The Rugby World Cup 2023 is in full swing, and fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating every match. On September 23, 2023, at 14:00 local time (8:00 AM ET), Georgia and Portugal will face off in a thrilling showdown at the Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse. With Georgia ranked 13th and Portugal 16th in the world rankings, this promises to be an exciting match filled with intense rugby action. If you’re wondering how to catch this game, we’ve got you covered.
How to watch on TV
USA: NBC
In the United States, you can catch the Georgia vs Portugal match on NBC. NBC will be broadcasting all 48 matches of the Rugby World Cup 2023 live on TV and online. Tune in to NBC to witness the intense rugby action.
UK: ITV, S4C
For fans in the United Kingdom, ITV and S4C are the go-to channels for watching this exciting matchup. ITV and S4C will be sharing coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2023 in the UK. ITV will show all matches live on TV, while S4C will show selected matches in Welsh.
Australia: Stan Sport
Australian rugby enthusiasts can enjoy the game on Stan Sport. With its comprehensive coverage of rugby events, Stan Sport is the place to be to witness Georgia and Portugal battle it out on the field.
South Africa: SUPERSPORT, SABC Sport
SUPERSPORT and SABC Sport will be sharing coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa. SUPERSPORT will show all matches live on TV, while SABC Sport will show selected matches on TV.
Georgia: GPB
GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) will be broadcasting all 48 matches of the Rugby World Cup 2023 live on TV and online in Georgia.
Portugal: SPORT TV, RTP
SPORT TV, RTP will be broadcasting all 48 matches of the Rugby World Cup 2023 live on TV in Portugal.
How to watch online
If you prefer to watch the match online, there are several streaming options available:
USA: FuboTV, SlingTV, Peacock, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
Fans in the USA have a variety of streaming services to choose from. Whether you’re using FuboTV, SlingTV, Peacock, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV, you can catch all the rugby action live online.
UK: ITVX
In the UK, you can stream the match on ITVX, the online platform of ITV. This ensures you can enjoy the game from the comfort of your device.
Japan: DAZN
Japanese rugby enthusiasts can watch the match on DAZN, known for its sports streaming services. DAZN offers a high-quality streaming experience for sports fans.
Selected Matches: RUGBYPASS TV
For selected matches, you can also check out RUGBYPASS TV, which offers comprehensive coverage of rugby events.
For a more extensive list of streaming services available in your region, you can visit Rwcglobally.com.
No matter where you are in the world, you have plenty of options to catch the Georgia vs Portugal match in the Rugby World Cup 2023. Don’t miss out on this thrilling rugby action as these two teams battle it out for supremacy on the field. Grab your snacks, invite your friends over, or settle in for a solo viewing – rugby fever is here, and it’s time to enjoy every moment of it!
Georgia vs Portugal Preview
Following their 35-15 loss to Australia during the inaugural weekend of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Georgia’s coach, Levan Maisashvili, acknowledged the multitude of aspects they needed to analyze. Despite a scoreline that didn’t fully reflect their performance, Georgia had squandered numerous opportunities at Stade de France a fortnight ago. In response, Maisashvili has made four changes in the pack, introducing Mikheil Nariashvili and Beka Gigashvili to the front row, Vladimer Chachanidze to the second row, and Beka Saginadze to the back row. Giorgi Kveseladze is set to earn his 50th cap, as will Nodar Cheishvili if called upon from the bench.
Their upcoming opponents, Portugal, recently gave Wales a challenging match in Nice, and they aspire to build on that performance. In this regard, Diogo Hasse Ferreira replaces Anthony Alves in the front row, while José Madeira steps into the second row in place of Martim Belo. The back-line also sees changes, with Pedro Bettencourt taking over from José Lima at outside-centre and Raffaele Storti filling in for Vincent Pinto on the right wing.
The fixture between Georgia and Portugal is set to take place at Stadium de Toulouse, accommodating 33,103 rugby enthusiasts, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 local time (GMT+2). Despite being their first Rugby World Cup encounter, Georgia and Portugal have faced each other 24 times since 1997, owing to their participation in the Rugby Europe Championship. Portugal clinched four victories in their early encounters but haven’t tasted victory against Georgia since 2005, enduring 17 winless matches. Notably, three of these games ended in draws, including their most recent clash, a 25-25 tie at the start of the previous year’s Rugby Europe Championship, followed by Georgia’s 23-14 victory in Kutaisi five months later.
A memorable match that stands out is the 25-25 draw in the Rugby Europe Championship between these two sides at Tbilisi’s Avchala Stadium in February 2022. It was marked by six tries, frequent lead changes, and a nail-biting finish as both teams sought victory.
While Georgia holds the 13th spot in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini, having defeated Wales and Italy in 2022, Portugal ranks 16th and demonstrated their competitiveness by pushing Wales to their limits in their RWC 2023 opener. This match not only holds significance for bragging rights in a pool also featuring Wales, Fiji, and Australia but highlights both teams as ones to watch, similar to Uruguay in Pool A and Chile in Pool D. Therefore, it’s advisable to become familiar with these teams early in the tournament.
A key player head-to-head to watch out for is Beka Saginadze vs. Nicolas Martins. Saginadze is making his World Cup debut in Toulouse, following his absence in Georgia’s initial 35-15 loss to Australia on September 9. On the opposite side, Portugal’s Martins became the fifth Portuguese player, and fourth forward, to score a World Cup try when he crossed the line against Wales the previous Saturday. The battle between fullbacks Davit Niniashvili and Nuno Sousa Guedes is also worth keeping an eye on.
In terms of intriguing statistics, in 2015, Georgia’s scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze became the youngest player to feature in a Rugby World Cup match at the age of 18 years and 340 days, surpassing the previous record held by USA’s Thretton Palamo, who was 19 years and eight days old when he played against South Africa in 2007.
The match will be officiated by Paul Williams from New Zealand, who is one of two central referees from New Zealand at Rugby World Cup 2023, with the other being Ben O’Keeffe. James Doleman will serve as the assistant referee, and Brendon Pickerill will take on the role of TMO, forming the officials’ contingent from the Land of the Long White Cloud.
TEAMS
GEORGIA Davit Niniashvili; Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (captain), Alexander Todua; Tedo Abzhandadze, Gela Aprasidze; Mikheil Nariashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Beka Gigashvili; Vladimer Chachanidze, Konstantine Mikautadze; Tornike Jalagonia, Beka Saginadze, Beka Gorgadze
Replacements: Tengizi Zamtaradze, Guram Gogichashvili, Guram Papidze, Nodar Cheishvili, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze
PORTUGAL Nuno Sousa Guedes; Raffaele Storti, Pedro Bettencourt, Tomás Appleton (captain), Rodrigo Marta; Jerónimo Portela, Samuel Marques; Francisco Fernandes, Mike Tadjer, Diogo Hasse Ferreira; José Madeira, Steevy Cerqueira; João Granate, Nicolas Martins, Rafael Simões
Replacements: David Costa, Lionel Campergue, Anthony Alves, Martim Belo, David Wallis, Thibault de Freitas, Pedro Lucas, Manuel Cardoso Pinto
