The only change to the matchday 23 from last weekend is among the replacements, where the 106 times capped Merab Kvirikashvili takes over from Under 20 Graduate Giorgi Kveseladze, who won his first cap against the Cannucks on his 20th birthday.
Skipper Merab Sharikadze is one of 12 players who were at the Principality Stadium in 2015 to face the All Blacks in their World Cup pool match. The others are co-centre Davit Kacharava, scrum halves Vasil Lobzhanidze and Giorgi Begadze and pack members Viktor Kolelishvili, Lasha Lomidze, Konstantin Mikautadze, Levan Chilachava, Kakha Asieshvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Mikheil Nariashvili.
“When it comes to so-called ‘David v Goliath’ games we just point out to our players that their opponents only have two arms and two legs just like us. The key thing is to take your opportunities when they come along and be clinical,” said Haig.
“If we were able to knock over a top tier nation then it would add strength to the Georgian argument to be added to the Six Nations. If you are one of the partners in the Six Nations then you would be saying to a country like us, ‘show us what you can do.’
“Until we can do that, and take a major scalp, our claims are merely hot air. To that end, this game against Wales is no different to the one we had against Scotland last year.
“We want to legitimise ourselves by winning a game of this stature. I know we are knocking on the door, but at some stage we have to bang it open and walk through to announce ourselves.
“We were disappointed by our performance against Scotland. We don’t want to make the same mistake 12 months later.”
Full back Soso Matiashvili, who scored a Georgian record 34 points against Canada, will be hoping to continue his points scoring, while veteran forward Giorgi Chkhaidze will be hoping to pick up his 99th cap off the bench in order to reach his century on home soil next week when Les Lelos host the USA in Tbilisi.
GEORGIA
15 Soso MATIASHVILI (Akademia Tbilisi – 4)
14 Giorgi KOSHADZE (Kharebi Rustavi – 7)
13 Davit KATCHARAVA (Enisei-STM – 103)
12 Merab SHARIKADZE (Aurillac – 55, Captain)
11 Mirian MODEBADZE (Aia Kutaisi – 1)
10 Lasha KHMALADZE (RC Batumi – 57)
9 Vasil LOBZHANIDZE (Brive – 25)
1 Mikheil NARIASHVILI (Montpellier – 45)
2 Jaba BREGVADZE (Krasny Yar – 47)
3 Levan CHILACHAVA (Toulon – 33)
4 Kote MIKAUTADZE (Montpellier – 52)
5 Giorgi NEMSADZE (Bristol – 74)
6 Lasha LOMIDZE (London Irish – 34)
7 Vito KOLELISHVILI (Clermont – 42)
8 Beka BITSADZE (Narbonne – 23)
Replacements
16 Shalva MAMUKASHVILI (Carcassonne – 47)
17 Kakha ASIESHVILI (Brive – 28)
18 Soso BEKOSHVILI (Brive – 9)
19 Giorgi CHKHAIDZE (Domon – 98)
20 Giorgi TKHILAISHVILI (Batumi – 39)
21 Giorgi BEGADZE (Lokomotivi Tbilisi – 59)
22 Revaz JINTCHVELASHVILI (Armazi Marneuli – 4)
23 Merab KVIRIKASHVILI (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi – 106)
