RC Toulon/France)
6. Shalva Sutiashvili (RC Massy/France)
7. Vito Kolelishvili (ASM Clermont/France)
8. Giorgi Chkhaidze (Tarbes PR/France)

9. Giorgi Begadze (Batumi/Georgia)
10. Lasha Malaguradze (Stade Bagnérais/France)
11. Tamaz Mchedlidze (Stade Montois/France)
12. Merab Sharikadze (Hartpury College/England)
13. Davit Kacharava (Stade Rodez/France)
14. Irakli Machkhaneli (captain/Armazi/Georgia)
15. Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotiv Tbilisi/Georgia)

16. Simon Maisuradze (Stade Bagnérais/France)
17. Giorgi Tetrashvili (SC Albi/France)
18. Giorgi Nemsadze (Tarbes PR/France)
19. Givi Berishvili (Lokomotiv Tbilisi/Georgia)
20. Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi/Georgia)
21. Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Tbilisi/Georgia)
22. Tedo Zibzibadze (CA Périgueux/France)

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: kbuttonbar-left"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

I don't understand why there are 22-man squads...
Not impressed by georgian squad. In fact, 6 players (Kakovin (+Nariashvili, Zhvania), Bregvadze (+Natriashvili), Zirakashvili (+Kubriashvili, Jgenti, Peikrishvili), Datunashvili, Gorgodze, Basilaia) from the usually starting forwards pack are missing. First choice fly half is on the bench, Zibzibadze (best georgian centre) too. Kvirikashvili, first choice full back is not in this line up

 

[psychic duck]

That is nearly the weakest front row Georgia could possibly pick. Ireland should destroy it.

It does amuse me though that their Kiwi scrum saviour who was drafted in for caps so quickly in November now can't even make the North America tour squad. That's two Kiwis now they have tried to make their scrum saviours, both times it's flopped. Perhaps time to try a different tactic.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

That is nearly the weakest front row Georgia could possibly pick. Ireland should destroy it.

It does amuse me though that their Kiwi scrum saviour who was drafted in for caps so quickly in November now can't even make the North America tour squad. That's two Kiwis now they have tried to make their scrum saviours, both times it's flopped. Perhaps time to try a different tactic.

Who's the second?

 

[big ginger 8]

That is nearly the weakest front row Georgia could possibly pick. Ireland should destroy it.

It does amuse me though that their Kiwi scrum saviour who was drafted in for caps so quickly in November now can't even make the North America tour squad. That's two Kiwis now they have tried to make their scrum saviours, both times it's flopped. Perhaps time to try a different tactic.

What are you on about? Bent was never looked at as a saviour. Most Irish fans were pessimistic about his signing. He was signed by Leinster as an extra tighthead and then called up as a stop gap as he was someone who could play tighthead and was match fit. He also actually did a decent job. He's now been completely written off which is a bit unfair given expectations weren't high in the first place and Ross, Wright and Hagan were all poor in their first seasons. Borlase was just so Munster could have a tighthead just because he was a project player doesn't mean people were thinking he'd definitely be an international.

Who's the second?

Presume Borlase, who never represented Ireland at any level and also never looked upon as a "saviour".

 

[Peat]

Maybe he means Rodney Ah You - the holy trinity of Kiwi Fatboys in Oireland - they've all gotta be saviors, every last one...

edit: Have to say, I am not aware of Michael Allen having played at 12 in an Ulster jersey and he started breaking through at about the time I started my obsession so I'm reasonably sure that means he's not done it much. Never really shown much distribution either...

 

[big ginger 8]

Maybe he means Rodney Ah You - the holy trinity of Kiwi Fatboys in Oireland - they've all gotta be saviors, every last one...

Next you'll be telling me he means Clint ****ing Newland. He was a waste but not a project player or anything.

 

[Draggs]

I really wish we sent an 'A' side to a tournament like this. I dread to think what we would select if we had Lions and a tour on at the same time though, as Ireland have.

Is that future Gwent legend Nahuel Tetaz I see in the Argentina side?

 

[psychic duck]

What are you on about? Bent was never looked at as a saviour. Most Irish fans were pessimistic about his signing. He was signed by Leinster as an extra tighthead and then called up as a stop gap as he was someone who could play tighthead and was match fit. He also actually did a decent job. He's now been completely written off which is a bit unfair given expectations weren't high in the first place and Ross, Wright and Hagan were all poor in their first seasons. Borlase was just so Munster could have a tighthead just because he was a project player doesn't mean people were thinking he'd definitely be an international.



