Georgia forced into late change ahead of Springbok Test

Georgia were forced to make a late change to their starting XV to face the Springboks in the first of their two Tests at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday, 2 July.

PICTURE | SPRINGBOKS POSE FOR OFFICIAL TEAM PHOTO AHEAD OF GEORGIA TEST

The Georgians confirmed in a Twitter post that flank Giorgi Tsutskiridze suffered a minor injury during training and has been replaced by Ilia Spanderashvili.

Irakli Tskhadadze has taken Spanderashvili’s place among the substitutes.

Kick-off is at 19:00.

The sides will do battle in the second Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg next Friday.

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SQUAD UPDATE | Ilia Spanderashvili moved to starting XV against @Springboks as Giorgi Tsutskiridze got minor injury during the training. Irakli Tskhadadze to take Spanderashvili’s spot in subs 🏉 pic.twitter.com/iUOabQWkgo

— Georgian Rugby (@GeorgianRugby) July 1, 2021

UPDATED TEAM LINE-UPS:

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse

Georgia

15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Demur Tapladze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhaidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Ilia Spanderashvili, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Gigauri Davit, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Guram Gogichashvili 

Substitutes: 16 Giorgi Chkoidze, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Luka Japaridze, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Giorgi Javakhia, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Giorgi Babunashvili, 23 Irakli Tskhadadze