RWC 2023 Round 1 Wallabies v Georgia

[Burgs]

Wallabies name side for World Cup opener against Georgia

Thu, Sep 7, 2023, 8:27 PM
by Nathan Williamson for RA

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has confirmed his side to face Georgia in their Rugby World Cup opener.

Jones has opted for Ben Donaldson at fullback, with the Waratah starting his first Test at the back.

Donaldson is one of 17 Wallabies set to play in their first World Cup game, with the team averaging just 19 total Test caps.

Samu Kerevi has recovered from a broken hand, partnering Jordan Petaia in the centres.

Marika Koroibete re-takes his place on the wing as Suliasi Vunivalu reverts to the bench.

“The Rugby World Cup is the biggest stage in the world and the players can see the opportunity that’s ahead of them over the next eight weeks," Jones said in a statement

“With the youngest team at the Rugby World Cup, the excitement level in the group is high and we’ve had a good preparation for the tournament working hard on our game."

Taniela Tupou will play his 50th Test for the Wallabies, starting alongside Waratah duo Angus Bell and Dave Porecki.

French-based duo Will Skelton and Richie Arnold will complete the second-row, with Jones opting for an unchanged back-row of Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini.

James Slipper and Pone Fa'amausili remain on the sideline with injury, allowing Blake Schoupp and Zane Nonggorr to make their World Cup debut off the bench.

“All 20 teams are at the starting line now and it’s important we get off to a fast start against Georgia on Saturday night," Jones added.

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Team to play Georgia at Stade de France, Paris on Saturday 9 September, 6:00pm CET/2:00am Sunday AEST

Wallabies

1. Angus Bell (24 Tests)

2. David Porecki (15 Tests)

3. Taniela Tupou (49 Tests)

4. Richie Arnold (5 Tests)

5. Will Skelton (c) (29 Tests)

6. Tom Hooper (4 Tests)

7. Fraser McReight (13 Tests)

8. Rob Valetini (35 Tests)

9. Tate McDermott (vc) (26 Tests)

10. Carter Gordon (5 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (55 Tests)

12. Samu Kerevi (45 Tests)

13. Jordan Petaia (28 Tests)

14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (7 Tests)

15. Ben Donaldson (3 Tests)

16. Matt Faessler (2 Tests)

17. Blake Schoupp (1 Test)

18. Zane Nonggorr (3 Tests)

19. Rob Leota (17 Tests)

20. Langi Gleeson (4 Tests)

21. Nic White (63 Tests)

22. Lalakai Foketi (6 Tests)

23. Suliasi Vunivalu (3 Tests)

[Burgs]

Georgia name settled side for Wallabies clash

Thu, Sep 7, 2023, 11:52 PM
by Reuters

Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili has brought Beka Gorgadze into a rejigged back row for his side's World Cup Pool C opener against Australia at the Stade de France.

Gorgadze emerged as his country's top No.8 at the last World Cup in Japan and returns to the back of the scrum after missing the last warm-up match against Scotland.

Tornike Jalaghonia moves to blindside flanker to make way for Gorgadze, while young gun Luka Ivanishvili shifts over to the openside flank.

Maisashvili has kept his backline intact from the 33-6 loss to Scotland with skipper Merab Sharikadze and Demur Tapladze in the centres and standout Davit Niniashvili at fullback.

Twelve of the matchday squad play their club rugby in France and nine played in the pool fixture against Australia at the 2019 World Cup, which Georgia lost 27-8.

They will be looking for a better result on Saturday after wins over Italy and Wales in the last year proved that they can beat top-tier teams.

Georgia, the winners of the past five second-tier Rugby Europe Championships, are currently ranked 11th in the world, only two places below twice world champions Australia.

“I know a couple – [tight-head prop] Beka [Gigashvili], who is extremely physical, and Nini [full-back Davit Niniashvili], you can see how dynamic he is at the back, he’s very dangerous," Wallabies skipper Will Skelton said on the side.

"Historically they pride themselves on set-piece, scrum and maul, and we will be expecting that this weekend.”

