Two Georgians and three Pacific Islanders who lit up the weekend’s European action
Akaki Tabutsadze of Black Lion and Luka Ivanishvili of Black Lion, Saracens forwrd Theo McFarland and La Rochelle's Levani Botia during Challenge Cup and Champions Cup action.
Following a thrilling weekend of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action, we pick out five of the best Tier 2 performers from the European action.
It was a standout weekend for the Emerging Nations, with the Black Lion picking up another historic win in their debut Challenge Cup season while there were standouts for English, French and Scottish sides.
Luka Ivanishvili roars to scare the Scarlets
It seems it’s becoming a tradition for a Georgian side to upset their Welsh hosts since Lelos defeated Wales in 2022, as this weekend, Black Lion also took down their Welsh opposition in the Challenge Cup.
A brutal set-piece and a lethal backline proved too much for the Scarlets to handle, and after the dust settled, the Georgian Union franchise were the victors. Luka Matkava was crowned man of the match, but another fellow Black Lion deserves a shout: number-eight, Luka Ivanishvili!
The young Georgian international was simply dominant in his first visit to Llanelli, making fifteen tackles, eight carries – four over the gainline – and two turnovers, sending the Scarlets backwards. The sheer monumental physicality from the loose forward was astonishing and helped to lift the Black Lion’s spirits after a slow start.
His brilliance and aggression at the back of the scrum made the set-piece exit smooth for the Georgians, who felt comfortable in those decisive last forty minutes.
Levani Botia delivers hot tackles in Cape Town
2023 has been an impressive year for Levani Botia, as he keeps shutting down carriers with such (physical) finesse that could inspire Tchaikovsky to write another masterpiece. The Fijian was one of the top tacklers of the titanic match between Stormers and Stade Rochellais, making mince meat out of every carrier who had the audacity to run up at him.
The Champions Cup holders would fall in the dying seconds of their trip to Cape Town, but Botia’s efforts were brilliant from the start and hindered the Stormer’s chances for the entirety of the first half.
If you can, replay that moment when Herschel Jantjies thought he was unopposed and free to run to the try line. But, in just a glimpse of a moment, Botia showed up out of nowhere and struck down the scrum-half with such power that the ball rocketed out of his hands.
The Fijian was La Rochelle’s best unit, and his impact was felt, be it at the breakdown or Jantjies’s ribs.
Viliame Mata turns the heat for Edinburgh
Sheer power and silky skills are what Viliame Mata adds to Edinburgh, and against Castres, the number-eight was vital for the Scotts’ first win this European campaign. Let’s look first at his stats: 38 running metres, two defenders beaten, eight carries, two offloads, twelve tackles, and one turnover. But is it enough to call it impressive? Well, yes. Mata was outstanding in 90% of his in-game interventions, shrugging and bouncing off tacklers, finding gaps to throw a sugary offload, and bodying incoming carriers.
Edinburgh needed to bounce back after a disheartening loss, and they were able to deliver thanks to a massive team effort and Mata’s powerplay from the back of the scrum.
Theo McFarland, a thief in Connacht’s night
What a delight it must be for Saracens to have such a nuisance like Theo McFarland, and let me explain why. In the point-spree match between the Premiership champions and Connacht, the Samoan lock provoked three lineout errors from the Irish side, stealing the egg with masterful skill and shutting down good attacking opportunities from the visitors.
His defensive game was also on the same level, marking down fifteen tackles (an accuracy of 93%) and one turnover, being, as we said, a delicious and perfect nuisance for any adversary.
McFarland’s mindset is what you expect from a player who plays to win and doesn’t stop even when his team is in control and comfortably in the lead.
Another round impressing everyone in the grandest stage of European club rugby.
Gela Aprasidze the puppeteer of Castres
We lose our time to praise (and rightfully so) Antoine Dupont, Santiago Arata, or Baptiste Serin’s scrum-half skills, but it is necessary to bring Gela Aprasidze into the conversation, and more so after Friday. The Georgian had a great outing in Bayonne’s defeat, pushing well for his side to get closer to the try-line.
He didn’t rock an impressive stats sheet in the end, and that’s fine, as his work rate and excellence were seen around the ruck, injecting speed, intensity, and a high tempo, helping the home side to stay in the game to most of the match.
His 100% pass accuracy and stern voice were noticeable on Friday and reminded us all again why he is a vital screw in Bayonne’s game plan.
