6NB: Black Devils Bite Bears

After two rounds of Rugby Europe’s International Championship, Georgia and Portugal remain unbeaten while Belgium have done themselves a huge favour en route to avoiding relegation with a big win over Russia.

In fact, it would seem that Belgium could end up in a strong position on the log.

Results Round 2

Belgium vs Russia, 38-12
Georgia vs Spain, 23-10
Portugal vs Romania 22-11

Results Round 1

Spain vs Russia, 31-12
Georgia vs Romania, 41-13
Portugal vs Belgium, 23-17

Log after Round 2

1. Georgia 4 points (points’ difference 41)
2. Portugal 4 points (points’ difference 17)
3. Belgium 2 points (points’ difference 20)
4. Spain 2 points (points’ difference -7)
5. Romania 0 points (points’ difference -39)
6. Russia 0 points (points’ difference -45)

Match Details

Belgium vs Russia at Stade Fallon, Brussels

The size of the victory is remarkable – 38-12 to Belgium, and that after Russia had taken a 12-0 lead after two really good tries.

Also remarkable was the way the cohesion and strength of the Belgian pack destroyed the Russians.

The first came when they went on rapid attack and a neat chip by fullback Ramil Gaisin, normally a flyhalf and playing like one here. Left wing Vladislav Sozonov caught the ball and did well to get over in the right corner.

Russia followed this up with a vigorous attack that ended when Evgeny Elgin plunged over from close quarters.

12-0 and Russians did not score again.

Just before half-time, after Alan Williams had kicked a penalty goal, flank Jean-Maurice Decubber effected the best break of the match, bursting down the midfield before feeding his captain, Thomas Dienst, who had two steps to make to score at the posts.

That made the half-time score 12-10.

Decubber had two effective runs in the phased movement that set up Belgium’s second try rounded off when Maxime Jadot plunged over.

In the second half Belgium scored four more tries, the first two set up by forwards, producing two tries by scrumhalf Julien Berger. For the second one the Black Devils marched a maul well over 20 metres down the field to the Russian line.

The last try came, again after excellent work by Decubber, when they had Julien Massimi in the sin bin. Replacement lock, the beard Mathieu Verschelden, plunged over for that one.

Scorers

For Belgium:
Tries: Dienst, Jadot, Berger 2, Verschelden
Con: Williams 4, De-Moffarts
Pen: Williams

For Russia:
Tries: Sozonov, Elgin
Con: Gaisin

***Belgium numbers were in black on black jerseys and almost invisible as if they were deliberately intended to keep the players anonymous.

Teams

Belgium: 15 Alan Williams, 14 Thomas Wallraf, 13 Craig Dowsett, 12 Guillaume Piron, 11 Gaspard Lalli, 10 Antoine Vassart, 9 Julien Berger, 8 Thomas De-Molder, 7 Jean-Maurice Decubber, 6 Lucas De-Coninck, 5 Gillian Benoy, 4 Tom Herenger, 3 Maxime Jadot, 2 Thomas Dienst (captain), 1 Alexis Cuffolo
Replacements: 16 Vincent Tauzia, 17 Bastien Gallaire, 18 Mathieu Verschelden, 19 Billi Bertrand, 20 Tom Cocqu, 21 Louis De-Moffarts, 22 Cédric Wieme, 23 Julien Massimi
Coach: Guillaume Ajac

Russia: 15 Ramil Gaisin, 14 Artemyev Vasily (captain), 13 German Davydov, 12 Kirill Golosnitskii, 11 Vladislav Sozonov, 10 Yuri Kushnarev, 9 Alexey Shcherban, 8 Viktor Gresev, 7 Anton Sychev, 6 Vitaly Zhivatov, 5 Alexander Ilin, 4 Igor Zykov, 3 Vladimir Podrezov, 2 Evgenii Matveev, 1 Valeriy Morozov
Replacements: 16 Sergey Chernyshev, 17 Evgeny Mishechkin, 18 Azamat Bitiev, 19 , 20 Eme Peki, 21 Stepan Khokhlov, 22 Khetag Dzobelov, 23 Dmitrii Gerasimov
Coach: Lyn Jones

Referee: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Tornike Gvirjishvili (Georgia), Shota Tsagareishvili (Georgia)
Citing commissioner: Florian Forstmeyer (Germany)

Spain vs Georgia in Madrid

There was a big crowd on a pleasant day in Madrid. The forceful Georgian anthem was sung, the Spanish anthem was played and battle commenced, largely a forward battle.

