TOKYO, 27 Sep – Jaba Bregvadze starts as Georgia captain for the first time as he makes his 56th appearances for their game against Uruguay at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Sunday. He replaces Mikheil Nariashvili, who is rested. 

Regular captain Merab Sharikadze is back in the squad after being cleared to play by medics, and is named on the bench.

Bregvadze (pictured, left), the 32-year-old hooker who plays his club rugby in Japan, is competing at his third Rugby World Cup and is joined in the front row by props Guram Gogichashvili and Levan Chilachava.

Scrum-half Giorgi Begadze misses the  Pool D game as he recovers from injury.

Coach Milton Haig makes 12 changes to the starting XV who lost 43-14 to Wales in their opening match on Monday. Only Giorgi Kveseladze, Tedo Abzhandadze and Konstantine Mikautadze keep their places.

Georgia

1. Guram Gogichashvili
2. Jaba Bregvadze (capt.)
3. Levan Chilachava
4. Lasha Lomidze
5. Konstantine Mikautadze
6. Shalva Sutiashvili
7. Beka Saginadze
8. Otari Giorgadze
9. Gela Aprasidze
10. Tedo Abzhandadze
11. Alexander Todua
12. Lasha Malaguradze
13. Giorgi Kveseladze
14. Zura Dzneladze
15. Lasha Khmaladze

16. Vano Karkadze
17. Beka Gigashvili
18. Giorgi Melikidze
19. Mamuka Gorgodze
20. Beka Gorgadze
21. Vasil Lobzhanidze
22. Merab Sharikadze
23. Soso Matiashvili

RNS pp