Mint Condition
Club Legend
I just came across this article. I thought it was fantastic that they're not just coming here settling to aim for one victory and are willing to give their best against every opposition. It's even greater to see some Aussies in Perth adopting the minnows from Georgia to give them some support for the cup. I read about this fan group a few weeks ago. There should be more of them.
Team takes its place at glamour event
By Tim Clarke
Thursday, October 2, 2003 Print this article
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Rugby World Cup minnows Georgia made the stunning claim they could win all their matches after arriving in Australia yesterday.
Just getting to the prestigious tournament has been a major achievement for the 'Lelos', who had to overcome Russia in a play-off and then battle financial difficulties to qualify.
But after being greeted in Perth by a group of supporters bearing their country's colours, Georgian captain Ilia Zedguinidze said his team were not just in the country to sight-see.
"For us the thing is to play, to show first all of our possibilities," Zedguinidze told reporters.
"I think we will win all the matches - our determination is to win all the matches and we will see what will happen.
"We will play each of our matches in the World Cup with the same determination, but we know the teams that Georgia has beaten before this World Cup are not of the level of the teams we are going to meet."
Georgia begin their momentous task against England at Subiaco Oval on October 12, before facing Samoa a week later, South Africa on October 25 and Uruguay on October 28.
Despite their minnow status, Zedguinidze said the players would not be daunted by the occasion.
"We will try our best to beat England. As for the other teams I don't think we have either easy or hard matches - all matches have the same intensity for us," he said.
Georgia's place in the tournament was thrown into doubt as late as last week, with the squad threatened with ejection from their hotel at their French training base near Montpellier unless a bill was paid.
The Georgian Rugby Union was believed to be heavily in debt following its participation in the 2003 European Cup of Nations.
Zedguinidze will not take the field in Georgia's opening clash against pre-tournament favourites England, after suffering a head injury in its 31-22 loss to Italy on September 6.
But the influential No.8 said that despite the monetary problems suffered by the country's rugby officials, this had not affected the players' build-up.
"We have financial difficulties, but the players have always been preparing for the World Cup - and they were thinking only about the tournament."
The greeting for the Georgians in Perth delighted the captain, who said interest in the tournament was at fever pitch back home.
"We have learned in Georgia that there is a fan club for us in Australia. It is a great pleasure to see Georgian flags behind us, and their support will help us in the games," the captain said.
"We have five million inhabitants in Georgia and we feel all five million persons behind us. They will give us the force."
Team takes its place at glamour event
By Tim Clarke
Thursday, October 2, 2003 Print this article
Email to a friend
Rugby World Cup minnows Georgia made the stunning claim they could win all their matches after arriving in Australia yesterday.
Just getting to the prestigious tournament has been a major achievement for the 'Lelos', who had to overcome Russia in a play-off and then battle financial difficulties to qualify.
But after being greeted in Perth by a group of supporters bearing their country's colours, Georgian captain Ilia Zedguinidze said his team were not just in the country to sight-see.
"For us the thing is to play, to show first all of our possibilities," Zedguinidze told reporters.
"I think we will win all the matches - our determination is to win all the matches and we will see what will happen.
"We will play each of our matches in the World Cup with the same determination, but we know the teams that Georgia has beaten before this World Cup are not of the level of the teams we are going to meet."
Georgia begin their momentous task against England at Subiaco Oval on October 12, before facing Samoa a week later, South Africa on October 25 and Uruguay on October 28.
Despite their minnow status, Zedguinidze said the players would not be daunted by the occasion.
"We will try our best to beat England. As for the other teams I don't think we have either easy or hard matches - all matches have the same intensity for us," he said.
Georgia's place in the tournament was thrown into doubt as late as last week, with the squad threatened with ejection from their hotel at their French training base near Montpellier unless a bill was paid.
The Georgian Rugby Union was believed to be heavily in debt following its participation in the 2003 European Cup of Nations.
Zedguinidze will not take the field in Georgia's opening clash against pre-tournament favourites England, after suffering a head injury in its 31-22 loss to Italy on September 6.
But the influential No.8 said that despite the monetary problems suffered by the country's rugby officials, this had not affected the players' build-up.
"We have financial difficulties, but the players have always been preparing for the World Cup - and they were thinking only about the tournament."
The greeting for the Georgians in Perth delighted the captain, who said interest in the tournament was at fever pitch back home.
"We have learned in Georgia that there is a fan club for us in Australia. It is a great pleasure to see Georgian flags behind us, and their support will help us in the games," the captain said.
"We have five million inhabitants in Georgia and we feel all five million persons behind us. They will give us the force."
