Georgia play Romania in Tblissi in a European Nations Cup on Saturday. It is a crucial encounter in the competition.
The European Nations Cup, "Six Nations B", is played over two years and now starts its second year with Georgia on top and Romania fourth, an unaccustomed position for the most successful country in the European nations Cup.
Standings, with matches played match points and points' difference
1 Georgia 5 - 13, 131
2 Russia 5 - 13, 80
3 Spain 6 - 12, 23
4 Romania 5 - 11, 71
5 Portugal 5 - 9, -28
6 Czech Republic 6 - 6, -277
There is, inevitably, great rivalry between the two countries who are neighbours and the top competitors in the composition. Not only are they neighbours geographically but many of their players play in France, which will heighten the rivalry.
Then they are competing for the European Nations Cup. Then, since 2002, there is the Antim Cup for competition between the two, a beautiful trophy especially crafted for matches between the two countries and named after St Antim, who was born in Georgia but did most of his church work in Romania.
Then there is a but of extra spice this year as the Romanian petrol company which has a strong presence in Georgia, Rompetrol Georgia, has offered a trophy to the Player of the Match from each country with a cheque for US$1 500 for each player.
The two teams met in the opening round of the European Nations Cup, and then Georgia beat Romania in Bucharest. Russia also beat Romania in Bucharest while Georgia's only defeat was against Spain in Madrid.
Law weekend the Lelos gave the new-look Portuguese side a hammering, and they have made eight changes since then. One of the problems with the European Nations Cup, apart from climate, is being able to prize players from their clubs, especially in France. Last weekend's match was a rescheduled match which had been postponed because of unrest in Georgia. For that reason it was hard to bring players home. This week's team, is stronger, containing 16 of the players who were at the 2007 World Cup.
Georgia have 18 players playing abroad, including three playing in Romania. Romania, on the other hand, have just two players playing abroad - one in England and one in France.
Those with few caps for Georgia are Lasha Malaghuradze, Dimitri Bassilaia, Kakha Uchava and Irakli Natriashvili who both play in Romania, and David Kubriashvili.
Georgia's captain Irakli Abusseridze will play his 50th match for the Lelos on Saturday. He is the most capped player in the side.
Romania's captain, Costica Mersoiu is also there most capped player but with 30 caps. Daniel Carpo, who is still Under-20, is uncapped and several have fewer than five caps - Gheorghita Bigiu, Stefan Ciuntu, Alin Coste, Valentin Poparlan, Radu Basalau, Marcel Mihalache, Mihai Adascalitei, Ciprian Caplescu and Marin Alexandru. Only five of their squad for Georgia were in their World Cuipo squad - Dan Vlad, Valentin Calafeteanu, Catalin Fercu, Florin Vlaicu and Csaba Gal.
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Otar Barkalaia (Andorra VPC), 14 George Shkinini (Hooligana, Georgia), 13 David Katcharava (Kochebi, Georgia), 12 Irakli Giorgadze (Dax, France), 11 Irakli Chkhikvadze (Aia, Georgia), 10 Lasha Malaghuradze (Kredo-63, Ukraine), 9 Irakli Abusseridze (Orleans, France) (captain), 8 Dimitri Bassilaia (Clermont-Auvergne, France), 7 George Chkhaidze (Massy, France), 6 Shalva Sutiashvili (Bobigny, France), 5 Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier, France), 4 Kakha Uchava (Farul Constanta, Romania), 3 David Zirakashvili (Clermont-Auvergne, France), 2 Irakli Natriashvili (Farul Constanta, Romania), 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze (Clermont-Auvergne, France)
Repolacements: 16 David Dadunashvili (Montpellier, France), 17 David Kubriashvili (Massy, France), 18 Rati Urushadze (Lons-le-Saunier, France), 19 Zviad Maissuradze (Lokomotive, Georgia), 20 Bidzina Samkharadze (Farul Constanta, Romania), 21 Meko Kvirikashvili (Pau, France), 22 Rezo Guigauri (Montlucon, France)
Romania: 15. Florin Vlaicu (Steaua, Romania), 14. Gheorghita Bigiu (Dinamo, Romania), 13. Csaba Gal (Cluj, Romania), 12. Catalin Dascalu (Steaua, Romania)11. Stefan Ciuntu (Cluj, Romania), 10. Dan Vlad (Steaua, Romania), 9. Valentin Calafeteanu (Dinamo, Romania), 8. Costica Mersoiu (captain) (Dinamo, Romania), 7. Stelian Burcea (Dinamo, Romania), 6. Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare, Romania), 5. Alin Coste (Narbonne, France), 4. Valentin Poparlan (Dinamo, Romania), 3. Ion Paulica (Bath, England), 2. Bogdan Zebega (Steaua, Romania), 1. Radu Basalau (Steaua, Romania)
Replacements: 16. Marcel Mihalache (Steaua, Romania), 17. Mihai Adascalitei (Dinamo, Romania), 18. Vasile Rus (Steaua, Romania), 19. Daniel Carpo (Farul, Romania), 20. Ciprian Caplescu (Dinamo, Romania), 21. Catalin Fercu (Steaua, Romania), 22. Marin Alexandru (Dinamo, Romania)
Date: Saturday, 9 February 2008
Kick-off: 16.00 (12.00 GMT)
Venue: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Vake
Expected weather conditions: Partly coudy with a chance of snow and a high of 0°C, dropping to -6°C with a light wind. COLD!
Referee: Neil Ballard (Wales)
Touch judges: David Williams (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)