Georgia should be on World Rugby’s mind, says defiant coach
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Japan's Jone Naikabula scores a try during the international rugby Test match between Japan and Georgia on July 13, 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY – Emboldened Georgia made the rugby world sit up and take notice by beating Eddie Jones’ Japan in Sendai last week, and now hope to take one of their biggest scalps when they meet Australia in Sydney on July 20.
An upset of the two-time World Cup-winning Wallabies would rank among the finest wins by the Georgian team, who pine for a seat at the top table of European rugby but have been shut out by the game’s established powers.
“We’ve come here to win. We’ve not come here to make the numbers up or keep the score down, so we’ve got to go full throttle and have a go,” Georgia coach Richard Cockerill, the former England hooker, told Australian media.
“Every time we win against a team above us, then that gives us credibility for us to keep going to World Rugby to say, ‘Well look, we need to fit somewhere’.”
For the moment, Georgia fit only into Rugby Europe’s second tier, denied a spot in the top-tier Six Nations competition despite repeated requests to join it.
They have beaten Six Nations sides Italy and Wales in recent years and lie 12th in the global rankings, only one spot lower than the struggling Welsh and above Samoa (13) and Japan (14).
Yet it will be Japan and 10th-ranked Fiji joining a new 12-team tournament starting in 2026 which includes the Six Nations sides and the Rugby Championship nations – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
“We’re at that point now where we’re sort of too good for Rugby Europe, but no one seems to want to make space for us somewhere else,” added Cockerill.
“We’re a rugby nation and we need some oxygen to keep going. But we’re sort of an inconvenience (to others), aren’t we?
“That’s how we’re getting treated.”
Though Georgia were well handled by Australia at the 2023 World Cup, falling 35-15, they may never have a better chance to beat the hosts.
Bundled out of the World Cup’s group stage for the first time ever in France, world No. 9 Australia are still finding their feet under new coach Joe Schmidt.
The Wallabies swept their two-Test home series against Wales but neither of the wins in Sydney and Melbourne were convincing victories.
Schmidt has made sweeping changes to his match-day squad for Georgia’s visit at Sydney Football Stadium, a move seen as risky by the home media.
Cockerill is not buying that narrative that Australia are weakened, though, unless the Wallabies get complacent.
“They’re a good side. I don’t care what’s happened to Australia in the last 12 months or so,” he said.
“If we get it right and you don’t treat us with the respect that you should, you could lose.” REUTERS
