Georgia rugby hooker Shalva Mamukashvili reflects on war, conflict, Russia and rugby ahead of final pool stage clash with Wales

• Shalva Mamukashvili has played for both Sale and Leicester in English rugby
• Georgia are yet to secure a win so far this tournament, but drew with Portugal
• Wales take on Georgia on Saturday having already qualified for the quarter finals

In August 2008 and after successfully passing his school exams to gain entry to university, Shalva Mamukashvili did what most young teenagers do at 17 and went on holiday to celebrate.

The now 33-year-old Georgia hooker headed for the northern highland town of Oni in his homeland with his brother and three friends. Oni is just 60 miles or so south of the Russian border.

‘We went there to chill and have two weeks off,’ Mamukashvili said matter-of-factly.

‘The invasion started the same night we arrived. The place was bombed the next morning. We woke up to the sound of the bombs – boom, boom, boom.

Shalva Mamukashvili opened up about his country’s war with Russia, conflict, rugby and Wales

Goergia are yet to win a game at this World Cup, but they did draw with Portugal earlier on

‘When we heard the bombs, we were all alone. Of course we were afraid.’

Not for the first time in its history, Georgia was under attack. This is a nation used to fighting back. Georgia’s never-say-die approach is one which now perhaps best exemplified by their rugby side.

‘Oni was bombed because there was an old army base there from the Soviet Union period and Russia bombed the areas where they thought there were Georgian army bases,’ Mamukashvili, who has played rugby in England with both Sale and Leicester, explained.

‘It was not a Georgian base. It was a fire station, but they bombed it anyway.

‘We managed to get back to Tbilisi. There was one brave driver in a van who took the responsibility to drive some young kids home. It could have been very different if he hadn’t.

‘It was August 11. The following day the highway into Tbilisi was closed by the Russian tanks.’

The 2008 Russo-Georgian war claimed 365 lives. With Vladimir Putin then, as he is now, leading the Russian aggression, Georgia came under fire.

Fourteen years after they were the target, it is Georgia’s near neighbours Ukraine currently feeling the heat of Putin’s hostility.

Two parts of Georgia remain occupied by Russia today. It’s a legacy of 2008. Yet, as Ukraine seem to be doing, Georgia defied being a smaller nation to maintain its independence.

‘If you search deeper into Georgian history, you will find it is in our DNA to fight until the end,’ said Mamukashvili, stroking his big, bushy grey beard ahead of facing Wales on Saturday.

Wales vs Georgia: Head to Head

Wales have only played Georgia four times, here’s their head-to-head history:

18/11/2017: Wales 13-6 Georgia

23/09/2019: Wales 43-14 Georgia

21/11/2020: Wales 18-0 Georgia

19/11/2022: Wales 12-13 Georgia

Country comparison:

Wales

Population: 3.1million

Founding date of rugby: 1881

No of active players: 51,299

No of World Cups competed in: 10

No of professional club teams: 4

Georgia

Population: 3.6million

Founding date of rugby: 1964

No of active players: 15,400

No of World Cups competed in: 5

No of professional club teams: 1

‘When you grow up in Georgia, you read, listen, sing and learn about the history of our ancestors who fought for the country, for their families, and for Christianity. They gave their lives to do that.

‘It’s part of our history to always fight. We try to use that on the field and it gives us confidence. We trust our team-mates to give everything and sacrifice for each other.’

As one of Georgia’s older players and given his experiences of war, Mamukashvili realises how fortunate he is to be playing at a World Cup. He is a part of an ambitious rugby nation.

In Nantes this Saturday, Levan Maisashvili’s side will look to end their tournament on a high against Wales. The last time the two teams met, Georgia claimed the biggest win in their history.

Their 13-12 victory in Cardiff last November was a low point for Wales who, as an established rugby nation, were expected to beat Georgia. The Lelos are hugely ambitious but still up and coming.

That said, Wales and Georgia share many similarities. They are two of a very small number of countries where rugby is beyond question the No 1 sport. The game plays a vital role in national self-expression.

Both countries also have vibrant, ancient cultures, unique languages, rugged landscapes, and share a history of dogged defence against invaders.