Presume Borlase, who never represented Ireland at any level and also never looked upon as a "saviour".

Maybe not "saviour", but you did look at him as a recruit to help out with the Ireland prop status. At a time when Buckley was first choice I think. People were posting this by the way.

Didn't realise Munster had snagged Borlase.

Sneaky sneaky there Ireland. He would have been All Black standard in 3 or so years anyway judging by his ANZC form. The Crusaders have All Black props on the bench so Borlase has been working overtime with the Canterbury academy. From what i have seen of him and Irish props (Hayes) he is a pretty awesome signing.

Again with Bent maybe not with the fans who had wised up after the Borlase situation. But Kidney clearly thought he was ace and drafted him despite achieving nothing whatsoever for Leinster, I think he genuinely believed in Bent being an international class prop to boost Ireland's tighthead situation. It was only after England Saxons gave him a working over. I remember Eddie Butler giving him big praise just before that in a 6 Nations preview as well, saying that he was the answer.

I really wish we sent an 'A' side to a tournament like this. I dread to think what we would select if we had Lions and a tour on at the same time though, as Ireland have.

Off the top of my head (discounting the more experienced players who would never be picked like Fussell) something like:

1. Hobbs
2. Parry
3. Buck
4. Peers
5. Day
6. L Evans
7. Lewis
8. I Jones
9. J Evans
10. O Williams
11. Harries
12. Dixon
13. Hughes
14. Poole
15. Fish

 

[big ginger 8]

Maybe not "saviour", but you did look at him as a recruit to help out with the Ireland prop status. At a time when Buckley was first choice I think. People were posting this by the way.



Again with Bent maybe not with the fans who had wised up after the Borlase situation. But Kidney clearly thought he was ace and drafted him despite achieving nothing whatsoever for Leinster, I think he genuinely believed in Bent being an international class prop to boost Ireland's tighthead situation. It was only after England Saxons gave him a working over. I remember Eddie Butler giving him big praise just before that in a 6 Nations preview as well, saying that he was the answer.

Ranger is a New Zealander his arrival got essentially no notice from the Irish public. The only time people talked about him was his poor attempts at fighting against Australia.

Obviously I was never Kidney's biggest fan but in fairness he didn't have a lot of options with bringing Bent in. At the time Fitzpatrick was injured the other options were: Archer, who you obviously agree is not up too much and Hagan, who at the time was playing like crap. Bent got called up on the recommendation of Feek the Leinster and Ireland scrum coach. All he had to do was sit on the bench and not **** up. He actually did that quite well coming on and winning a penalty against HVDM who's a very strong scrummager. Archer even got ahead of him in the 6N. He's never been looked at as anything more than someone to fill in for a bit. I've never really listned to anything Butler says to be honest so I don't know his usual level, but that is quite a stupid thing to say. However I guess if the only time he's seen Bent was the brief cameo against S.A. you can understand it a bit more.

 

[Peat]

Ah, in fairness, I saw people talking up Borlase after he'd not been in Ireland long. Maybe not here, but I know I've seen it...

There is hope attached to every tighthead coming into Ireland, simply because things are that dire, and it is funny that he went to Ireland, played international rugby, then stunk the place out. It's even funnier when he was actually quite good then! Some say Feek had him brought in as he was thought to be a future Irish international, others say he was simply there to fill a gap for Ireland... whatever way it goes, taking the hype generated by someone like Eddie Butler as representative of anything real doesn't really seem fair, and Kidney was certainly under some pressure.

 

[big ginger 8]

The future's bright or at least I hope so. Hagan looks like he'll be passable and will likely be starting in the Premiership. At least one of Moore and Furlong will make it and White will qualify soon. Also hopeful that Paddy Mac will be able to make it.

 

[psychic duck]

The future's bright or at least I hope so. Hhagan looks like he'll be passable and will likely be starting in the Premiership. At least one of Moore and Furlong will make it and White will qualify soon. Also hopeful that Paddy Mac will be able to make it.

Indeed. McGrath and Bent should destroy the Georgian scrum.