England v Georgia Preview
Focus!
By Kath 10/10/03 Updated 11/10/03 -injury
October 11 2003
England will take on Rugby World Cup minnows Georgia this Sunday with a full strength team and a bench that is the envy of the world.
England are giving
Georgia true respect by fielding such a strong side and are taking no chances.
This World Cup we have a bonus points
system for the first time, including an extra point if a team wins and scores
four or more tries, so from the
outset all teams, not just England will be out to win and score tries.
The bookmakers have given odds on
England at an unbackable 1,000/1- to win, while punters can get 250/1 against
them not scoring a try and only 16/1 for a winning margin of 150-plus points.
Many of the Georgian players play
professional rugby in France and many hope to get new contracts after this World
Cup. So their players are out to
show the world what the can do and their World Cup Final will be on Sunday
against England.
England now have no injury worries as Matt Dawson returned to full training after taking a day off because of "general soreness". So for England fans and players Sunday can't come quick enough!
UPDATE:
11/11/03 - Iain
Balshaw will miss England's Rugby World Cup opener against Georgia at the
Subiaco Oval in Perth on Sunday after failing to recover from a slight calf
injury.
Dan
Luger on the bench!
England:
J Lewsey, J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T
Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (Captain), B Kay, R Hill, N Back, L
Dallaglio
Replacements: M Regan, J Leonard, D Grewcock, L Moody, K Bracken, P
Grayson, D.Luger
Georgia: Bessik Khamashuridze,
Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Tedo Zibzibadze, Irakli Guiorgadze, Vassil Katsadze (Captain);
Pavle Jimsheladze, Irakli Abusseruudze; Goderdzi Shvelidze, Akvsenti Guiorgadze,
Aleko Margvelashvili; Zurab Mtchedlishvili, Victor Didebulidze; Grigol Labadze,
Gregoire Yachvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze
Replacements: David Dadunashvili, Sosso Nikolaenko, Vanno Nadiradze,
David Bolghashvili, Merab Kvirikashvili, Irakli Machkhaneli, Badri
Khekhelashvili
Just time to sound my usual cry...............
The
game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge.......
'CRY GOD FOR HARRY ENGLAND AND ST. GEORGE '
Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1