Serbia v Georgia

[yakstorm]

Well this article has been put up, so why not use it to kick start conversation on the match....considering nothing else has been mentioned on it

RLWC Qualifier - Serbia v Georgia
http://www.leaguenet.com.au/index.php?id=126&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=738&tx_ttnews[backPid]=59&cHash=9cd9bb9915
Game Two of the European Nations Qualification Tournament for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup kicks off this Saturday when Serbia plays hosts to Georgia in Belgrade.


In what will only be the second encounter between the two nations, Serbia will be looking to improve upon their result from last year which saw them leave Dynamo Stadium in Tiblisi 44 – 12 runners up.

Serbia’s squad is expected to be similar to the team that recently took on the touring English Lionhearts (made up of players from the Rugby League Conference and National League III in the United Kingdom) in April, whilst Georgia, will again be an unknown quantity right up till kick off.

The significant preparation Serbia have taken in the lead up to the clash, including hosting the Lionhearts and a number of the top Russian Rugby League clubs will make them difficult opponents for the Georgians, who have not played an international since last years European Nations Cup, however with greater player depth and size, it will be unlikely that the visitors wont leave victorious.

Georgia and Serbia join Russia and Holland in the Qualification tournament, in which the two highest placed nations at the end of the round-robin competition will join Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Lebanon in the main European Qualification event to be held later this year.

 

[ali]

They must have written that article themselves, as there is nothing on the RLEF website yet. Also, strangely, the Georgian website that used to contain regular articles, hasn't been updated since last year.

 

[screeny]

Really? Wow. What RL is attempting with these qualifiers is damned ambitious. Just getting to the end of them without any glitches would be a triumph.....

 

[ali]

EUROPEAN PRELIMINARY QUALIFYING GROUP – MATCH TWO

The second match on the road to the Rugby League World Cup finals in Australasia takes place in Belgrade on Saturday evening when Serbia hosts Georgia.

The Serbs have named an initial 29 man squad as a result of their recent warm up matches against the touring England Lionhearts and include five players who are currently playing in England.

Dalibor Vukanovic, Zoran Pesic and Soni Radovanovic are with Warrington Wizards while Danny Susnic is from their LHF Healthplan National League 3 rivals Huddersfield Underbank Rangers.

Hooker Luke Simeunovic is plying his trade at Halifax while David Milovanovic has paid his own fare over from Penrith in Australia to represent his native country and Hoselito Radic travelled from French side Cannes.

The full Serbian squad is:
1. Dalibor Vukanovic - Warrington Wizards NL3 - England
2. Nemanja Popsogorovic - RLC Pancevo Warriors - Serbia
3. David Milovanovic - Blacktown St Pats, Penrith - Australia
4. Dimitris Dajc - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
5. Mate Granic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
6. Jovan Vujosevic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
7. Radoslav Novakovic (cap.) - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 Serbia
8. Zoran Pesic - Warrington Wizards NL3 - England
9. Igor Minevski - RLC Vojvodina Rams 13 - Serbia
10. Darko Nerandzic - RLC Pancevo Warriors - Serbia
11. Marko Jankovic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
12. Milan Djordjevic - RLC Dorcol Spiders - Serbia
13. Vukasin Popovic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
14. Soni Radovanovic - Warrinton Wizards NL3 - England
15. Marko Zebeljan - RLC Vojvodina Rams 13 - Serbia
16. Mario Milosavljevic - RLC Vojvodina Rams 13 - Serbia
17. Haris Dajc - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
18. Radovan Valcic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
19. Nemanja Djordjevic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
20. Milos Milinkovic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
21. Igor Kesegi - RLC Vojvodina Rams 13 - Serbia
22. Nenad Tomic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
23. Zeljko Saric - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
24. Hoselito Radic - RLC Cannes XIII - France
25. Ivan Antic - RLC Dorcol Spiders 13 - Serbia
26. Luke Simeunovic - Halifax NL1 - England
27. Danny Susnic - Huddersfield Underbank Rangers NL3 - England
28. Nemanja Babic - RLC Dorcol Spidesr 13 - Serbia
29. Mladen Jovanovic - RLC Pancevo Warriors - Serbia

Serbian skipper Radoslav Novakovic is eagerly looking forward to the clash. “This game is very important for Serbia and one that we must win it if we wish to go to next stage” he said. “We are now much stronger are much more experienced than last year and that should be our strength plus that we play in Belgrade in front of our passionate crowd”

Favourites Georgia, who made their international debut last year, and beat the Serbians 44-12 in Tbilisi on their way to qualifying for the 2005 European Nations Cup, will travel with a twenty man squad.

It includes second rower Aleksandre Gilauri who was their star performer with two tries the last time the sides met.

