Haig blooding youngsters ahead of Cardiff

Mirian Modebadze starts on the wing and Giorgi Kveseladze is one of the replacements. In addition, 2016 Under 20 graduate Giorgi Koshadze, who played in the 10-9 defeat to Wales in Tbilisi, is on the other wing.

The Lelos beat Canada 13-0 in Calgary six months ago and Haig has made five changes, one positional, to the team that won last time out. The Canadians were beaten in Vancouver last weekend by the New Zealand Maoris.

Aurillac centre Merab Sharikadze captains the side and will form a midfield partnership with Enisei-STM veteran David Kacharava that boasts 156 caps and 32 Test tries. Up front, there is plenty of top-flight experience with no fewer than four Top 14 players and one from the English Premiership.

It is a side that totals 587 caps, of which 342 caps are in the forwards and 245 caps in the backs, and they will go into the game as firm favourites. Then they will head to Wales seeking to cause the biggest upset in their history.

Georgia (v Canada): Soso Matiashvili (Akademia Tbilisi); Giorgi Koshadze (Kharebi Rustavi), David Kacharava (Enisei-STM), Merab Sharikadze (Aurillac, captain), Mirian Modebadze (Aia Kutaisi); Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Saracens), Vasil Lobzhanidze (Brive); Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier), Jaba Bregvadze (Krasny Yar), Levan Chilachava (Toulon), Kote Mikautadze (Montpellier), Giorgi Nemsadze (Bristol), Lasha Lomidze (London Irish), Vito Kolelishvili (Clermont Auvergne), Beka Bitsadze (Narbonne)
Reps: Shalva Mamukashvili (Carcassonne), Kakha Asieshvili (Brive), Soso Bekoshvili (Brive), Giorgi Chkhaidze (Nice), Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (Batumi), Giorgi Begadze (Lokomotivi Tbilisi), Revaz Jintchvelashvili (Armazi Marneuli), Giorgi Kveseladze (Armazi Marneuli)

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