Vasil Lobzhanidze to become youngest player in World Cup history

Georgia scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze will become the youngest player in Rugby World Cup history after being selected in the team to play Tonga on Saturday.

Lobzhanidze does not turn 19 until next month, and his selection at scrum-half will see him break the record set by Thretton Palamo, who played for the USA against South Africa in 2007.

Georgia play the All Blacks in Cardiff on October 2.

Georgia have won just one pool game at each of the last two World Cups.

It would make Tonga the favourites but the Pacific islanders are wary of what lies in wait.

“We will have to be physical also as that is what they will bring”.

Tonga and Georgia have played three times, with Tonga prevailing 23-9 in their most recent clash in November.

Georgia turned a few heads that time in New Zealand and, having beaten the likes of Samoa and Japan in test matches since then, they arrive in England slightly less of an unknown quantity.

“We’ve steadily made those improvements”, Haig said.

“We’ll do everything to win first game”.

Nevertheless, Georgia are being written about with respect, particularly in the Guardian’s preview which forecasts the Lelos upsetting Tonga, and possibly even Argentina.

“The Tongans will be more free-flowing, they have the ability to play the game traditionally whereas Georgia’s strength would traditionally be up front”, added Bradley, the former Ireland scrumhalf.

Telusa Veainu was named on the wing and Vunga Lilo will play at fullback.

Viliami Ma’afu will start at No 8, Sione Kalamafoni moves to blindside flanker and Steve Mafi switches into the second row following the 21-16 victory over Romania in Bucharest on September 5.

Winger Fetu’u Vainikolo will become Tonga’s outright leading try scorer should he score on Saturday.

This will be Georgia’s most experienced World Cup side, with 617 caps in the starting XV.

The giants of Pool C are New Zealand who are expected to make light work of every team in the group, and are overwhelming favorites to retain their crown as world champions, something that has never been done since the Rugby World Cup’s inception in 1987.