Georgia will field the youngest player in Rugby World Cup history when scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze starts Saturday’s match against Tonga.

Lobzhanidze will be 18 years and 340 days old on Saturday, breaking the previous record set by the USA’s Thretton Palamo at RWC 2007 by 33 days. Lobzhanidze will also be the first 18-year-old to play a RWC match and the first player born in the professional era to play in the competition.

There are two changes from Georgia’s last match, a 13-10 defeat by Japan on 5 September, with Giorgi Tkhilaishvili replacing Shalva Sutiashvili at blindside flanker and right wing Tamaz Mchedlidze replacing Muraz Giorgodze. Both of the players dropping out of the starting 15 are on the replacements bench.

Only three players remain from the first 15 of Georgia’s last RWC match, a 25-7 defeat by Argentina four years ago. Back-row forwards Viktor Kolelishvili and captain Mamuka Gorgodze both played four years ago as did outside-centre Davit Kacharava.

Full-back Merab Kvirikashvili will become the first Georgian to play at four RWC competitions and will also become Georgia’s record cap holder on 86, beating the one held by Irakli Abuseridze. Kvirikashvili is also the only Georgian to have played in every one of his country’s RWC matches and will continue this against Tonga.

The 617 caps in the starting 15 represent the most experienced Georgian team in a Rugby World Cup match. Their all-time record is 637 caps in the 15-6 win over Romania in March this year.

Georgia:

1.  Mikheil Nariashvili
2.  Jaba Bregvadze
3.  Davit Zirakashvili
4.  Giorgi Nemsadze
5.  Konstantine Mikautadze
6.  Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
7.  Viktor Kolelishvili
8.  Mamuka Gorgodze (captain)
9.  Vasil Lobzhanidze
10. Lasha Malaguradze
11. Giorgi Aptsiauri
12. Merab Sharikadze
13. Davit Kacharava
14. Tamaz Mchedlidze
15. Merab Kvirikashvili

Replacements:
16. Shalva Mamukashvili
17. Karlen Asieshvili
18. Levan Chilachava
19. Levan Datunashvili
20. Shalva Sutiashvili
21. Giorgi Begadze
22. Giorgi Pruidze
23. Muraz Giorgadze

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Tonga have made 6 changes to their team to face Georgia in this match on Saturday. There are only 5 players in the Tonga starting XV from the team that pulled off that remarkable win against France in their last win at RWC 2011. The average age of the Tongan team is 30 years and 84 days.

The match kicks off at 12:00 BST (13:00 SA Time).

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Will Helu, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Nili Latu (Captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Sitiveni Mafi, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Halani ‘Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Tevita Mailau
Replacements: 16 Paula Ngauamo, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Hale T Pole, 20 Jack Ram, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Latiume Fosita, Sione Piukala.