Georgia record historic victory 28-19 win over tier-one nation Italy
Now get Georgia in the Six Nations! Sportsmail visits Batumi – the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’ – to see a huge moment of rugby history as Italy are beaten
- Georgia beat Italy 28-19 in their Autumn Test in a seismic moment for rugby
- It marks a historic victory for Georgia in beating a tier-one side for the first time
- Kieran Crowley’s Italy side were unable to match the hosts’ intensity in Batumi
- The colossal victory will surely result in calls for Georgia to join the Six Nations
By day, the gentle waves of the Black Sea lap the Batumi coastline. At night, Georgia’s second biggest city comes alive. On Sunday evening, the place exploded.
Georgia’s 28-19 victory over Italy was their first against a tier-one nation and sent a message to rugby’s administrators that Levan Maisashvili’s Lelos belong at the highest level.
It was a moment of Georgian rugby history. The rhythmic beat of the dance music from Batumi’s beachside nightclubs was relentless all weekend as a rugby-mad population celebrated in style.
Georgia’s stunning 28-19 win over Italy was their first over one of Rugby’s elite nations
GEORGIA 28-19 ITALY
Georgia Tries: Todua 10, Abzhandadze 14, 36
Cons: Tedo Abzhandadze 15, 37
Pens: Abzhandadze 56, 78, Aprasidze 71
Italy Try: Menoncello 21
Con: Allan 22
Pens: Allan 28, 33, 52, 73
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Star man: Tedo Abzhandadze (Georgia)
The tunes were still blaring at dawn on Monday. Fireworks lit up the night sky. Georgia’s squad and administrators were determined to enjoy every moment. Maisashvili’s players danced the night away in one such nightclub.
President Soso Tkemaladze revelled in the moment, hugging and kissing everyone in sight between sips of the country’s famous wine. Georgian great Mamuka Gorgodze was among the crowd.
Batumi – nicknamed the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’ – has been transformed in the last decade with its development and new, modern high-rise buildings fuelled by gambling and tourism money.
It was a fitting place for Georgian rugby to take its next big step.Like Batumi, head coach Maisashvili and his team have ambitious plans.
‘I never want to change this feeling,’ Maisashvili said. ‘I don’t think this result will change much in terms of if Georgia should maybe join the Six Nations.
‘I absolutely don’t think they are going to open the door on the back of one result. Just give us more opportunities to play against tier-one countries and not just once a year. That is not enough. That would be my message to World Rugby.
’Georgia and the Six Nations. It is now the burning question. Whether or not the country deserves a Championship place has been a hotly-contested debate for some time now.
That discussion has already gone to another level after an astonishing weekend in Batumi.Many already believe there should be a promotion and relegation clash between the team which finishes bottom of the Six Nations and the best side in Rugby Europe in the tier below.
Giorgi Kveseladze was one of a host of star performers for Georgia in their win over Italy
Such a scenario would, in most years, pair Italy with Georgia. When the two sides met at a close-to-capacity Adjarabet Arena, the home team more than proved their point. They deserved to win.Senior figures within Georgian rugby have told Sportsmail they think it may still be too soon for them to join the Six Nations.
This is still a developing rugby nation. But it is moving quickly.Georgia’s win over Italy was a tremendous rugby occasion. As Maisashvili – who was cheered into the post-match press conference – rightly pointed out Georgia need more games against tier one nations to aid their progression.
The Italy match was a huge opportunity to make a statement. How they delivered. On the field, Georgia mixed flair with power as their supporters backed them all the way. There can be no doubting the passion for rugby here.
‘We are going to celebrate 100 per cent,’ said Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze.
‘I would describe it in one word – unity. There was a huge unity on the pitch between all the players and the staff, but also with the crowd. The whole of Georgia was together for this win.’
Georgia players continued their celebrations in the changing room after their historic win
This was no Italian reserve team and it must be remembered the Azzurri claimed victory over Wales in Cardiff in March. They were nonetheless well beaten by Georgia. Backs Davit Niniashvili and Tedo Abzhandadze had games to remember and the home side’s pack was outstanding to a man.
On the sidelines, the stadium announcer had the match of his life.Whipping up a febrile atmosphere in a snapback cap, he shouted himself hoarse with excitement and the crowd responded. If the Adjarabet Arena had a roof, it would surely have come off at the final whistle such were the celebrations.
‘I am so happy and excited to have witnessed a day Georgian rugby has been waiting for,’ said Tkemaladze, whose emotion at the post-match after party was clear to see.
‘It is an honour for us to host a tier-one team from the Six Nations. It’s an important factor for developing and promoting rugby in Georgia and a great opportunity for the entire world to see the spirit and passion of Georgian supporters.’
Georgia do not necessarily want to replace Italy in the Six Nations. In time, they would like to join an expanded Championship that may well also include South Africa in the years to come. These are questions for the future.
But Georgia’s time is now. Those in World Rugby’s corridors of power must take heed from the Italy result and realise their ability. How much better would Georgia get if given more matches against the best?
Rugby is already the country’s national sport, but it continues to grow in popularity. Georgia’s home games regularly attract crowds of 50,000 in Tbilisi. This was their first match in the party capital of Batumi and the passion and fervour of the event struck home.
Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili is lifted into the air by his players as spectators celebrate
The decision to take games around the country paid off.The match was also live streamed online with more than 13,000 tuning in as Georgia sealed victory in the closing stages.
‘When I started my coaching career in Georgia, we had nothing. Just nothing,’ said Maisashvili, who was smiling from ear to ear at the final whistle. This, of course, is a man who now knows how to enjoy life after spending one month in a coma last summer following his contraction of Covid-19.
Maisashvili was given a one per cent chance of survival, but he rose from his deathbed and is now breathing new life into his team.
He continued: ‘We played on a terrible pitch and had no facilities. Now we have good facilities thanks to our rugby supporters.
‘Our former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has spent huge money on the improvement of Georgian rugby. He still does. The government is still helping us.
‘They have the target to build 100 rugby pitches. It’s great for a small country like us. We are starting to engage with all areas of the country in rugby and step by step, we will have more players to choose from which will improve our quality. We still have a big opportunity to improve.’
Ivanishvili, a billionaire businessman, philanthropist and politician, has invested more than €100million in Georgian rugby since 2010. The current prime minister Irakli Garibashvili was at the Italy match. Expectations were high and the team delivered a notable victory.
Georgia’s rugby-obsessed population celebrated the fixture all weekend in Batumi
It is hard to get away from the feeling the Six Nations would benefit from Georgia’s inclusion. Trips to Tbilisi or Batumi would surely be popular with travelling supporters and cheaper than travelling to Paris or Rome.
‘The decision on who should be in the Six Nations is nothing to do with us,’ said beaten Italy coach Kieran Crowley. ‘Georgia deserved to win – they played better than us.
‘Congratulations to them. It’s great for the game. I said to the players in the changing room that Georgia celebrating was the same as us in Cardiff against Wales.
‘This result is great for the rugby community in Georgia. It was noisy as, a magnificent rugby occasion. Just look at this press conference. There must be 10 cameras.
‘It’s the biggest press conference I’ve had since I’ve been Italy coach.‘
Wales got their first win in South Africa on Saturday and it was the same with Ireland in New Zealand. Maybe there was something in the water this weekend.’
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