6NB: Georgia in, Russia nearer

After Round 8 of FIRA-AER’s European Nations Cup, the so called Six nations B, Georgia and Russia are nearer qualification for the World Cup in New Zealand.

On Saturday Georgia won and Russia drew with Romania while Portugal, contenders for third place=]and a chance to qualify through répechage, had a big win over Germany.

Results Round 8

Russia vs Romania, 21-21
Portugal vs Germany, 69-0
Georgia vs Spain, 17-9

Log after Round 8

The teams have each played eight matches, except for Romania and Spain who have to play each other in a postponed match. Winning that match could taken Romania level with Portugal whom they play in the last round.

1 Georgia 23
2 Russia 21
3 Portugal 17
4 Romania 14
5 Spain 9
6 Germany 8

Remaining fixtures:

13 March
Romania vs Georgia in Bucharest
Spain vs Portugal in Madrid
Russia vs Germany in Sotchi

20 March
Germany vs Spain in Heidelberg
Georgia vs Russia in Trabazon, Turkey
Portugal vs Romania in Lisbon

27 March
Romania vs Spain in Bucharest

There are 3 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for playing. This means that Georgia are certainly qualified to go to the World Cup again and all Russia needs to do is beat the weak Germans in a home match to get to the World Cup for the first time. In fact it would take a cataclysm of huge proportions to stop the Bears from getting there. There is a battle for third place which may be decided in Bucharest at the end of March.

Georgia vs Spain at the National stadium in Tblissi.

The young, inexperienced Portuguese team gave a good account of themselves against the experience Georgians. though with three tries to nil, the Lelos were full value for their victory.

At half-time Georgia led 7-3 after Spain had opened the scoring.

The Spanish performance gives them hope for their three remaining fixtures.

Scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries Udesiani, Tavartkiladze, Dadunashvili
Con: Kvirikashvili

For Spain:
Pens: Nava 3

Teams:

Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 Tedo Zibzibadze, 12 Irakli Giorgadze, 11 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (captain), 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Lasha Tavartkiladze, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Levan Datunashvili, 4 Ilia Zedginidze, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 David Dadunashvili, 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Davit Zirakashvili, 18 Giorgi Nemsadze, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Davit Katcharava, 22 Irakli Chkhikvadze 

Spain: 15 Pedro Martin, 14 Ignacio Martin, 13 Jaime Nava, 12 Javier Canosa, 11 Benjamin Pardo, 10 Manuel Mazo, 9 Santiago Fernandes, 8 Matthew Cook, 7 Ignacio Aceña, 6 Federico Negrillo, 5 Sergio Souto, 4 Leandro Aramburo, 3 David Gurgenadze, 2 José Maria Bohorques, 1 Victor Acevedo.
Replacements: 16 Marco Pinto, 17 Anthony Pradalie, 18 Jesús Recuerda, 19 Rafael Camacho, 20 Marc Puigbert, 21 Gautier Gibouin, 22 Ignacio Gutierrez  

Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu (France)
Assistant referees: Philippe Bonhoure (France), Bernard Dal Maso (France)
Assessor: Eddie Walsh (Ireland)  
 
Russia vs Romania in Sotchi
 
 Romania still have a lifeline. They have been to all World Cups and could just get to New Zealand for 2011 if they cane end third behind Georgia and Russia. The draw, rather than a defeat, helps their cause. If Russia had won this match they would have been certain of qualification even with two rounds to play.
 
Russia looked set fair for New Zealand when they led 18-8 at half-time but the Oaks fought back bravely and with a penalty 10 minutes from time secured a draw with a penalty goal.

Scorers:

For Russia
Tries: Gvozdovsky 2
Cons: Kushnarev
Pens: Kushnarev 3

For Romania:
Tries: Fercu, Dimofte,
Cons: Calafeteanu
Pen: Vlaicu, Calafeteanu 2

Teams

Romania: 15 Iulian Dumitras, 14 Ionut Botezatu, 13 Ionut Dimofte, 12 Robert Dascalu, 11 Catalin Fercu, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 9 Lucian Sarbu, 8 Alexandru Manta, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Stelian Burcea, 5 Valentin Ursache, 4 Sorin Socol (captain), 3 Silviu Florea, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Bogdan Balan
Replacements: 16 Cezar Popescu, 17 Paulica Ion, 18 Cristian Petre,19 Daniel Carpo, 20 Valentin Calafeteanu, 21 Csaba Gal, 22 Stefan Ciuntu

Russia: 15 Igor Kluchnikov, 14 Vasily Artemiev, 13 Mikhail Babaev, 12 Sergey Trishin, 11 Alexander Gvozdovsky, 10 Yuriy Kushnarev, 9 Alexander Yanushkin, 8 Andrey Temnov, 7 Andrey Ostrikov, 6 Victor Gresev, 5 Kiril Kulemin, 4 Alexander Voytov, 3 Evgeny Pronenko, 2 Vladislav Korshunov (captain), 1 Alexander Khrokin,
Replacements: 16 Evgeny Matveev, 17 Carlo Maglakelidze, 18 Alexey Travkin, 19 Artem Fatakhov, 20 Alexander Shakirov, 21 Alexey Korobeynikov, 22 Andrey Kuzin

Germany vs Portugal in Heusenstamm

As expected, it was a romp in the park for the Portuguese.

Scorers:

For Portugal:
Tries: Foro, Mateus, Oliveira 3, Vasco Uva, Fernandes, Correia
Cons: Cabral 6, Gardener 3
Pens: Cabral 2

Teams

Portugal: 15 Joe Gardener, 14 Gonçalo Foro, 13 Pedro Silva, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 Frederico Oliveira, 10 Pedro Cabral, 9 José Pinto, 8 Tiago Girão, 7 Salvador Palha, 6 Vasco Uva, 5 Gonçalo Uva, 4 Conrad Stickling, 3 Francisco Fernandes, 2 João Correia (captain), 1 João Júnior
Replacements: 16 Jorge Segurado, 17 Bernardo Duarte, 18 Juan Severino, 19 Eduardo Acosta, 20 Pedro Leal, 21 Duarte Cardoso Pinto, 22 Miguel Portela

Germany: 15 Kieron Davies, 14 Mark Sztyndera, 13 Clemens von Grumbkow, 12 Edemore Takaendesa, 11 Christopher Weselek, 10 Fabian Heimpel, 9 Mustafa Güngör (captain), 8 Alexander Hauck, 7 Alexander Hug, 6 Jamie Houston, 5 Michael Poppmeier, 4 Manuel Wilhelm, 3 Damian Tussac, 2 Tim Coly, 1 Alexander Widiker,
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Krause, 17 Lukas Hinds-Johnson, 18 Alexander Pipa, 19 Alexander Metz, 20 Rolf Wacha, 21 Rafael Pyrasch, 22 Benjamin Simm, 23 Raphael Hackl

Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: James Matthew (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)