GEORGIA CAPTAIN Merab Sharikadze insists Ireland remain one of the world’s best teams.
Ireland have suffered a succession of defeats against elite opposition, losing twice to England and once to France since last year’s World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of New Zealand.
Sharikadze will lead his country out in Dublin tomorrow afternoon bidding to spring an upset against Andy Farrell’s side in the Autumn Nations Cup.
The 27-year-old believes Ireland – ranked fifth in the world – should be considered among rugby’s leading nations, citing contrasting recent results between New Zealand and Argentina to illustrate his point.
“I would say that difference is very close,” Sharikadze said of the gap between Ireland and higher-ranked sides.
“If you take today’s example, we’ve seen Argentina beat New Zealand two weeks ago and today they lost, so you can’t really tell who is a better team. It’s decided in the game day.
“One day Ireland will win and the following week the opposition will win.
“I would say Ireland is one of the top teams in the world, and you cannot really say if they are first or fifth. It depends on the game day.”
Georgia have lost each of their previous four meetings with Ireland and are yet to score a point in the Autumn Nations Cup.
The Lelos went down 18-0 to Wales last weekend, following a 40-0 drubbing against England.
Head coach Levan Maisashvili has made six changes to the team beaten in Llanelli, with Soso Matiashvili and Tamaz Mchedlidze returning to the backline and Shalva Mamukashvili, Nodar Cheishvili, Lasha Jaiani and Tornike Jalagonia coming into the forward pack.
Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey pick up the pieces — all of them — after Ireland’s Twickenham defeat:
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Connacht to tear up the rulebook with a two score win!
A great season but this will be one step too far.
Leinster’s frontrow and front row subs will just be too strong. Added to sexton’s current form and Connacht’s biggest strengths ( their centres mainly bundee Aki coming up against Teo and Ringrose ) this will be a fairly even battle and nullify each other.
Leinster by 7
Hopefully so. Nervous about this one…
Red thumbers are out in force.
Chris, Spot on! Sexton to steady the ship and see us though. If we win, some recognition that Leinster are the top province is more than jusitified.
It might me cool if the 42 did a straw poll to see who would make a combined starting fifteenth of Connacht and Leinster
from the two teams that will be announced, Would be interested to see what the majority think.
Also would be cool to do a league version too, that would be some team, people underestimate this league.
If the majority took the poll it wouldn’t have any Leinster players. Not on merit, but just because.
Tom my side would be
1. McGrath 2. Cronin 3. Ross
4. Toner 5. Muldoon
6. Ruddock ,7 Murphy 8. Heaslip
9. Marmion 10. Sexton
11 Healy 12 Aki 13 Teo 14 Isa
15 henshaw
Sorry change that Ultan D in secondrow. Excuse the brain fart
Cronin over Tom McCartney? Jordi Murphy over Jake Heenan? Rhys Ruddock over Muldoon? Ahhhhh heeeeyyyooorrrr… I like your backline though!
Beat me to it Liam. Swap those three and it looks alright. I’d take Heenan or McKeon over Murphy any day.
Great analysis piece