One of the abiding memories of Rugby World Cup 2007 in France
is the haunted look on Irish players' faces as they trailed
10-7 with only 25 minutes to play against unfancied Georgia.
Girvan Dempsey's converted try ultimately spared Ireland
some of their blushes as they ran out 14-10 winners, but
Georgia's heroics scared the life out of a top six rugby nation
and, according to their coach, they have only improved in the
interim.
Since 2007, the Lelos are unbeaten against the likes of
Romania, Russia and Portugal in the European Nations Cup, or
'Six Nations B', and last weekend Australian coach Tim Lane
guided them to a third consecutive Rugby World Cup by guaranteeing
a place inside the competition's top two.
"We're very pleased to have reached another World
Cup. In 2007 the Georgians performed very well, they had that very
close match against Ireland and also had their first win in the
competition," Lane told Total Rugby Radio.
Two wins the dream
"Next year in New Zealand we'd like to target the one
win that they had in 2007 and then the big dream is to win another
match as well.
"If we qualify as number one from Europe we'll be in
a pool with England, Argentina and Scotland plus another qualifier,
so obviously we'd have to play very, very well to beat one of
those three teams, but that would be the dream. Everything's
possible."
By winning the last two European Nations Cup tournamemts, and
putting themselves in pole position this season with only two
matches to play, Lane's side has rubber-stamped its position as
the 'best of the rest' in Europe, which in turn has helped
the sport to grow domestically.
"Rugby has become a very popular sport here, I think
it's overtaken soccer in the last five years.
"This year and next year the sport is starting up in
schools as well so over the next few years hopefully the numbers
will increase and create a little more depth throughout the
country."
For the moment, though, development is happening mostly from
the top down, many of the players plying their trades in France and
also able to recall that night at the Chaban Delmas Stadium in
Bordeaux, where they almost pulled off a massive upset.
Video nasty
"The players continually watch that game whenever they can.
It's an opportunity they had to beat one of the top six
countries in the world, and I think every time they play now
against a top side it's going to be a big event for them.
"It's never easy, but it's a great challenge and
we've improved over the last three years so hopefully we'll
take another step up next year.
"The 2007 team played a kicking and forward-dominated
style of game and I think we've tried to introduce a more
ball-in-hand style, which the players have enjoyed and also had
some success with.
"We've obviously still got a way to go, and our
forward pack is still our main strength, but we've developed
some young backs and we're slowly getting there. Hopefully we
can carry on improving and go out there in New Zealand and surprise
some of the bigger teams that we play."
And the element of surprise could be key to Georgian success.
In fact, one of Lane's biggest challenges could even play into
the team's hands. The coach only has access to his top
France-based players for five or six matches each year and faces a
trying conundrum of whether to select them or rest them ahead of
the World Cup.
If they do play for Georgia, the Lelos will doubtless
benefit. If they don't, much of the analysis performed by their
World Cup rivals will be fruitless, even misleading.
For now, though, the onus is very much on finishing the
European Nations Cup on a high against the staunchest of rivals.
"Russia is always a big match and I think every time
they play it's fiercely contested. Romania before that is going
to be a tough one too because they are still fighting for a place
in the World Cup play-offs, so two big games."