6NB: Georgia, Spain, Portugal win in Round 1

In Round 1 of Rugby Europe’s International Championship, Georgia, Spain and Portugal won. Spain’s victory over Russia was all the more laudable for being played in Russia. Georgia and Portugal won at home.

Round 1 Results

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

This win has records for Georgia. It is their highest score against Romain, passing the 38 of 2006 and the biggest winning margin – 21 points, passing the 29 of 2016.

Round 2 Fixtures

Portugal vs Romania in Caldas Da Rainha
Belgium vs Russia in Brussels
Spain vs Georgia in Madrid

Round 1 Matches

Georgia vs Romania at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilissi

Georgia ran out comfortable winners against neighbours Romania and in doing so retain the Antim Cup.

The first try was astonishingly easy. Flyhalf Tedo Abzhandadze of Georgia got a pass on the Romanian 22 and simply sprinted straight through for a try.

Two penalties by veteran inside centre Florian Vlaicu gave the Oaks a 6-5 lead but it did not last long as Abzhandadze restored the lead at 8-6. Georgia battered at the Romanian line and a quick pass on the short side saw wing Mirian Modebadze score in the right corner.

Half-time Georgia 13 Romania 6.

And then Vlaicu scored in the left corner and converted from far out. 13-13.

After that it was all Georgia as prop Beka Gigashvili dropped from a strong maul to score and then elegant centre David Kacharava burst over twice till a lineout maul ended when replacement hooker Giorgi Chkoidze dropped down for the try.

Scorers

For Georgia:
Tries: Tedo Abzhandadze, Mirian Modebadze, Beka Gigashvili, David Kacharava 2, Giorgi Chkoidze
Cons: Tedo Abzhandadze 4
Pen: Tedo Abzhandadze

For Romania:
Try: Florian Vlaicu
Con: Florian Vlaicu
Pens: Florian Vlaicu 2

Teams:

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

Romania: 15 Ionel Melinte, 14 Marius Simionescu, 13 Catalin Fercu, 12 Florian Vlaicu, 11 Ionut Dumitru, 10 Daniel Plai, 9 Florin Surugiu (captain), 8 Cristi Chirica, 7 Dragos Ser, 6 Lazar Dorin, 5 Johan van Heerden, 4 Ionut Muresan, 3 Aexandru-Mihai Tarus, 2 Marian Capatina, 1 Constantin Pristavita
Replacements: 16 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 17 Iulian Hartig, 18 Adrian Motoc, 19 Adrian Ion, 20 Boghita Boldor, 21 Tudorel Bratu, 22 Robert Neagu, 23 Horatiu Pungea
Coach: Andrew Robinson

Referee: Tom Foley (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Paul Dix (England)
Citing commissioner: Mike Hamlin (England)

Portugal vs Belgium at Estádio Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon

In light rain in gentle Lisbon, Portugal and Belgium each scored two tries, all four converted. But Portugal goaled more penalties and so won the match.

Two tries early on put Portugal 14-0 up. The first try came from a sweeping movement down the left and inside pass to fullback Manuel Pinto who scored near the posts. José Vareta scored second try in the left corner. Danny Attunes converted from tough.

At half-time, Portugal led 14-0.

But then Belgium got their maul going. The first time resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card for flank David Carvalho. Antunes goaled a penalty and then another maul brought another try, followed by a penalty which made the score 17-all with nine minutes to play.

Two more Antunes penalties saw Portugal home, a result that could be important in the final countdown.

Scorers

For Portugal:
Tries: Manuel Pinto, José Vareta
Cons: Danny Antunes 2
Pens: Danny Antunes 3

For Belgium:
Tries: Penalty try, maul
Cons: Alan Williams
Pen: Alan Williams

Teams:

Portugal: 15 Manuel Pinto, 14 Danny Antunes, 13 Antonio Vidinha, 12 Tomas Appleton (captain), 11 José Vareta, 10 Miguel Morais, 9 Joao Belo, 8 Thibault Freitas, 7 Joao Granate, 6 David Carvalho, 5 José Andrade, 4 José Madeira, 3 Diogo Ferreira, 2 Lionel Campergue, 1 IV Morais
Replacements: 16 Francisco Bruno, 17 Rodrigo Bento, 18 Duarte Torgal, 19 Manuel Eusebio, 20 Duarte Azevedo, 21 Joao Lima, 22 Joao Freudenthal, 23 Joao Corte-Real
Coach: Patrice Lagisquet