Georgia mauled over for a try by captain Mikheil Nariashvili and then Spain did in like manner through Marco Pinto.

The second Georgia try was a beauty. Flyhalf Tedo Abzhandadze kicked a perfect diagonal which bounced up generously for tall right wing Akaki Tabutsadze who gathered, ran and swept round under the posts.

Hooker Shalva Mamukashvili scored the third try from a peel round the front of a lineout which he embellished with a neat sidestep that would have made Phil Bennett proud.

Spain ended the scoring with a second try from a maul.

Georgia would seem to be set fair to retain their title.

Scorers

For Georgia:
Tries: Mikheil Nariashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Shalva Mamukashvili
Con: Tedo Abzhandadze
Pens: Tedo Abzhandadze 2

For Spain:
Tries: Marco Pinto, Fernando Lopez
Con: Bradley Linklater

Teams

Spain: 15 Charlie Malie, 14 Jordi Jorba, 13 Richard Stewart, 12 Andrea Rabago, 11 John-Wessel Bell, 10 Bradley Linklater, 9 Guillame Rouet, 8 Lionel-Afase Tauli, 7 Gauthier Gibouin, 6 Fred Quercy, 5 Lucas Guillame, 4 Joshua Peters , 3 Albert Bolanco, 2 Marco Pinto, 1 Fernando Lopez (captain)
Replacements: 16 Thierry Futeu, 17 Vicente Del-Hoyo, 18 Jon Zabala, 19 Nathan Paila, 20 , 21 Tomas Munilla, 22 Pierre Nueno, 23 Martin Alonso
Coach: Santiago Santos

Georgia: 15 Ioseb Matiashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Tamaz Mchedlidze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Beka Saginadze, 5 Shalva Sutiashvili, 4 Nodar Cheishvili, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (captain)
Replacements: 16 Giorgi Chkoidze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Davit Gigauri, 20 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Lasha Khmaladze
Coach: Levan Maisashvili

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Aled Evans (Wales), Mike English (Wales)
Citing commissioner: R Williams (England

Portugal vs Romania at Caldas Da Rainha

Veteran Florian Vlaicu did what he has often done for the Oaks before – kicked penalty goals. He kicked two and then the Portuguese backs took over.

The first try was a brilliant piece of individualism as Danny Antunes, on the right wing, kicked ahead, gathered, swerved and scored. He got the second try as well when a splendid ruin by Manuel Pinto put the Lobos on the attack and Antunes picked up and went blind from a tackle/ruck to score in the right corner, and Portugal led 14-6.

Joao Lima kicked a penalty and a try by hooker Mike Tadjer made it 22-6 before Romania’s Marius Simionescu scored in the right corner just before the end.

Scorers

For Portugal:
Tries: Antunes 2, Tadjer
Cons: Lima 2
Pen: Liam

For Romania:
Try: Simionescu
Pens: Vlaicu 2

Teams

Portugal: 15 Manuel Pinto, 14 Rodrigo Marta, 13 Antonio Vidinha, 12 Tomas Appleton (captain), 11 Danny Antunes, 10 Joao Lima, 9 Duarte Azevedo, 8 Manuel Eusebio, 7 David Carvalho, 6 Joao Granate, 5 José Andrade, 4 Jean Sousa, 3 IV Morais, 2 Mike Tadjer, 1 Francisco Fernandes
Replacements: 16 Lionel Campergue, 17 David Costa, 18 José Madeira, 19 Thibault Freitas, 20 Joao Freudenthal, 21 Pedro Lucas, 22 José Lima, 23 Diogo Ferreira
Coach: Patrice Lagisquet

Romania: 15 Ionel Melinte, 14 Marius Simionescu, 13 Taylor Gontineac, 12 Florian Vlaicu, 11 Ionut Dumitru, 10 Boghita Boldor, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Kamil Sobota, 7 Dragos Ser, 6 Mihai Macovei (captain), 5 Adrian Motoc, 4 Ionut Muresan, 3 Aexandru-Mihai Tarus, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 1 Ionel Badiu
Replacements: 16 Marian Capatina, 17 Constantin Pristavita, 18 Johan van Heerden, 19 Adrian Ion, 20 Tudorel Bratu, 21 Vladut Popa, 22 Nicolas Onutu, 23 Costel Burtila
Coach: Andrew Robinson

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Laurent Cardona (France), Thierry Mallet (France)
Citing commissioner: Frank Michiels (Belgium)