Georgia set to win ultimate Pool C battle as Fiji coach pays ‘ultimate respect’
Of all the pools at the World Cup, the hardest to call is Pool C with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Georgia all vying to qualify for the quarter-finals, and with Portugal also making up the quintet.
But there is one battle that Georgia have already come out on top in, and are unlikely to be challenged by anyone at the entire World Cup, let alone Pool C. That is the moustache contest.
In a pool that contains Australia’s moustachioed scrum-half Nic White, Georgia’s Mikheil Gachechiladze blows the Wallaby out of the water with his bushy twizzled masterpiece. In fact, his moustache is so impressive that it even evoked a response from Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui.
After announcing their World Cup squad on Monday with an image of each player in a video, Raiwalui described Gachechiladze’s facial har as “sensational” on X, saying he has “ultimate respect”.
Take a look:
Sensational, ultimate respect… pic.twitter.com/YQpR0f28pR
— Simon Raiwalui (@SimonRaiwalui) August 28, 2023
Georgia World Cup Squad
Forwards: Nika Abuladze, Beka Gigashvili, Guram Gogichashvili, Luka Japaridze, Mikheil Nariashvili, Guram Papidze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Luka Nioradze, Tengiz Zamtaradze, Vladimer Chachanidze, Nodar Cheishvili, Lasha Jaiani, Konstantine Mikautadze, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Beka Gorgadze, Luka Ivanishvili, Tornike Jalagonia, Beka Saginadze, Giorgi Tsutskiridze.
Backs: Gela Aprasidze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tengiz Peranidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze, Aleksandre Todua, Merab Sharikadze, Tornike Kakhoidze, Modebadze Mirian, Akaki Tabutsadze, Davit Niniashvili, Lasha Khmaladze, Giorgi Kveseladze.
After naming his squad, head coach Levan Maisashvili said: “We have been observing these rugby players for a long time, we know their abilities well, and I believe that the best 33 have been selected at this stage.”
