Wales to win... but expect the unexpected from Georgians
RUGBY SENSE FROM THE S4C PUNDIT
IMUST admit that I’m not sure what to expect from Georgia this weekend. Obviously, they are likely to bring a formidable scrum and an organised driving lineout with them to the Principality Stadium.
Results from the 2015 World Cup showed that they have certainly improved, beating Tonga and Namibia. The stats from the tournament also supported the stereotypical idea we have of this Eastern European side being total power and no subtlety.
They scored their tries from setpiece, they passed the ball fewer times than almost any other side and had few phases of three or more passes.
However, the impression I had of them was a far more enlightened side. With the influence of most of their players performing outside Georgia, they had more to offer than merely a forward onslaught.
Their full-back Soso Matiashvili scored a solo try against Canada at the weekend which was so good it went viral.
So, Wales need to be on their guard this weekend for what is an audition for the Georgians as they push their case for inclusion in the Six Nations. A competitive performance would help that cause. A win would make that a probability.
It is also an opportunity for some of their players to put themselves in the shop window for professional contracts. This may be a careerchanging game for a Georgian who catches the eye and goes on to get a contract in France or England.
Motivation, therefore, will not be a problem for the visitors on Saturday and Wales must be alert to the fact that their opponents are playing for an awful lot more than a game of rugby.
Don’t get me wrong, dealing with their forward strength will still be the priority.
If Wales are to continue to pursue the more expansive style, then a solid platform does make things a lot easier.
The pressure will be on the frontrow in particular to shore up the scrum, in attack and defence, because Georgia will see the setpiece as a way of gaining penalties, earning points and disrupting Wales’ creativity.
The selection of Seb Davies at No.8 is exciting and unexpected. He looks a real athlete with perhaps enough dynamic power to be a reliable ball carrier.
Obviously, he is inexperienced in that position and the concerns would be that this will be highlighted at the back of a retreating scrum.
He is certainly a man for the future, but I expect it’s the lack of No.8 cover which has nudged Warren Gatland into making this decision of starting him in a home Test in an unfamiliar position.
Alongside him in the back-row will be Sam Cross. I have seen him play for the Ospreys on each his two appearances. He looked a runner rather than a fetcher, but I find it hard to come to a conclusion on a player in such a short period of time.
He must have caught Gatland’s eye for some reason and I hope to see what that was on Saturday.
I am glad to see Liam Williams back at full-back. He should play there against the All Blacks too. It gives Wales so many more attacking threats and will get him into the game far more frequently.
I am also pleased to see Scott Williams back on the field. I think he is a fine player. Not perfect, but he has the aptitude to be a regular centre at international level. He will be itching to prove a point this weekend.
Wales are sure to want to play fast and loose against Georgia. It comes with risk and, as we saw against the Wallabies, there will be errors.
But we cannot turn back from this style. In picking eight Scarlets for that game, Gatland ensured that the majority of his team were comfortable with that game plan.
The worry is that these players picked for Georgia are unfamiliar with the style, unfamiliar with each other and having to learn this pattern under huge pressure.
However, trying to play in a structured and pre-determined way will be meat and drink to Georgia.
So, hopefully there will be few memorable tries to take from this game that we can put to the list of famous tries scored by Wales in the past. S4C are holding a poll of the greatest try scored for Wales in the Five/Six Nations or autumn internationals.
It would be great to see some running rugby again this Saturday. My guess is we will see some of that, but not before a tough battle with the proud Georgians.
I think Wales will win by 20 points.
Gwyn Jones is a member of S4C’s Clwb Rygbi presentation team. Clwb Rygbi will have coverage of every Wales match during the Autumn Internationals. Next up is Wales v Georgia from 2pm this Saturday on S4C, kick-off 2.30pm.
Clwb Rygbi has also launched a poll to find the nation’s favourite Wales try. To watch the nominated tries and cast your vote, visit s4c. cymru/tryforwales.