13 KARTVELI (Georgia XIII)
1

Namchevadze Manuchar

2

Ashvetia Tornike

3

Chikvaidze Roin

4

Gilauri Aleksandre

5

Qurashvili Beka

6

Sordia George

7

Koberidze Zviad

8

Asatiani George

9
Captain
Kobakhidze Kakhaber

10

Kvirikashvili Merab

11

Mkheidze Nikoloz

12

Sutiashvili Shalva

13

Udesiani Pridon

14

Akhvlediani Vakhtang

15

Khositashvili Giorgi

16

Nemsadze Giorgi

17

Gugava Lekso

18
Coach
Alania Kakhaber

19
Doctor
Turmanidze Teimuraz

20
Chairman
Gorgaslidze Giorgi



In the opening match of the group, Russia beat Holland 40-14 in Hoek

 

[YANTO]

Good luck to both teams and it will be interesting to see how much Serbia have improved.

One small note for you stats guys out there. the game Nederland v Russia was played in Hoek van Holland NOT Hoek which is a town in Zeeland.

 

[ali]

Good luck to both teams and it will be interesting to see how much Serbia have improved.

One small note for you stats guys out there. the game Nederland v Russia was played in Hoek van Holland NOT Hoek which is a town in Zeeland.

Hi mate, I know you haven't played them yet, but any word on what's been happening in Georgia? How are they getting around the 4 team domestic comp rule?

 

[bobbis]

Does anyone know what level of RU those Georgian players have played, would be interesting to know what type of standard players they're using?

 

[jvujosevic]

Georgian's don't have domestic competition. Serbian RL management have info that 9 players from this Georgian team played or play in Georgian RU national team, and 2 of them played in 2003 on RU World Cup in Australia.

 

[ali]

Georgian's don't have domestic competition. Serbian RL management have info that 9 players from this Georgian team played or play in Georgian RU national team, and 2 of them played in 2003 on RU World Cup in Australia.

So I repeat, how are they eligable to be competing for a place in the 2008 world cup if they don't have a domestic comp?????????????????????????

 

[whatsdoing1982]

Any word on the result yet?

 

[T to the T]

Serbia 10 Georgia 45

 

[whatsdoing1982]

Serbia 10 Georgia 45

Thanks. A field goal just to rub things in???

 

[dorcolrugby]

Yes, obviously news are spreading very fast.
Serbia scored two tries by center Nenad Tomic and winger Zoran Pesic and Dalibor Vukanovic added a goal and Georgians scored 8 tries, 6 goals and 1 drop-goal.
So, though the score 45-10 is very similar to last year's score 44-10, the both teams made the same kind of improvment of the game. The match was very physical, there was a lot of spectacular tackles. Serbs made some mistakes at opponent's 4th or 5th attack when Georgians used their rugby union skills and break through our deffence. There was 5-6 long-distance run tries by Georgians converted by their RU-based stand-off who had very impressive kicking series, scoring from touch-line few times.
Crowd of about 500 supported home, but guests had more control in decisive moments and won the crucial battle for qualifying to the next round of WC preliminaries.
We are a little beat disappointed with the final score because I think it is not real ratio of our strenght, but I must admit that better team won today and I wish them luck in the clash v Holland and Russia. I hope that me or jvujosevic will post some pictures from Serbia v Georgia match very soon.

Thanks for the interest for this match.

 

[bobbis]

Well done Georgia seem to be a strong team but I think Russia will get the better of them, don't think theyll make the WC but I think theyll smash Holland, good crowd too.

 

[ali]

Yes, obviously news are spreading very fast.
Serbia scored two tries by center Nenad Tomic and winger Zoran Pesic and Dalibor Vukanovic added a goal and Georgians scored 8 tries, 6 goals and 1 drop-goal.
So, though the score 45-10 is very similar to last year's score 44-10, the both teams made the same kind of improvment of the game. The match was very physical, there was a lot of spectacular tackles. Serbs made some mistakes at opponent's 4th or 5th attack when Georgians used their rugby union skills and break through our deffence. There was 5-6 long-distance run tries by Georgians converted by their RU-based stand-off who had very impressive kicking series, scoring from touch-line few times.
Crowd of about 500 supported home, but guests had more control in decisive moments and won the crucial battle for qualifying to the next round of WC preliminaries.
We are a little beat disappointed with the final score because I think it is not real ratio of our strenght, but I must admit that better team won today and I wish them luck in the clash v Holland and Russia. I hope that me or jvujosevic will post some pictures from Serbia v Georgia match very soon.

Thanks for the interest for this match.

Bad luck! Thanks for the report.

 

[Kurt Angle]

Thanks again dorcolrugby.

You guys are champions in my eyes.

 

[dorcolrugby]

This match was the first match for Serbia with new outfit, Here are two pictures from the game:

 

[VukPopovic]

I just love the design. Might have to do something with the fact that I am Serbian...

what everybody else thinks?

 

[pcpp]

Thanks. A field goal just to rub things in???

19-6 at Half Time, so the field goal was a good move for the Georgians.

 

[thommo4pm]

The Serbian jersey/outfit does look pretty good.
Well done to both teams for taking part in the match, and both outfits look pretty good.