The Albany Gazette - Sharikadze back to captain Georgia against Wales

Guram Gogichashvili and Shalva Mamukashvili are back in the front row, while Nodar Cheishvili is named at lock.

Full-back Lasha Khmaladze is set to make his first appearance at this World Cup after playing three matches in 2011 and four in 2019.

There are 15 survivors in the match-day 23 from their 13-12 victory in Cardiff last year, including 11 in the starting XV.

The Georgians are yet to win in France after a 35-15 loss to Australia, an 18-18 draw with Portugal and a 17-12 defeat by Fiji. Those results make it impossible for Georgia to advance to the knock-out phase here and also mean that they miss out on automatic qualification for the World Cup in Australia in 2027.

Wales, however, are unbeaten in their three games and already qualified for the quarter-finals, having opened with a 32-26 victory over Fiji before seeing off Portugal 28-8 and sailing past Australia 40-6.

Georgia (15-1)

Lasha Khmaladze; Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (capt), Davit Niniashvili; Luka Matkava11, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Tornike Jalagonia, Beka Saginadze, Mikheil Gachechiladze; Konstantine Mikautadze, Nodar Cheishvili; Beka Gigashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Guram Gogichashvili

Replacements: Vano Karkadze, Nika Abuladze, Irakli Aptsiauri, Vladimer Chachanidze, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Gela Aprasidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Demur Tapladze

Coach: Levan Maisashvili (GEO)

(K.Müller--BBZ)