England v Georgia RWC 2011( Pool Stages) Pre Match Thoughts
By Kath
September 16 2011
England travel to Dunedin for their next encounter - Georgia
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011
England v Georgia
7am ITV 1 - Dunedin Otago Stadium
Pool B Match
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | TF | TA | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Scotland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
 England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
 Argentina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 Georgia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Romania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
England's quest to top Pool B at this year's Rugby World Cup continues with the next match up against Georgia. As expected Martin Johnson has made changes to the team that faced Argentina nine to be exact. Captain Lewis Moody is back and will gain his 68th cap. Shontayne Hape has replaced Tindall at inside centre.
Empics - Englands Toby Flood in action against Australia at Twickenham,
Toby Flood steps in at fly half replacing Jonny Wilkinson who had what seemed to be the worst performance of his life last week. No doubt we will see Wilkinson play again this rugby world cup but in the meanwhile we look forward to seeing what Toby Flood can do and hope he can get the back line moving at pace.
In come Matt Stevens, Dylan Hartley, Tom Wood, Simon Shaw and Tom Palmer. And deservedly Ben Youngs makes his first start at No 9 after his game saving try score last weekend.
Englands Ben Youngs (left) celebrates scoring a try - Picture Empics
Georgia are ranked 16th in the IRB rankings but we should not expect them to be a push over, this will be another tough game for England. Their Coach Richie Dixon is hoping to match England up front in the scrum, Georgia won 49% of the possession against a strong Scottish pack last week. They will also be hoping to keep England from scoring tries as they did against Scotland.
England however, will be looking to score early and to do this we need quick ball. How many times do we say this, the game of course is very physical but if we could just get that ball away quicker, what a difference that would make. Georgia's previous World Cup encounter with England was an 84-6 loss in 2003. Georgia have come on a long way since then, so we won't be expecting that type of score but surely we can win this match and with some style? Let's hope so for the fans sake at least!
Picture news.o2.co.uk
Just a thought for all of us who will be giving up their Sunday morning lie in and crawling out of bed at 0645 to watch the game. It had better be good.
The betting odds are a Win for England so let's hope the bookies are correct eh?
Once More...........
England:Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Shontayne Hape, Delon Armitage, Toby Flood, Ben Youngs; Matt Stevens, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Simon Shaw, Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, Lewis Moody (Captain), Nick Easter.
Replacements: Steve Thompson, Alex Corbisiero, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Joe Simpson, Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Banahan.
Georgia: Revaz Gigauri, Irakli Machkhaneli, David Kacharava, Tedo Zibzibadze, Alexander Todua, Merab Kvirikashvili, Irakli Abuseridze (Captain); David Khinchagishvili, Jaba Bregvadze, David Kubriashvili, Ilia Zedginidze, Vakhtang Maisuradze, Shalva Sutiashvili, Mamuka Gorgodze, Dimitri Basilaia.
Replacements: Akvsenti Giorgadze, David Zirakashvili, Levan Datunashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Bidzina Samkharadze, Givi Berishvili, Lasha Khmaladze.
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Although having said that England should still win by a comfortable 30+ point margin. I just can't see Georgia lasting a full 80 minutes.
But, as I always say, the primary objective in union is to establish forward dominace. If you can't do that you're stuffed.
DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) - Nick Easter has pulled out of England's Rugby World Cup match against Georgia because of a sore back and has been replaced at No. 8 by James Haskell.
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