The Times - UK (2020-11-14)

The Scrum

the times | Saturday November 14 2020 1GG 7

FIXTURES

15 Elliot Daly Club Saracens Age 28 Caps 43

Back from injury and out to cement his place in

the XV. The versatile back with a big boot takes

over from George Furbank Rating 7

14 Jonathan Joseph Bath, 29, 51

Centre is moved to the wing having not got the

chance to do too much against Italy. Great feet,

but it feels like his time is running out Rating 6

13 Ollie Lawrence Worcester, 21, 1

They say that Lawrence is nearly as big as

Manu Tuilagi but quicker and with better hands.

Let’s be reasonable with the hype... Rating 7

12 Henry Slade Exeter, 27, 30

Scoring in the win over Italy earned him a third

trophy in as many weeks but he did not seem to

fit naturally at inside centre Rating 8

11 Jonny May Gloucester, 30, 57

Speedster’s next try will be his 30th, which

would move him to joint-fourth among

England’s all-time tryscorers Rating 7

10 Owen Farrell Saracens, 29, 84

The captain cut a brilliant line for Youngs’s first

try in Rome and kicked well but was rusty. Will

be tested by big Georgians Rating 8

9 Ben Youngs Leicester, 31, 100

The centurion needs more outings like he had in

Rome to justify his place. Only England player

left from this clash nine years ago Rating 6

1 Ellis Genge Leicester, 25, 19

“Baby Rhino” has grown up fast over the past

year and will not back down. The Jones

favourite labels critics as “sausages” Rating 7

2 Jamie George Saracens, 30, 50

Marked his 50th cap with a try and another solid

performance. Catches the eye in the loose but

can prove how good he is at scrum Rating 8

3 Will Stuart Bath, 24, 4

One third of the Bath front row that has been so

impressive at scrum time. First England start but

less said about his hair, the better Rating 7

4 Charlie Ewels Bath, 25, 16

A surprise starter and failed to impose himself

physically against France back in February.

Could nail down long-term place Rating 6

5 Joe Launchbury Wasps, 29, 65

Has had to bide his time but gets a chance with

George Kruis and Courtney Lawes out of the

picture. He is an absolute rock Rating 7

6 Maro Itoje Saracens, 26, 39

Man mountain was his indomitable self against

Italy and moves to 6. He can carry, steal lineouts,

make tackles, turnover — the lot Rating 9

7 Jack Willis Wasps, 23, 0

Ever seen a 6ft 3in, 17st man do the splits? The

Premiership player of the year is a freak, a

turnover machine. He is exciting Rating 8

8 Billy Vunipola Saracens, 28, 52

Nowhere near his best but a robust ball-carrying

display against the Italians certainly helped to

blow the cobwebs away Rating 7

TOTAL 108

REPLACEMENTS

Tom Dunn Bath, 28, 1 Mako Vunipola Saracens, 29, 60

Kyle Sinckler Bristol, 27, 36 Ben Earl Bristol, 22, 4

Tom Curry Sale, 22, 24 Dan Robson Wasps, 28, 3

Max Malins Bristol, 23, 0 Joe Marchant Harlequins, 24, 3

15 Lasha Khmaladze Batumi, 32, 83

Can cover fly half so will operate as an extra

playmaker. Plenty of experience having been

to three World Cups Rating 5

14 Akaki Tabutsadze Lelo Saracens, 23, 3

The scrum-capped sprinter scored Georgia’s

only try in the heavy defeat by Scotland. No one

has more than his five tries in 2020 Rating 6

13 Giorgi Kveseladze RC Armazi Marneuli, 23, 25

Was the only player to play in every minute

(320) of Georgia’s World Cup campaign and

scored in the win against Uruguay Rating 5

12 Merab Sharikadze Unattached, 27, 67

A school reunion for the captain against former

Hartpury College class-mate Genge. Has started

65 of his 67 caps Rating 5

11 Sandro Svanidze RC Jiki, 22, 0

England won’t fancy stopping this forward-

shaped wing — all 6ft 5in, 15st 10lb of him. Can

also play 13 and sniff out an intercept Rating 5

10 Tedo Abzhandadze Brive, 21, 16

Georgia have high hopes that this talented

prospect is the long-term answer to their

playmaking struggles Rating 5

9 Gela Aprasidze Montpellier, 22, 26

The small man has huge amounts of speed, a

dummy that will break ankles and can land

long-range penalties Rating 6

1 Mikheil Nariashvili Montpellier, 30, 62

Played against England for the Barbarians in

2018. He made a match-topping 19 tackles
      against Scotland. Scarily strong prop Rating 7

2 Shalva Mamukashvili Leicester, 30, 75

New Leicester man would make any lumberjack

proud with his dense beard. Has been at Sale,

Glasgow, Toulon and Enisei Rating 7

3 Beka Gigashvili Toulon, 28, 14

Rare talent who can operate across the front

row, and is a cracking scrummager. Needs to up

his facial hair game though Rating 7

4 Lasha Jaiani Unattached, 22, 2

The 6ft 6in juggernaut does not have a club

because he has just finished at the University

of Exeter Rating 4

5 Grigor Kerdikoshvili Lelo Saracens, 26, 2

The 6ft 4in, 16st 11lb man is built like a WWE

champion and learnt his rugby education with

the United States Air Force Academy Rating 5

6 Beka Saginadze Aurillac, 22, 14

Trying to fill the shoes of the legendary Mamuka

Gorgodze. Was rotated a lot at the World Cup

but is handy in the lineout Rating 6

7 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili Tbilisi Caucasians, 29, 57

Back in the side after missing out against

Scotland. Hard to stop once he gets going due

to his hulking power Rating 6

8 Beka Gorgadze Bordeaux, 24, 28

The man Graham Rowntree calls “Rock Star”.

Lauded for his leadership and technical ability,

expect him to pop up out wide Rating 7

TOTAL 86

REPLACEMENTS Jaba Bregvadze Sunwolves, 33, 59 Guram

Gogichashvili Racing 92, 22, 15 Lekso Kaulashvili Bordeaux,

28, 1 Otar Giorgadze Brive, 24, 26 Tornike Jalagonia Biarritz,

21, 1 Vasil Lobzhanidze Brive, 24, 52 Demur Tapladze Lelo

Saracens, 20, 0 Sandro Todua Lelo Saracens, 33, 86

PLAYER RANKINGS

ENGLAND GEORGIA

BY MATT COTTON

Australia

Georgia

Australia

Change in height

and leg position

o today’s Twickenham clash

ROUND ONE

Yesterday

Ireland 32 Wales 9

Today, 14th November

Italy v Scotland, 12.45pm

England v Georgia, 3pm

Tomorrow, 15th November

Cancelled: France v Fiji

ROUND TWO

Saturday, 21st November

Italy v Fiji, 12.45pm,

England v Ireland, 3pm,

Wales v Georgia, 5.15pm,

Sunday, 22nd November

Scotland v France, 3.15pm

ROUND THREE

Saturday, 28th November

Scotland v Fiji, 1.45pm,

Wales v England, 4pm,

France v Italy, 8.10pm,

Sunday, 29th November

Ireland v Georgia, 2pm,

FINALS

Saturday, 5th December

Georgia v TBC, 12pm

Ireland v TBC, 2.15pm,

Wales v TBC, 4.45pm

Sunday, 6th December

England v TBC, 2pm,

All games on Amazon Prime, Ireland

games also on Channel 4