Georgia coach Worsley eyes Springboks blueprint ahead of World Cup Pool B clash

England 2003 World Cup winner Joe Worsley has identified the Springboks as the model Georgia must emulate if they are to make a genuine impact at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, where the two nations are drawn together in Pool B alongside Italy and Romania.

Worsley, who played in three World Cups and is now part of Georgia head coach Pierre-Henry Broncan’s staff for a third successive tournament, singled out South Africa’s ability to transition from defence to attack and their kicking pressure game as the blueprint Georgia are working to adopt. “The Springboks play the rugby that Georgia wants to harness because it suits the mentality of the players here,” Worsley told RugbyPass. “They are incredible at transitioning from defence to attack, while their pressure game through their kicking is a recipe we would be very interested in delivering for Georgia.”

Traditionally built around a dominant forward pack, Georgia are beginning to develop genuine back-line threats. La Rochelle’s Davit Niniashvili, capable of playing full-back or wing, and centre Tornike Kakhoidze — a product of the Georgian U20 system — offer Broncan’s side the kind of wider tactical options that have complemented the Springboks’ own physicality under Rassie Erasmus.

The challenge, however, is building towards that World Cup without access to Tier 1 opposition. Georgia’s November schedule features Canada, Tonga and the USA, while the Springboks are completing a four-Test series against the All Blacks before facing Australia. “The next Tier 1 opposition we are going to face will be at the World Cup,” Worsley admitted. “It does annoy me that Georgia are not getting more games against quality opposition because those fixtures shine a light onto areas that need improvement.”

Worsley outlined a preparation plan that includes the Rugby Europe Championship, matches against Japan — who he noted have been performing well under Eddie Jones — and potentially fixtures against Top 14 clubs in France closer to the tournament, though he stressed nothing beyond the championship games is confirmed.

Having coached at Wasps and worked alongside Broncan at Castres, Worsley said he intends to draw on both experiences as Georgia attempt to close the gap on the sport’s elite. “There are aspects of the style of game we played at Wasps and also Castres that I want to bring in,” he said. “Defence will be the main area for me with Georgia, but also developing the game model by creating the training environment to play the game we want to deliver.” South Africa, meanwhile, are chasing an unprecedented third successive World Cup title.