Georgia skipper returns

Georgia coach Claude Saurel has welcomed the return to fitness of World Cup captain Ilia Zedguinidze.

The influential back-row forward will feature in Georgia’s second Pool C game against Samoa at Subiaco Oval on Sunday after recovering from a head injury.

“I am very excited to have the captain back – he is a real leader,” said Saurel.

“He really brings the team together when he is playing, and it was unfortunate that he missed the first game against England.”

Saurel has made changes from the 84-6 England defeat, with full-back Badri Khekhelashvili replacing Besik Khamashuridze, prop Soso Nikolaenko preferred to Alexandre Margvelashvili and lock Vano Nadiradze taking over from Victor Didebulidze.

“It is a very good team,” Saurel added. “There are a lot of players on the team that are at the same level, so the idea is to make sure everyone gets playing time because they are so close.

“In terms of the prop situation, Margvelashvili is better in the scrum, but Nikolaenko is better in open play. I am going to try and counter the Samoan mobility by playing a player who is a little more mobile.”

“And Nadiradze gives us more options in the lineout, and is also a little more mobile.”

Samoa opened their campaign with a 60-13 success against Uruguay, when they scored some sparkling tries from backs and forwards, and will expect to make short work of Georgia before flying to Melbourne and tackling England on Sunday week.

“We didn’t get any reassurances from watching Wednesday’s game against Uruguay,” Saurel said.

“We witnessed what a high level the Samoan players play at. It’s going to be a privilege for all the players and coaches to play a team of such a high calibre.”