Georgia could get their wish to take on Wales
A CLASH between Wales and Georgia could now be in the pipeline after the Georgians publicly challenged Warren Gatland’s Wooden Spoonists to an unofficial Six Nations play-off.
WRU executive director of rugby Nigel Walker told The Welsh Rugby podcast he expected conversations to take place in the coming days.
He said: “More generally there is a debate within the rugby family about the support of so called tier two nations. We are tier one.
“We are more than happy to play our part as a tier one nation and the Nations Cup is part of the solution to that to make sure that tier two nations have an adequate supply of quality competition.
“To move specifically to Georgia, yes they’ve reached out to us. We’ve reached out and I’m sure the two of us will be talking in the coming days and weeks.”
The Lelos made headline news across the world last week when they threw down the gauntlet to Gatland’s side.
While Wales had slumped to a first Six Nations whitewash since 2003, Richard Cockerill’s (pictured) men had just lifted the Rugby European Championship trophy for the seventh year in a row.
With Wales at their lowest point for several years and Georgia desperate for more opportunities at rugby’s top table, Georgian Rugby president Ioseb Tkemaladze invited the Wooden Spoon holders to a showdown.
Wales are yet to announce any autumn fixtures. The last time the two sides met - in last year’s World Cup - Wales ran out relatively comfortable victors, but their last meeting in Cardiff saw the Lelos record a famous victory.
This season, Georgia’s club side Black Lion also defeated the Scarlets in Llanelli in a Challenge Cup clash.
WALES forwards Adam Beard and Gareth Thomas return after Six Nations duty as Ospreys host Lions in the United Rugby Championship today (3.05pm).
Lock Beard’s return prompts James Ratti’s switch to blind-side flanker while Thomas takes over at loose-head from Nicky Smith.
Hooker Sam Parry makes his 150th Ospreys appearance.
Wales centre Owen Watkin returns to the starting XV as Luke Morgan replaces injured Alex Cuthbert on the wing.
Jack Walsh is back at full-back for Ospreys as he takes over from Iestyn Hopkins.
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: “There will be a lot of set-piece pressure coming our way.
“As a South African team, they will pride themselves in that.
“We know we’re in for an arm wrestle, they play a game quite similar style to us in that they have a setpiece presence and when it loosens up, they have the ability to play fast and wide.”
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Evardi Boshoff, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, James Rattim, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Reps: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Max Nagy, Keiran Williams.
Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Marius Louw (CAPT), Edwill van der Merwe, Jordan Hendrikse, Sanele Nohamba, JP Smith, PJ Botha, Conraad van Vuuren, Etienne Oosthuizen, Reinhard Nothnagel, JC Pretorius, Emmanuel Tshituka, Francke Horn Reps: Jaco Visagie, Morgan Naude, Ruan Dreyer, Darrien Landsberg, Izan Esterhuizen, Hanru Sirgel, Morne van den Berg, Stean Pienaar Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
■ SCARLETS make six starting changes from the side that beat Benetton last weekend as they host Glasgow Warriors in Llanelli tonight (7.35pm).
Kieran Hardy will reach 100 Scarlets appearances as he takes over at scrum-half from Gareth Davies.
Hooker Ryan Elias is back after a hamstring strain, alongside recalled props Wyn Jones and Sam Wainwright.
Ioan Lloyd moves to 10 with Ioan Nicholas back at full-back and Eddie James comes into midfield.
Fly-half Dan Jones and wing Ryan Conbeer return to Scarlets’ bench.
After beating Benetton for only their third win of the campaign, Scarlets go into the encounter lying 13th while third-place Glasgow hope to continue where they left off in beating Cardiff last weekend at Scotstoun.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We know Glasgow are a really good side, their DNA is that they want to play with high speed of ball, but they have also developed a forward pack who can also muscle up. It is going to be a big challenge, but we are going in off the back of a good win last weekend and we want to continue that momentum, especially being at home in front of our own fans.”
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies, Eddie James, Tomi Lewis; Ioan Lloyd, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.
Reps: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’connor, Morgan Jones, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Gareth Davies, Dan Jones, Ryan Conbeer. Glasgow Warriors: Josh Mckay, Kyle Rowe, Stafford Mcdowall (CAPT), Tom Jordan, Sebastian Cancelliere, Duncan Weir, George Horne; Nathan Mcbeth, Gregor Hiddleston, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Scott Cummings, Ally Miller, Rory Darge, Henco Venter Reps: Johnny Matthews, Allan Dell, Lucio Sordoni, Sintu Manjezi, Gregor Brown, Thomas Gordon, Jamie Dobie, Duncan Munn
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)