Victory a must with a place in finals at stake

The shortcomings of the World Cup qualifiers are manifest in tonight's clash between Romania and Georgia at Lansdowne Road (7.0). Although by far the most competitive match of the three-cornered qualification process which also involves Ireland, it won't generate even a passing interest among the locals.

Those who might have come out of curiosity will instead reach for the remote control and monitor the Irish soccer team's fortunes in Belgrade. Lansdowne Road will offer nothing more than a ridiculously cavernous backdrop. Not that it will matter one whit to the combatants, aware that victory tonight would guarantee a place at next year's World Cup Finals.

For the losers, there is the dubious pleasure of the last chance saloon, i.e., a home and away series with Tonga in the repechage. Romania, by virtue of their superior pedigree in international rugby, will begin as favourites, even allowing for the fact that four of their first choice tight five, have remained in France.

Indeed, there is something of a Gallic flavour to tonight's proceedings in that both teams boast a handful of players who play their club rugby in France. Georgia's most celebrated forward is prop Levan Tsabadze who is attached to Narbonne, conquerors of Connacht in the European Shield this season.

Four other members of the team play with Aurillac. The Georgians fielded largely a second string XV against Ireland, a fact reflected in the 11 changes that they have made for this match.

For the record, the four who remain from the 70-0 thrashing are right wing Achiko Kavtarachvili, left wing George Bugianachvili, flanker Giorgi Labadze and number eight Kakhaber Kobakhidze. French-born coach Claude Sorrel sums up their hopes: "This is it, the match that we must win. It will be difficult but we must believe."

His Romanian counterpart Mircea Paraschiv, a very accomplished former international scrum-half who won over 80 caps for his country, was equally forthright. "We are taking this very seriously because it is a game that we have to win.

"We have videos of Georgia playing in a tournament in France three months ago in preparation for this qualifying tournament. I also saw them play against Ireland so we know what to expect. They are very physical, well-organised off first phase and good at the basics of scrum and line out.

"We are a new team and it is our dream to play modern rugby, strong in the scrummage and moving the ball wide to include all players."

Ireland coach Warren Gatland will be an interested spectator as he prepares for Saturday's clash with Romania and the probability of a second successive victory.

Romania: M Vioreanu; C Hildan, G Brezoianu, R Gontineac, G Solomie; R Vusec, P Mitu; D Nicolae, R Mavrodin, C Stan, M Dragomir, A Girbu, A Manta, C Draguceanu (capt), F Corodeanu.

Georgia: M Urdjukachvili; A Kavtarachvili, P Jimcheladze, B Khamashurdiz, G Bugianachvili; K Matchitidze, I Giorkhelidze; M Mitiulishvili, I Giorgadze, L Tsabadze; G Ruskin, Z Mtchedlichvili (capt); J Lejava, K Kobakhidze, G Labadze.

Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).