Both countries have been to the World Cup before. They are both neighbours. This could be one of the top qualifiers of the World.

Only one of the Georgian side plays his rugby in Georgia - centre David Katcharava. All the others play abroad -18 in France, two in Russia, one in Romania and one in Andorra.

Georgia is without some players it would rather have - experienced Paliko Jimsheladze who can play anywhere from flyhalf to fullback, versatile young Temur Sokhadze, centre Revaz Guigauri , hooker Akvsenti Guiorgadze and lock Levan Datunashvili.

Romania have players playing in France as well - 13 of them - but they also have players who still play in Romania - Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucuresti) ,  Catalin Fercu (Contor Zenner Arad),  Catalin Dascalu (Steaua Bucuresti),  Ionut Dimofte (Contor Zenner Arad), Ion Paulica (Steaua Bucuresti), Cosmin Ratiu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Costica Mersoiu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Valentin Calafeteanu (Dinamo Bucuresti) and Ioan Teodorescu (Contor Zenner Arad).

If you were a betting man you would bet that the Oaks would beat the Lelos comfortably. The Oaks abroad play at a higher level than the Georgians do.

Teams:

Georgia: 15 Makho Urjukashvili, 14 Bessik Khamashuridze, 13 David Katcharava, 12 Irakli Guiorgadze, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Otar Barkalaia, 9 Irakli Abusseridze, 8 Besso Udessiani, 7 Guia Labadze, 6 Ilia Maissuradze, 5 Mamuka Gorgodze, 4 Ilia Zedguinidze (captain), 3 David Ashvetia, 2 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 1 David Zirakashvili
Replacements: 16 George Kutarashvili, 17 Avtandil Kopaliani, 18 Victor Didebulidze, 19 Rati Urushadze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 George Katcharava, 22 George Shkinin
 
Coaches: Malkhaz Tcheishvili, David Chavleishvili, Paata Narimanashvili

Romania: 15 Florin Vlaicu, 14 Catalin Fercu, 13 Catalin Dascalu, 12 Romeo Gontineac, 11 Gabriel Brezoianu, 10 Ionut Dimofte, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Alexandru Manta, 6 Florin Corodeanu, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Sorin Socol (captain), 3 Bogdan Balan, 2 Razvan Mavrodin, 1 Petru Balan
Replacements: 16 Cezar Popescu, 17 Paulica Ion, 18 Cosmin Ratiu, 19 Costica Meroiu, 20 Valentin Calafeteanu, 21 Ionut Tofan, 22 Ioan Teodorescu

Coaches: Daniel Santamans, George Sava

Date: Saturday, 7 October
Kick-off: 15.00 (local time)
Venue: Ghencea, Bucharest
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: tba, Stuart Terheege (England)