The two have similar populations of just over three million. They are no strangers to punching above their weight both sportingly and militarily.

‘They (Georgia) are a small nation, but a proud one,’ said Wales head coach Warren Gatland. 

‘We like to think when we are at our best it is sometimes with our backs to the wall. 

Georgia epitomise that attitude. The great thing about Georgia is seeing rugby grow in that country.

‘When the Vikings came to England, they didn’t want to come across the border to fight the Welsh because of how mad they were and how much they wanted to defend their own territory.

‘The Georgians are very much like that. If you look at their history, they’ve had their own battles and wars as well. We’re very aware of that and how proud they are as a people.’

Patriotic fervour will not be in short supply at the Stade de la Beaujoire when Wales and Georgia meet for only the fifth time. Georgia’s ability to repel Russian control has been remarkable.

With Ukraine under pressure, the country has an important geo-political role. A recent poll showed 86 per cent of Georgians would like to join the European Union.

But such a move would be seen as antagonistic in Russia. Arguably, Georgia’s best hope of growing as a strong, independent nation and becoming more of a global force is through rugby.

They are yet to win at this World Cup but remain hopeful of one day joining the Six Nations. Entry to the tournament at Under-20 level could be a possible first step.

‘We are very proud, it’s so good. We are a small country but we represent Georgia at the World Cup with the whole world watching our games. It’s the best thing – what everyone dreams about as a child.’

Mamukashvili will be looking to go one step further from Portugal and secure the win vs Wales

The team have put in very respectable performances throughout this rugby World Cup 

For all their passion, Georgia are unlikely to make it back-to-back wins over Wales. They have been hit hard by injuries in France, especially after a narrow defeat by Fiji.

But they remain a team Gatland’s side is more than wary of given recent history. Wales have already sealed a quarter-final spot but a fourth straight win would see them finish top of Pool C.

‘The Wales win is done. They respect us now,’ said Georgia head coach Maisashvili.

‘For them, Georgia is no longer a question mark. I think this Welsh side will prepare for us very hard.

‘We also have a big motivation because this is the first World Cup for Georgia where we have definitely played to win all our games and not just to compete.

‘It’s been disappointing for us to lose to Australia, draw with Portugal and also lose to Fiji.

‘Now we are ready to try and win against Wales. It’s our last chance.’

Welsh fans have always had the mantra they’re happy ‘as long as they beat the English’ and Georgia have a similar approach to their games with Russia for similar historical reasons.

On Saturday, they and Wales will meet once again, bound together as two passionate rugby nations competing on the biggest stage but also by mutual common bonds.

‘I found out a couple of weeks ago that singing the anthems started in Wales,’ said Mamukashvili, referring to the Welsh win over New Zealand in 1905.

That year, Wales captain Teddy Morgan, his team-mates and the home supporters responded to the Haka with a rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. 

It is widely regarded as the first time a national anthem was sung before an international sports event.

‘It shows how deep-rooted rugby is in Wales,’ Mamukashvili continued.

‘I hugely respect that. That’s huge. Rugby is our national sport in Georgia but it was amazing for us to see how it’s treated in Wales. 

‘I have experienced playing at Principality Stadium a couple of times and the atmosphere and approach from the people is, well… it’s unimaginable.’

Georgia will be looking to go out the tournament with a bang if they manage to beat Wales

Georgia have been hit hard by injuries during their time in France, and will head home soon

Wales v Georgia: Pre-match facts

Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Anscombe, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Francis, Rowlands, Jenkins, Wainwright, Reffell, Faletau

Replacements: Dee, Smith, H Thomas, Tshiunza, Basham, Davies, Costelow, Grady

Georgia: Khmaladze; Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze (capt), Niniashvili; Matkava; Lobzhanidze; Gogichashvili, Mamukashvili, Gigashvili, Cheishvili, Mikautadze, Gachechiladze, Saginadze, Jalagonia

Replacements: Karkadze, Abuladze, Aptsiauri, Chachanidze, Tsutskiridze, Aprasidze, Abzhandadze, Tapladze

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Kick-off: 2pm, Saturday October 7

Source: Read Full Article