U,S,A, v, Georgia - Churchill Cup

Okay, this is silly.  The U.S. is backed as low as $1.07 here.  Yeah, I know, the U.S. shouldn't be $1.07 against anyone, including the Cook Islands, Jersey, or Antarctica.  Spread is 17.

However, the Georgians are at $7.00 and I need someone to talk me out of this.  Georgians have gotten some players back from Europe, but so have the Americans, including speedster and try of the World Cup winner Ngwenya.

The strength of the Georgians is their tactical kicking.  They are very adept at kicking the ball out of trouble and making the opposition play a long field.  Their #15 has the strongest leg in the world and for him to punt it 70 metres is no issue.  He continually surprised the Pumas and Irish at the World Cup in '07 by bombing the ball 20 metres over and behind the opposing fullback.

If the Georgians can keep the American backline quiet, they might be able to control the field possession and drop goal us to death.

Of course, they are the deserved underdogs here, but $7.00?!?!!?!  SEVEN DOLLARS?!

Ummmm.......

And did I mention the Georgians have some fast blokes and they play on line deception......something the Americans do not adjust to very well.

The Georgians' strengths play right into the American weaknesses.

Anyone else here have a thought about this?  I'd take the +17 with Georgia for sure, but not interested in that.  Looking to sniff the $7.00.

Anyone?

USA
1 Matekitonga Moeakiola (Park City Haggis)
2 Chris Biller (California)
3 Shawn Pittman (Bayside RFC)
4 Louis Stanfill (New York Athletic Club)
5 John Van Der Giessen (Denver Barbarians)
6 J.J. Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town)
7 Todd Clever (capt, Lions)
8 Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians)
9 Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC)
10 Mike Hercus (Sunshine Coast Stingrays)
11 Colin Hawley (California)*
12 Salesi Sika (Castres)
13 Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma)
14 Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympic)
15 Chris Wyles (Saracens FC)
Replacements
16 Joe Welch (Belmont Shore)
17 Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie RFC)
18 Hayden Smith (Saracens FC)
19 Alec Parker (Aspen)
20 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club)
21 Nese Malifa (Belmont Shore RFC)
22 Alipate Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers)

Georgia
1 David Dadunashvili (Perigaux)
2 Iuri Natriashvili (Constanca Farulcroman)
3 Giorgi Jgenti (Oyonnax)
4 Giorgi Nemsadze (Domont)
5 Rati Urushadze (Enisei-STM)
6 Grigol Labadze (capt, Toulon)
7 Simon Maisuradze (Clermont-Ferrand ASM)
8 Dimitri Basilaia (Morlaàs)
9 Giorgi Rokhvadze (AIA)
10 Lasha Malaguradze (Beziers)
11 Irakli Machkhaneli (Agen)
12 Revaz Gigauri (Massy)
13 Davit Kacharava (Enisei-STM)
14 Aleksander Todua (Lelo)
15 Merab Kvirikashvili (Massy)
Replacements
16 Giorgi Lomgadze (Unattached)
17 Vasil Kakovin (Universteti)
18 Levan Datunashvili (Stade Aurillac)
19 Irakli Gundishvili (Unattached)
20 Zviad Maisuradze (Lokomotivi)
21 Lekso Gugava (Lokomotivi)
22 Teimuraz Sokhadze (Unattached)

Georgians play off of their opponent's mistakes instead of trying to make their own breaks.  In the meanwhile, they kick the crap out of the ball and try to keep you in your own end, much like USA Soccer did in the early to mid-90's.

Thing is, the USA makes enough mistakes for the Georgians to pounce on.  And the kicking game should stun the Americans.

Nywenga though could win the whole thing on his own.

Hmmm...

Where is this game being played HOH?

Denver.  Home of some of the Eagles.

DENVER Barbarians John Van Der Giessen and Nic Johnson can propel USA Eagles up the world rankings when they play Georgia in Sunday's Churchill Cup Test at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (4.45pm MST).

Van Der Giessen lines up at lock and Johnson at No 8 on their home ground while Takudzwa Ngwenya and Salesi Sika have both returned from playing overseas in France.

The game is not only a competition for the Churchill Cup Bowl (fifth and sixth place), but also carries international significance as it is a Test that could affect the Eagles' 19th place ranking against the Georgians' 15th.

"Georgia marks our fifth match in three weeks," said O'Sullivan, "Our challenge is trying to balance getting the training in that we need with the fact that we are starting to see a bit of fatigue.

"Again we've gotten a couple new players who have joined the squad from overseas, which have allowed for a few changes. We continue to narrow down the squad for the upcoming IRB Rugby World Cup qualifier match. With only one match to go, we are closing in on what it should be."

The backline will feature one of the most experienced line-ups this season for the USA, as Sika, Ngwenya, Paul Emerick, and Chris Wyles all look to start.

Colin Hawley joins the line at wing, as the only uncapped player on the squad, but even he has seen time in both earlier Churchill matches against the Argentina Jaguars and the England Saxons. Tim Usasz and Mike Hercus will play scrumhalf and flyhalf, respectively, while Mike Petri and Valenese Malifa will both look for time off the bench.

In the front row, Matekitonga Moeakiola is joined by Chris Biller and Shawn Pittman, while Louis Stanfill and Denver's Van Der Giessen, will both start at lock.

Captain Todd Clever will flank with J.J. Gagiano, while another Denver resident, Johnson, will start at No 8.

Joe Welch, Mike MacDonald and Hayden Smith are all listed as forward replacements for the U.S. squad, while Alipate Tuilevuka will wear No. 22.

Standing in the Eagles' way is the No. 15 internationally-ranked Georgia team, which has made great strides in its Churchill Cup debut against Canada and Ireland A

Georgia Head Coach Tim Lane said: "Our performance in the first game was disappointing, but we improved a lot in the second. It's been a great experience for us to play teams that are above us and below us (in the rankings)."

"We look forward to facing the U.S. on Sunday - they're a tough team at the breakdown and play hard defense."

For the Bowl match-up versus the USA, Lane's starting 15 features several switches from the team's last outing versus Ireland A and instead reverts back to the heart of his line-up from the team's first Churchill Cup flight against Canada.

David Dadunashvili (Perigaux) and Giorgi Jgenti (Oyonnax) lead the pack at loosehead and tighthead prop, respectively, while Iuri Natriashvilli reclaims his spot at hooker.

In the second row, Giorgi Nemsadze (Domont) makes the move to No. 4 and Rati Urushadze (Enisei-STM) takes back his original starting role at No. 5. Captain Grigol Labadze (Toulon) holds steady at blindside flanker, and he is joined by Simon Maisuradze (Clermont-Ferrand ASM).

Dimitri Basilaia (Morlaàs) replaces Zviad Maisuradze (Lokomotivi) at No. 8.

The backline showcases almost entirely the same talent showcased in Georgia's meeting versus Canada, with the exception of the left wing, where Irakli Machkhaneli gets his first start of the tournament.

"It's obviously a great experience for our team to play against countries we haven't met previously. It's been a great tournament for the younger players and veterans alike to gain more experience," said Georgia captain Grigol Labadze.

Match delayed 35 minutes because the Georgian uniforms went missing!  HAHAHAHA!

Just like Portugal a few years back!

WTF?!

They found them though and it's game on!

Didn't wager on it, btw.  But very interested to see how this plays out.

Updates?

Yanks can cover the -17    !!!!!!!!


                                              



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