Wayne Pivac’s Welsh side host Scotland at Parc y Scarlets on 31 October in the closing round of matches in the 2020 Six Nations campaign before turning their attention to the Autumn Nations Cup, which will see them take on Les Lelos in Llanelli on 21 November in a Group A match.
The Georgians have strengthened their back room staff by adding former Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys and Ulster coach Neil Doak as consultants. Head coach Levan Maisashvili has named an initial squad of 38 players to train ahead of this week’s game in Edinburgh and a clash with Russia in Tbilisi on 1 November.
Then it will go head-long into the Autumn Nations Cup, with their first game being against England at Twickenham on 14 November. Maisashvili has included five uncapped players in his squad.
“All the players we invited for are ready for international rugby at this stage and we want to see them in action. This list will narrow down to 32-33 players, when we take on our camp in France, before the Scotland game,” said Maisashvili.
“There are some positions for which we have not identified yet players for first two tests. The core of the squad will remain for the Autumn Nations Cup, with some minor changes possibly.”
No fewer than 18 of the current squad have been involved in the two previous games against Wales – the 13-6 defeat at Principality Stadium in 2017 and the 43-14 World Cup loss in Aichi last year.
GEORGIAN EXTENDED SQUAD:
BACKS
Back Three: Soso Matiashvili (27 Caps), Davit Niniashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze (2 Caps), Sandro Todua (85 Caps), Zurab Dzneladze (11 Caps)
Centres: Merab Sharikadze (66 Caps), Giorgi Kveseladze (24 Caps), Deme Tapladze (2 Caps), Lasha Malaghurdze (99 Caps), Tamaz Mchedlidze (57 Caps), Sandro Svanidze
Outside Halves: Tedo Abzhandadze (15 Caps), Lasha Khmaladze (83 Caps)
Scrum Halves: Vasil Lobzhanidze (51 Caps), Gela Aprasidze (25 Caps), Mikheil Alania
FORWARDS
Front Row: Mikheil Nariashvili (61 Caps), Guram Gogichashvili (14 Caps), Lekso Kaulashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili (74 Caps), Jaba Bregvadze (58 Caps), Giorgi Chkoidze (11 Caps), Levan Chilachava (54 Caps), Beka Gigashvili (14 Caps), Giorgi Melikidze (19 Caps)
2nd Row: Kote Mikautadze (64 Caps), Nodar Cheishvili (25 Caps), Davit Gigauri (6 Caps), Grigol Kerdikoshvili (2 Caps), Lasha Jaiani (2 Caps), Giorgi Javakhia (1 Cap)
Back Row: Beka Gorgadze (27 Caps), Beka Saghinadze (12 Caps), Otar Giorgadze (25 Caps), Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (57 Caps), Mikheil Gachechiladze (10 Caps), Tornike Jalaghonia (1 Cap), Ioane Iashaghashvili
*Players in bold have been involved against Wales before
2017: WALES 13 – 6 GEORGIA
Georgia: Soso Matiashvili; Giorgi Koshadze, Davit Kacharava, Merab Sharikadze (captain), Miriani Modebadze; Lasha Khmaladze, Vaso Lobzhanidze; Mikheil Nariashvili, Jaba Bregvadze, Levan Chilachava, Kote Mikautadze, Giorgi Nemsadze, Lasha Lomidze, Vito Kolelishvili, Beka Bitsadze
Reps: Shalva Mamukashvili, Kakha Asieshvili, Soso Bekoshvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Giorgi Begadze, Rezi Jintchvelashvili, Merab Kvirikashvili
2019: GEORGIA 14 – 43 WALES
Georgia: Soso Matiashvili; Miriani Modebadze, Davit Kacharava, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Giorgi Kveseladze; Tedo Abzhandadze, Vaso Lobzhanidze; Mikheil Nariashvili (captain), Shalva Mamukashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Giorgi Nemsadze, Kote Mikautadze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Mamuka Gorgodze, Beka Gorgadze
Reps: Jaba Bregvadze, Guram Gogichashvili, Levan Chilachava, Shalva Sutiashvili, Beka Saginadze, Otar Giorgadze, Gela Aprasidze, Lasha Khmaladze
Meanwhile, French coach Fabien Galthie has been forced to make two changes to his original squad of 32 for this weekend’s friendly against Wales in Paris. The uncapped duo Baptiste Pesenti (Pau) and Gabin Villière (Toulon) have been called up to replace the injured Cameron Woki and Matthieu Jalibert.
