Georgia Will Use The Boks To Gatecrash Six Nations

Brendan Gallagher looks at the strength of the countries playing in the European Nations Cup

- Brendan Gallagher

While the clamour for Georgia to be included in an expanded Six Nations as of right has died down – a relegation/promotion play-off seems the best they are likely to be offered in the near future – the need for them to improve continues and that process gets under way with their opening 2020 European Nations Cup game on Saturday at home to Romania.

The Lelos weren’t entirely happy with their showing in Japan, they didn’t trouble the big boys like they had hoped, and typically they have reacted with a frenzied burst of energy and activity.

They despatched their U20 squad – who are undoubtedly good enough to play and win regularly in the junior Six Nations – to South Africa again for another warm weather camp and two highly competitive games against their Boks counterparts.

Soon after the youngsters arrived back a formal agreement was announced with South Africa whereby, starting this summer, a Georgian Clubs XV consisting of home-based players will travel down south for two months every year to compete in the Currie Cup.

This is a proven development route with Argentina’s Pampas XV doing likewise a few years back and breeding a crop of young players who made a good impression at RWC2015.

That same Clubs XV, almost by way of a trial run, has just returned from Argentina where they have been escaping the Georgian winter and contested two controlled training matches against the Jaguares as they get their Super Rugby preparations underway.