Georgia captain returns for Fiji showdown

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Georgia have made 11 changes for the game against Fiji in Hanazono on Thursday, with Merab Sharikadze returning as captain to the starting XV for the crucial Pool D encounter.

His steady hand will underpin a more familiar-looking line-up, after coach Milton Haig rotated the squad in the opening defeat to Wales and the win over Uruguay.

Centre Sharikadze is the third player to lead Georgia at World Cup. Mikheil Nariashvili took the captaincy against Wales, as Sharikadze nursed a knee injury. Jaba Bregvadze led the Lelos against Uruguay, with Sharikadze on the bench.

Georgia are third in Pool D, just one point behind Australia, and will see this as a much-win game.

Young number eight Otari Giorgadze drops to the bench after a huge effort in the rampaging Georgian scrum that Uruguay found so hard to stop.

Georgia will again be hoping for set-piece dominance against a team known for playing a much looser style.

Georgia: 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Giorgi Kveseladze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.

Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Otari Giorgadze, 20 Beka Saginadze, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Miriani Modebadze

Date: Thursday, October 3

Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka

Kick-off: 14.15 (19.15 Fiji Time, 08.15 Georgia Time, 05.15 GMT)

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Matthew Carley (England)

TMO: Graham Hughes (England)