Belgium: 15 Alan Williams, 14 Craig Dowsett, 13 Nathan Bontems, 12 Guillaume Piron, 11 Gaspard Lalli, 10 Ryan Godsmark, 9 Julien Berger, 8 Gillian Benoy, 7 Jean-Maurice Decubber, 6 Lucas De-Coninck, 5 Mathieu Verschelden, 4 Guillaume Mortier, 3 Maxime Jadot, 2 Thomas Dienst (captain), 1 Bastien Gallaire
Replacements: 16 Vincent Tauzia, 17 Julien Massimi, 18 Billi Bertrand, 19 Thomas De-Molder, 20 William Van-Bost, 21 Tom Cocqu, 22 Louis De-Moffarts, 23 Bruno Vliegen
Coach: Guillaume Ajac

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Graeme Ormiston (Scotland)
Citing commissioner: Gordon Black (Ireland)

Russia vs Spain at Sochi Central Stadium, Sochi

Spain, who were not at the World Cup in Japan, did well to win a comfortable 31-12 victory in Sochi against Russia who were at the World Cup.

Ramil Gaisin, at flyhalf where Yuri Kushnarev usually is, scored two surprise, lively tries, the first from his own chip at the Spanish goal-line, the second from a mazy run to the right corner.

Gaisin’s first try opened the scoring and Russia led 7-0. It took Spain 28 minutes to get on even terms and they did so when lock Michael Walker-Fitton muscled his way over from close quarters.

That made the half-time score seven-all.

Tries by 22-year-old Jordi Jorba and hooker Vicente Del-Hoyo from a lineout maul took Spain to 19-7.

The astonishing second try by Gaisin made it 19-12 with eight minutes to play – time enough for a try by Brad Linklater when he took an inside pass form Ignacio Contardi who had a strong run down the right and then finally a try for Fred Quercy when Spain bashed at the Russian line.

Scorers

For Russia:
Tries: Ramil Gaisin 2
Con: Ramil Gaisin

For Spain:
Tries: Michael Walker-Fitton, Jordi Jorba, Vicente Del-Hoyo, Bradley Linklater, Fred Quercy
Cons: Bradley Linklater 2, Andrea Rabago

Teams

Russia: 15 Artemyev Vasily (captain), 14 German Davydov, 13 Dmitrii Gerasimov, 12 Kirill Golosnitskii, 11 Po Daniiltikhanov, 10 Ramil Gaisin, 9 Vasili Dorofeev, 8 Viktor Gresev, 7 Vitaly Zhivatov, 6 Nikita Vavilin, 5 Andrei Garbuzov, 4 Igor Zykov, 3 Vladimir Podrezov, 2 Stanislav Selskii, 1 Andrei Polivalov
Replacements: 16 Matveev Evgenii, 17 Mishechkin Evgeny, 18 Bitiev Azamat, 19 Elgin Evgeny, 20 Sychev Anton, 21 Shcherban Alexey, 22 Yuri Kushnarev, 23 Sozonov Vladislav
Coach: Lyn Jones

Spain: 15 John-Wessel Bell, 14 Ignacio Contardi, 13 Richard Stewart, 12 Thibaut Álvarez, 11 Jordi Jorba, 10 Bradley Linklater, 9 Guillame Rouet, 8 Lionel-Afase Tauli, 7 Gauthier Gibouin, 6 Victor Sánchez, 5 Michael Walker-Fitton, 4 Lucas Guillame, 3 Albert Bolanco, 2 Vicente Del-Hoyo, 1 Fernando Lopez (captain)
Replacements: 16 Thierry Futeu, 17 Matthew Smith, 18 Jon Zabala, 19 Nathan Paila, 20 Fred Quercy, 21 Lucas Rubio, 22 Andrea Rabago, 23 Julen Goia
Coach: Santiago Santos

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Federico Boraso (Italy), Emanuele Tomò (Italy)
Citing commissioner: Beth Dickens (Scotland)