After waiting patiently and watching the Rugby World Cup contenders get their campaigns underway this weekend, Wales finally fire into action on Monday, against Milton Haig’s Georgia.
There is plenty of excitement around the Welsh opener, not least by thousands of Japanese fans who seem to have taken a liking to Warren Gatland’s men, who will be looking for solid beginnings and a bonus-point win.
Gatland has opted for a talent-filled XV to take on the robust Georgians – the 2019 Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam champions looking to flex their muscles.
Blindside flanker Aaron Wainwright featured in all five of those Championship matches and has now earned himself a starting spot thanks to a string of excellent performances, he’s joined in a talented back row also featuring No.8 Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones will win his 129th Welsh cap, equalling Gethin Jenkins’ record, in his fourth World Cup.
Monday September 23, City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota, 19:15 local (11:15 BST, 10:15 GMT)
WHAT THEY SAID
Wales head coach Warren Gatland: “With Georgia, we know how strong they are up front and their scrum is a weapon. We’ve got to be competent at scrum time.
“We’ve been very impressed with the way Wyn Jones has scrummaged in training and it’s one of his strengths.
“It’s important for us and it’s been a real focus for us, particularly this week.”
Georgia head coach Milton Haig: “What we’ve done is go for a mix of both experience and youth. We’ve been playing these (younger) players for the past two years purely for the fact that when we got to this World Cup they would have double-digit numbers of caps to their name.
“In 2015, I said if we didn’t come to 2019 with a bit more ‘X factor’ that I would shoot myself, and thankfully I don’t have to do that!”
Key battle – Justin Tipuric vs Mamuka Gorgodze
At openside on Monday we’re presented with a fascinating battle between the fleet-footed, all-court Tipuric and Georgian man mountain Mamuka Gorgodze.
Ospreys man Tipuric, still just 30, has been one of the best in the business for so long now, earning 67 caps, and will look to stand out over the ball or providing the link play.
Meanwhile Gorgodze, 35, has come out of retirement for this one after two years – persuaded by the president of Georgia – and will use all of his considerable brute strength and experience from playing at Toulon to disrupt Wales wherever he can.
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Match notes
Teams
Wales: 15. Liam Williams, 14. George North, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Hadleigh Parkes, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Gareth Davies, 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Jake Ball, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 6. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Josh Navidi
Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Aaron Shingler, 20. Ross Moriarty, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Rhys Patchell, 23. Leigh Halfpenny
Georgia: 15. Soso Matiashvili, 14. Miriani Modebadze, 13. David Kacharava, 12. Tamaz Mchedlidze, 11. Giorgi Kveseladze, 10. Tedo Abzhandadze, 9. Vasil Lobzhanidze, 1. Mikheil Nariashvili (captain), 2. Shalva Mamukashvili, 3. Beka Gigashvili, 4. Giorgi Nemsadze, 5. Konstantine Mikautadze, 6. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 7. Mamuka Gorgodze, 8. Beka Gorgadze.
Replacements: 16. Jaba Bregvadze, 17. Guram Gogichashvili, 18. Levan Chilachava, 19. Shalva Sutiashvili, 20. Beka Saginadze, 21. Otari Giorgadze, 22. Gela Aprasidze, 23. Lasha Khmaladze
