XV of France – autumn tour: Georgia, with 10 “French” in its ranks, can it make the Blues doubt?

As a good regular at the Top 14 that he is, the center of the Blues Jonathan Danty warned: “This match will be even more intense than the one against the Argentines. I’m afraid that in Bordeaux, the first playing times are a bit sting … “A well-informed Habs is worth two. Because Fabien Galthié’s men know their future opponents very well, whom they rub shoulders with either in a club or on the lawns of the Top 14!

On the starting XV unveiled by coach Levan Maisashvili, no less than seven play in the Top 14. These are the pillars Melikidze and Gigashvili, which respectively defend the colors of the Stade Français and Toulon, the third row Saginadze (Lyon) and Gorgadze (Pau), the Brivist hinge made up of Lobzhanidze at the scrum and Abzhandadze at the opening , as well as young full-back Niniashvili (Lyon).

To these are added those who evolve in Pro D2, in this case the second row Kerdikoshvili (Agen) and Mikautadze (Bayonne), the latter having long evolved in Top 14 in Montpellier and Toulon, as well as the flanker Tsutskiridze (Aurillac).

Station at the third line

Listing these players is already identifying the threats, because all of them are performing well with their clubs. However, we want to give a special mention to the third line of Lelos which, if it is not muzzled by the XV of France, may give it a lot of trouble.

We think in particular of Beka Saginadze, who has made a really excellent start to the season with Lou. Up front, we must also mention the presence of Konstantin Mikautadze, real beam of this pack which will have a hard time facing Romain Taofifenua. Behind, beware of the young back Davit Niniashvili, who does not lack the nerve to revive the balloons with Lyon. Maybe his gluttony will do the business of the Blues …

The Tricolores would also be well inspired to be wary of the center Sharikadze, real fighting leader of this team, as well as of the Brivist opener Tedo Abzhandadze, a player described as “very lively and unpredictable” according to one of his coaches in Brive, the former international pillar Goderdzi Shvelidze. Only downside, he has a relatively frail physique for the high level (1, 74 m, 74 kg). The Blues could perhaps target his area to send tanks like Anthony Jelonch, Gregory Alldritt or other Sekou Macalou…