Portugal goes for first Rugby World Cup win without banned winger Pinto against Georgia

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Portugal goes for its first win at a Rugby World Cup without winger Vincent Pinto after his red card in the team’s pool opener ruled him out of Saturday’s match against Georgia.

Pinto was replaced by Raffaele Storti in one of four changes by Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet for the game in Toulouse, which represents the team’s best chance of a victory in Pool C that also contains Wales, Australia and Fiji.

Diogo Hasse Ferreira and José Madeira come into the pack in place of Anthony Alves and Martim Belo, while Pedro Bettencourt takes the place of José Lima at outside center.

Pinto was sent off and suspended for Portugal’s remaining pool games after making a leaping catch late in the 28-8 loss to Wales, only to clip the face of opposite winger Josh Adams with his boot as he came down unbalanced. A initial yellow card was upgraded to a red in a bunker review.

Pinto can play the pool closer against Fiji on Oct. 8 if he undertakes tackle school.

The match is a repeat of the final of the Rugby Europe Championship — the competition for the continent’s second-tier countries below the Six Nations — which saw Georgia beat Portugal 38-11 in March.

Portugal is attempting to overtake the Georgians as the best of the rest in Europe, but face a tough task against a rugged opponent that battled hard in losing only 35-15 to Australia in their first outing in this World Cup.

Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili made eight changes in total — four in the pack and four in the backs — including a new halfback pairing in Gela Aprasidze and Tedo Abzhandadze.

Front-rowers Mikheil Nariashvili and Beka Gigashvili, lock Vladimer Chachanidze and flanker Beka Saginadze come into the forwards, while winger Alexander Todua and center Giorgi Kveseladze also start.

Giorgi Kveseladze will win his 50th cap, as will Nodar Cheishvili if used off the bench.

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Lineups:

Georgia: Davit Niniashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (captain), Alexander Todua, Tedo Abzhandadze, Gela Aprasidze; Beka Gorgadze, Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalagonia, Konstantine Mikautadze, Vladimer Chachanidze, Beka Gigashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Mikheil Nariashvili. Reserves: 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; Rafael Simões, Nicolas Martins, João Granate, Steevy Cerqueira, José Madeira, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Mike Tadjer, Francisco Fernandes. Reserves: David Costa, Lionel Campergue, Anthony Alves, Martim Belo, David Wallis, Thibault de Freitas, Pedro Lucas, Manuel Cardoso Pinto.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby