Georgia make 11 changes for Ireland game

Georgia’s punishing schedule has prompted coach Malkhaz Cheishvili to make 11 changes for Saturday’s Pool D clash with Ireland.

Auch lock Ilia Zedginidze leads the side and is one of only four survivors from the team which troubled Argentina before succumbing to a 33-3 defeat on Tuesday night.

Zedginidze continues his second row partnership with Mamuka Gorgodze, the Montpellier forward who will be winning his 25th cap at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Massy’s Giorgi Chkhaidze resumes his back row duties, although he has been switched from blindside flanker to number eight.

Pau fly-half Merab Kvirikashvili, who impressed against the Pumas, is the only three-quarter to have retained his place in the team.

Georgia are being hampered by a fixture list that demands they face two of the world’s top six teams within five days.

Ireland, who sit seven places higher in the world rankings, complete a gruelling programme that Cheishvili has confirmed shaped his team selection.

“The schedule is very uncomfortable for us and we didn’t choose it,” he said.

“But we have prepared for this by planning to use our squad as much as possible.

“It’s difficult but there is nothing we can do about it, we have to face the challenge.

“We don’t see it like the bigger teams get treated better than the smaller ones, it’s just the way it.”