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Brian O'Driscoll has identified the semi-pro Georgia player he wants to see much more of
By Josh Raisey
Brian O’Driscoll has called on European clubs to go after Georgia centre Giorgi Kveseladze following his standout performance against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday. The 23-year-old produced a stunning solo try in the first half of the Autumn Nations Cup match in Dublin and was effective across the 80 minutes in stultifying the Irish backline from gathering any fluidity or momentum.
After a performance like that, there was no one better to receive a seal of approval from than the ex-Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions great.
Indeed, Kveseladze's try was redolent of O’Driscoll’s legendary score for the Lions in 2001, as both players left a string of defenders in their wake.
The Irishman shared this message on Twitter: “If I was a European club looking for a centre next year (contract dependent) I’d be having a serious look at Giorgi Kveseladze (13) for Georgia on Saturday. Besides the excellent try, he really gets the defensive part of his game too. Abrasive and hard working. Could have been MOTM.”
The Georgian midfielder's excellent work didn't go unnoticed elsewhere as he was voted Autumn Nations Cup player of the round, securing 88.8 per cent of votes in an online poll following a match where Ireland's winning margin was limited to 13 points, 23-10.
His popularity is an endorsement of the Autumn Nations Cup's aim to not only allow the likes of Georgia and Fiji to prove what they are capable of against top opposition but for their individual players to showcase their talent. Although they succumbed to their third loss of the tournament, there were undoubted signs of improvement from Georgia as it was by no means a routine victory for Ireland.
After drawing attention to himself in Dublin, the midfielder from the semi-professional RC Armazi Marneuli club in Georgia now has a chance against Fiji this Saturday at Murrayfield to impress again, as do his teammates.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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