“That’s enough, the Italians are just not good enough to play at this level! », This rant is not even that of a frustrated Georgian. But of Sam Warburton, the iconic former captain of Wales. Last March, he did not mince his words after a new disastrous VI Nations Tournament from the Transalpines (five defeats in five games, six tries scored for 34 conceded), which by dint of accumulating them, begins to make doubt its legitimacy at this level.
This increasingly persistent debate is a big thorn in the side of the Tournament steering committee. So, are regularly mentioned Japan, Fiji or even South Africa, to replace Italy one day, following an implacable geographical logic (no). And yet, in the waiting room, there is a country, much closer and more European (incredible but true), which perhaps deserves to have its chance instead of the Azzuri…. Drum rolls…. Georgia! And you might as well warn you right away, we have no descendants or friends within the Lelos (too bad because given the golgoths, it can still be used).
No, like any good journalist, we only rely on the facts. And today, we can put forward three:
- The first is perhaps the best argument for the federation of the Caucasus country. Georgia (12th) ahead of Italy (14th) in the World Rugby rankings. Not since yesterday or the day before but well for several years. Behind the five “big” European nations (England, Ireland, France, Scotland and Wales), we find the Lelos.
- The second is due to the dynamics of the two teams. While the Transalpines chain the heavy defeats (32 in a row in the Tournament, current series), the Georgians stack the wide victories in the VI Nations B tournament. They have won the last four editions (13 in total). “I can understand that Georgia is chomping at the bit,” Ugo Mola admitted a few months ago. Because frankly, we have rarely seen such a weak team (Italy) ”.
- The third (perhaps more questionable) refers to the latest results of the two teams against the major nations for world rugby. If Georgia finished last in the Autumn Nations Cup a year ago, they lost “only” 18-0 against the Welsh and 23-10 against the Irish. Meanwhile, the Italians owe their 6th place only to a poor victory over Fiji in the pool.
No one is saying that Caucasians are a thousand times better than the tournament mop (see Italy’s victory in their last clash in 2018, 28-17 in Florence) but that the first would deserve one or two entrance tickets. for the VI Nations Tournament in the coming years.
The main stakeholders, them, remain modest like their coach Merab Sharikadze: “Why not yes (join the Tournament). But we need a little more time. We need, before, to face more major nations to then show what we are capable of. Maybe one day we will have this opportunity… ”
Georgia dreams of a “climb-descent system”
So why is it blocking so much? Surprise, it’s a big money story, of course. And yes, Georgia is less selling than Italy. Not necessarily for us but especially for the sponsors and the media. Beka Gorgadze, the third row of the Section Palois passed to the UBB is perfectly aware of this and it is for this reason that he hopes for the implementation of a “climb-descent system” in the short term. He does not hide it, “we all dream of the Tournament, but as long as we have not done anything, it is difficult”.
But how can we rely on solid results to convince the tournament’s steering committee, when the Lelos contend with all the big teams away: “The big nations don’t need this additional advantage to receive us. We would have more chances at home, pushed by our public, to achieve the feat of beating them (Georgia has faced 32 nations of the World Top 10, for only two tests in Tbilisi, against Samoa in 2013 and the ‘Scotland in 2019). To face them at home would balance the odds… ”
His trainer ignores the context. For Merab Sharikadze, the match against the Blues is above all “a chance to prove that we are a good team with good players, to show what we are capable of and also to gain experience. “He is convinced that this kind of match is essential to progress:
“What we need most of all is to play more games together. If we often struggle after the 60th minute, it’s not just a physical problem. This is due to our lack of experience in these high level matches. The difference between the top 10 nations in the world and ours is that we have very few opportunities to face the best teams. Once in the summer, once in the fall, and not always. With periods of seven, eight months without a big game. We need to play against big opponents more often to get used to the intensity of these encounters. Here is one, already.