TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Portugal goes for its first win at a Rugby World Cup with out winger Vincent Pinto after his crimson card within the group’s pool opener dominated him out of Saturday’s match towards Georgia.
Pinto was changed by Raffaele Storti in one in all 4 modifications by Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet for the sport in Toulouse, which represents the group’s finest probability of a victory in Pool C that additionally comprises Wales, Australia and Fiji.
Diogo Hasse Ferreira and José Madeira come into the pack rather than Anthony Alves and Martim Belo, whereas Pedro Bettencourt takes the place of José Lima at outdoors middle.
Pinto was despatched off and suspended for Portugal’s remaining pool video games after making a leaping catch late within the 28-8 loss to Wales, solely to clip the face of reverse winger Josh Adams along with his boot as he got here down unbalanced. A preliminary yellow card was upgraded to a crimson in a bunker evaluate.
Pinto can play the pool nearer towards Fiji on Oct. 8 if he undertakes deal with college.
The match is a repeat of the ultimate of the Rugby Europe Championship — the competitors for the continent’s second-tier international locations under the Six Nations — which noticed Georgia beat Portugal 38-11 in March.
Portugal is trying to overhaul the Georgians as the perfect of the remainder in Europe, however face a tricky process towards a rugged opponent that battled exhausting in dropping solely 35-15 to Australia of their first outing on this World Cup.
Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili made eight modifications in complete — 4 within the pack and 4 within the backs — together with a brand new halfback pairing in Gela Aprasidze and Tedo Abzhandadze.
Entrance-rowers Mikheil Nariashvili and Beka Gigashvili, lock Vladimer Chachanidze and flanker Beka Saginadze come into the forwards, whereas winger Alexander Todua and middle Giorgi Kveseladze additionally begin.
Giorgi Kveseladze will win his fiftieth cap, as will Nodar Cheishvili if used off the bench.
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Lineups:
Georgia: Davit Niniashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (captain), Alexander Todua, Tedo Abzhandadze, Gela Aprasidze; Beka Gorgadze, Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalagonia, Konstantine Mikautadze, Vladimer Chachanidze, Beka Gigashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Mikheil Nariashvili. Reserves: Tengizi Zamtaradze, Guram Gogichashvili, Guram Papidze, Nodar Cheishvili, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze
Portugal: Nuno Sousa Guedes, Raffaele Storti, Pedro Bettencourt, Tomás Appleton (captain), Rodrigo Marta, Jerónimo Portela, Samuel Marques; Rafael Simões, Nicolas Martins, João Granate, Steevy Cerqueira, José Madeira, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Mike Tadjer, Francisco Fernandes. Reserves: David Costa, Lionel Campergue, Anthony Alves, Martim Belo, David Wallis, Thibault de Freitas, Pedro Lucas, Manuel Cardoso Pinto.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