Team to play Australia at Stade de France, Paris on Saturday 9 September, 6:00pm CET/2:00am Sunday AEST

Georgia

1. Nika Abuladze

2. Shalva Mamukashvili

3. Guram Papidze

4. Nodar Cheishvili

5. Kote Mikautadze,

6. Tornike Jalaghonia

7. Luka Ivanishvili

8. Beka Gorgadze

9. Vaso Lobzhanidze

10. Luka Matkava

11. Mirian Modebadze

12. Merab Sharikadze (capt)

13. Demur Tapladze

14. Akaki Tabutsadze

15. Davit Niniashvili

16. Tengizi Zamtaradze

17. Guram Gogichashvili

18. Beka Gigashvili

19. Lasha Jaiani

20. Giorgi Tsutskiridze

21. Gela Aprasidze

22. Tedo Abzhandadze

23. Giorgi Kveseladze

[Burgs]

'We're ready to go': Jones hails 'Formula One' Wallabies

Thu, Sep 7, 2023, 11:46 PM
by Melissa Woods - AAP

Previously likening his team to broken-down Datsun, coach Eddie Jones says the Wallabies are now Formula One-worthy as they count down to their Rugby World Cup opener against Georgia in Paris.

Jones continued his trend of selection shocks for the sold-out Stade de France pool clash on Saturday (Sunday AEST) by naming Ben Donaldson for his first Test start at fullback ahead of Andrew Kellaway.

Jones conceded he needed more goal-kicking options after first-choice Carter Gordon only booted one from five in their World Cup warm-up loss to France.

"Andrew is right for selection; just felt for this game Dono (Donaldson) gives us the coverage that we need," Jones said in a Paris news conference.

"His (Donaldson's) goal-kicking has been at a high standard which obviously gives us two kickers and with Nic White off the bench that's three. It's an area we've needed to bolster a little bit hence the selection."

Back-line linchpin Samu Kerevi has recovered from a hand injury to return in the number 12 jersey alongside Jordan Petaia, with Mark Nawaqanitawase and Marika Koroibete the wingers and Gordon and Tate McDermott again paired in the halves.

Jones will look to NRL recruit Suliasi Vunivalu for some punch off the bench after he impressed against France.

The Wallabies forward pack is unchanged with tighthead prop Taniela Tupou playing his 50th Test and lock Will Skelton captaining the side.

Following their loss to Argentina in Sydney in July, Jones likened the Wallabies to his first car, a Datsun 1200, and said how he'd fix one part only for another to break soon after.

But he said the team was now firing on all cylinders.

"We're ready to go mate - F1 - whatever car you like in F1, the fast one, we're just about ready to take off mate," Jones said.

"We're at the starting line now and everyone starts on the same spot now.

"It's been a really good progression. We went through a period where we had to almost restructure the team to get ourselves in a position where we think we can win the World Cup.

"This is the first step against Georgia - a very important game."

Australia haven't won the William Webb Ellis trophy since 1999 and are looking to improve on a quarter-final showing in 2019 in Japan.

Vice-captain Tate McDermott said he wouldn't be satisfied with anything other than a third World Cup title, with the Wallabies also winning in 1991.

"I'd say to go all the way," said McDermott.

"We're not here to scrape out of the pool stages. A pass mark, and it should be for all Australians, is that we've got to win it."

With a total of 343 Test caps in the team and 17 World Cup debutants, it is the fewest for Australia at the quadrennial tournament since the 2003 fixture against Namibia in Adelaide (283).

Jones wasn't bothered about caps and said it was the "best team" available to attempt to end a five-game losing streak.

"It's 20 years since Australia's picked a young team like this, and it shows a changing of the guard," he said.

[todd4]

Looks like we have found our new fullback/goal kicker. Harry Potter may need to play on the wing.

[Jules]

He definitely impressed. Great to have a reliable goal kicker for the wallabies. Still can’t see us beating a better team at this stage though.

[chiraag]

Yeah, Donaldson played well although often guilty of kicking the ball away a bit too much. White was rather horrendous though, again for kicking away far too much ball. IFL should be starting for the force next year and wallabies (especially if Tate is out with concussion protocols).

Was a pretty uninspiring performance by the wallabies. However at least it chalks up the first win for the year. Will need to improve a lot to make decent progress at this cup.

[shasta]

The usual ES media wallies are full of hype but I was not too impressed. Sloppy ball security and defensive errors which top sides -including Fiji next week - would punish heavily. On the plus side the Lelos scrum is renowned (don't know how it has been going lately) and our blokes trampled it into the turf. But the lineout fell apart alarmingly.

But they got the BP any that might be vital. Tupou and Skelton impressed with high workrate and big minutes. Marika was his usual freak and Donaldson had a day out. After what looked a mandatory stand down for McDermott we might see 3 Forcemen next week.

In short; lots to work on just to survive the pool.They need to figure out how to get Naq....se more early ball.

[WFDom]

I like our new full back!