Wallabies’ pool opponents Georgia armed with world rugby’s best scrum

THEY’RE armed with inside knowledge on Australia and the best scrum in World rugby. Meet Georgia, the Wallabies’ unassuming Pool D opponents.

THEY’RE armed with the “strongest scrum in the world” and won’t be intimidated playing against the Wallabies at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Meet the Georgians, as introduced by former Force and Reds coach Richard Graham.

After being cut by Queensland last year, Graham took up a role as attack coach for Georgia, the small Eastern European nation which was drawn in the same pool as Australia this week for the next World Cup in Japan.

Former Reds coach Richard Graham (left) with Georgia head coach Jamie Joseph. Picture: Twitter

There are just 12,000 registered rugby players in Georgia but the national team — known as “Los Lelos” — are ranked 12th in the world, above nations like Italy, Tonga and Samoa.

Georgia have played at the last four World Cups and as seen in the 2015 tournament, they care little for the reputations of higher nations.

They beat Tonga and Namibia, and even after fielding a second team against New Zealand, only lost 43-10. That gave them automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

“The strength of their game is traditionally the forward pack,” Graham said.

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“We played Japan and (coach) Jamie Joseph on the back of that said ‘they have got the strongest scrum in the world’. Since I have been with them, they have demolished everyone that we’ve played. That’s from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Scotland.

“They’re just a colossal scrum and it is really part of their psyche.”

With a hot-and-cold reputation as scrummagers, should it be a case of beware the Lelo for the Wallabies in Japan?

“That’ll be an exciting day for Georgia as a rugby nation, because every time they come up against a major side that’s a big milestone for them. They’re not fazed about playing tier-one sides, it excites them,” Graham said.

“Of course their set-piece is a genuine strength. They scrum well and their lineout is excellent and they maul well.

Georgia celebrates their win over Tonga at the 2015 World Cup.

“So that’s going to be an area of the game where they will target the Wallabies.

“But at the same time, they’re not naive enough to think that’s the only part of the game. Australia has a lot more than just that and we know if they get the ball, even in turnover situations, they’re hard to contain. Georgia will need to be a lot better at other areas before that contest.”

Australia have never played Georgia, and outside World Cups, they’ve historically struggled to get exposure to tier-one nations.

Post 2015, however, things have improved: they lost to Scotland last year in November, and will play Argentina next month and another Pool D rival, Wales, in November.

In tier 2 terms, though, Georgia are a rising force. They beat Tonga, Samoa and Fiji last year, and almost beat Japan. Deafening crowds of 50,000 are not unheard of when playing at Tblisi.

There have been calls for Georgia to be given a chance at playing in the Six Nations, perhaps in a promotion/relegation fight with Italy, in order to help them take the big developmental leap.

Georgia's forwards will look to out-muscle the Wallabies.

Some forwards and the odd back play in French leagues.

“The challenge for them in this World Cup cycle now is to continue to expand the way they play the game, to give them options,” Graham said.

“They certainly don’t have any misconceptions about the quality of tier one rugby but at the same time they’re not phased by that challenge. They’re genuinely excited about wanting to compete against tier 1 sides.

“They have gained credibility by consistently playing in World Cups and that’s given them confidence, that longevity.”