Hunt For Tier 1 Scalps

It will be a Rugby World Cup shocker if Tier Two nations of Fiji and Georgia qualify for the quarterfinals from Pool C.  

If that is to happen then Tier One nations of Wales and Australia are bundled out in the pool matches.  

In an interview with Rugby Pass, Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili made a bold proclama­tion of what he intends to do.  

"I promise, I will beat one of the Tier One teams during the Rugby World Cup," he said.  

"It may be a very big quote from me, but I want to do that."  

Maisashvili is hungry. He smells blood in the water of the most in­triguing pool of the tournament.  

The Lelos are focused on beating Australia on September 9 in their pool opener, then Portugal, Fiji and Wales, The Flying Fijians 30-22 win over Tier One powerhouse England in Twickenham, last Saturday has so­lidified the Georgians' belief.  

Maisashvili said they had already beaten Wales in Cardiff, last No­vember, which led to the sacking of head coach Wayne Pivac. That was their first away win over a Tier One na­tion.  

Four months earlier, they swept Italy in Tbili­si with a blend of power and panache.  

They led Scotland 6-0 at half-time last Satur­day before the home side found their edge.  

"Inside Georgia, our government is supporting us. They are supporting us as much as possible."  

The wily coach said the focus for the past years was to develop their backline players as they were renowned  

of producing the best front row and back row­ers. "Our forwards were al­ways famous and always played for big clubs," Maisash­vili says.  

"That picture is changing, be­cause now we have very good backs who play in Top 14 teams.  

"We have great potential. Why wasn't it this way before? Because majority of our players who played in France, were either props or back-rows.  

"We have to have a varied ap­proach. Our DNA, still, is wres­tling, collisions, maul, scrum.  

"We are developing. We don't want to lose our ambition and strengths, but we need to use our quick play and adapt to the new trends of rugby."  

The Georgians play the Flying Fijians on October 1. 

Story By: leonec@fijisun.com.fj