Georgian heart will make up for inexperience

PERTH - Pledging to play with great heart and respect for the stars of England, Georgia yesterday named their team of unknowns for their opening match early on Monday.

Georgian official Zaza Kassachvili likened his team to a baby about to be born as he tried to explain what the fixture meant to his team.

The Georgians, missing injured captain Ilia Zedguinidze, are expectant, yet not expecting too much from the game.

But they say they will play within the rules against a full-strength England team tipped to run up a huge score.

"The mothers, fathers and godfathers of Georgian rugby are waiting for this game," Kassachvili said.

"We don't know what will happen - we hope the baby is beautiful."

Kassachvili said the scoreline would be irrelevant.

"It's nothing bad if we lose by 60 points.

"The No 1 priority is that the players come in after the game satisfied and knowing what they must do in future."

England players and coach Clive Woodward have spoken of their respect for the Georgians, but their experience of them is limited.

Sixteen of the 30-man squad play in France, mostly in lower divisions, and only one plays in Georgia.

Kassachvili made it clear that respect went both ways and the Georgians would play within the laws of the game.

He said the naivety of the players meant they were often picked up for infringements which more experienced players could hide from officials.

"There is an impression that Georgia will maybe kill someone," Kassachvili said.

"This won't happen. We will play with respect."

England captain Martin Johnson said he was impressed by Georgia's effort in their recent loss to Italy.

"They gave Italy a good game and possibly could have won that one, and we are going to give them a lot of respect," Johnson said.

"I was impressed, they play the game as it should be played. They are physical, but there is no shortage of skill or pace. They aren't weak or disorganised in defence, they have a strong scrum and a functioning lineout.

"It is their first World Cup finals game, they are very enthusiastic and they will be keen to impress."

Meanwhile, England wing Jason Robinson could be forgiven for not being overawed by the history of the World Cup - especially as he did not even bother watching the 1999 tournament.

Robinson, who has enjoyed a phenomenal rise through the rugby union ranks since switching codes from league three years ago, admitted that he had no interest in the 15-a-side game back in his Wigan days.

"I never watched it. Nothing at all. I knew nothing about it. I was playing league, I wasn't interested in union," Robinson said when asked about his memories of 1999.

But the prospect of playing in front of packed houses at the world's third-biggest sporting event was a driving force behind his decision to take up union - and now he cannot wait to realise the dream.

"I just played in one league World Cup in 1995, I missed out on the last one due to the switch to the union," the 29-year-old said.

"It's amazing, one of the main goals of the switch was the 2003 World Cup and all of a sudden here I am, involved in it. Hopefully I'll make a lasting impression."

If his past record Down Under is anything to go by, Robinson could make a lasting impression.

He was one of the stars of the Lions tour to Australia in 2001, scoring five tries on his debut in Queensland.

But that 2-1 series defeat clearly rankles with the Sale Sharks man.

- AGENCIES

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