World ranking: 12th
Qualification: Third in 2015 pool
Best result: Pool stage
TAB odds: $501
Chances: Georgia are a team just waiting for an opportunity, but it's a stretch to imagine them beating Four Nations champs Wales or even the woeful Wallabies.
Uruguay and Fiji will provide a solid measure of their standing in world rugby, but hard to see them progressing out of this pool.
Leading players:
Mamuka Gorgodze
Beware - Gorgodzilla is coming to Japan. Two years after his international retirement, Gorgodze has been enticed back, after injuries in the Georgian pack. He was one of the under-the-radar stars of the last World Cup, named in the tournament’s 'Dream Team' and producing a player-of-the-match performance against the All Blacks.
Squad:
Forwards: Mikheil Nariashvili, Guram Gogichashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Jaba Bregvadze, Vano Karkadze, Levan Chilachava, Giorgi Melikidze, Beka Gigashvili, Giorgi Nemsadze, Shalva Sutiashvili, Mamuka Gorgodze, Kote Mikautadze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Lasha Lomidze, Otar Giorgadze, Beka Gorgadze, Beka Saghinadze.
Backs: Sandro Todua, Soso Matiashvili, Mirian Modebadze, Zurab Dzneladze, Davit Katcharava, Merab Sharikadze, Tamaz Mtchedlidze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Lasha Malaghuradze, Lasha Khmaladze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Giorgi Begadze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Gela Aprasidze.
Pool draw (NZT)
September 23
Wales v Georgia, Toyota City, 10:15pm
September 29
Georgia v Uruguay, Kumagaya City, 6:15pm
October 3
Georgia v Fiji, Higashiosaka City, 6:15pm
October 11
Australia v Georgia, Shizukoa Prefecture, 11:15pm
Newshub.
