Georgia name team to face England
- 2218
Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili has named a side with a mixture of youth and experience for their Autumn Nations Cup curtain-raiser against England at Twickenham.
He has made four changes to the pack that lost to Scotland in their wam up game. Shalva Mamukashvili has been promoted to the starting line up with Beka Gigashvili also claiming a starting place.
The youthful pairing of Grigor Kerdikoshvili and Lasha Jaiani start in the second row with the latter coming after missing the Scotland game. Beka Gorgadze, Beka Saginadze and Giorgi Tkhilaishvili complete the pack with Tkhilaishvili coming into the starting line up having featured off the bench last time out.
There are four further changes in the backline with Sandro Svanidze debuting on the wing with Merab Sharikadze captaining the side from inside centre alongside Giorgi Kveseladze. Akak Tabutsadze slots in on the right with with the young Gela Aprasidze takes over from Vasil Lobzhanidze at scrumhalf with Tedo Abzhandadze continuing at flyhalf.
Lasha Khmaladze completes the starting line up at fullback. This will be the first meeting between Georgia and England outside of a Rugby World Cup.
Georgia: 15. Lasha Khmaladze, 14. Akaki Tabutsadze, 13. Giorgi Kveseladze, 12. Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11. Sandro Svanidze, 10. Tedo Abzhandadze, 9. Gela Aprasidze; 1. Mikheil Nariashvili, 2. Shalva Mamukashvili, 3. Beka Gigashvili, 4. Lasha Jaiani, 5. Grigor Kerdikoshvili, 6. Beka Saginadze, 7. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 8. Beka Gorgadze
Replacements: 16. Jaba Bregvadze, 17. Guram Gogichashvili, 18. Lexo Kaulashvili, 19. Otar Giorgadze, 20. Tornike Jalagonia; 21. Vasil Lobzhanidze, 22. Deme Tapladze, 23. Sandro Todua