6NB: Last chance for Romania?
It’s the eighth round of the European Nations Cup, ‘Six Nations B, Division 1 of the FIRA-AER compositions, and possibly the last chance for Romania to qualify again for the Rugby World Cup.
Romania has been to every World Cup but now lies fourth in a competition over two years. The first two will go straight to New Zealand and the third-placed team will have another chance through répechage. to Romania’s advantage is that it still has to play a match at home against Spain to make up for the one postponed that will be on 27 March. But they then have tough matches against Georgia and Portugal who will also be vying for at least a répechage chance.
The Oaks have a tough assignment this weekend – beating the ambitious Russians in Russia. Russia looks set fair to make it to the World Cup for the first time.
Portugal look to have the easiest task against the winless Germans and then face disappointing Spain before meeting Romania in what could be a decisive battle.
Fixtures in Round 8
Russia vs Romania in Sotchi
Germany vs Portugal in Heusenstamm
Georgia vs Spain In Tblissi
Log after Round 7
1 Georgia 20
2 Russia 19
3 Portugal 14
4 Romania 12
5 Spain 8
6 Germany 7
The points awarded in FIRA-AER competitions are 3 for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 for playing.
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
Georgia vs Spain
At this stage it would seem that Spain have no chance of qualifying for the World Cup and are not in danger of relegation as the Germans seem to have made that place their own.
Spain is vastly changed. Those who have dropped out are mostly based in France. Those no longer in the squad are Alejandro Onega (CRC Madrid), José Moreno (Bordeaux-Bègles, France), Mathieu Cidre (Carcassonne, France), Julien Tourtoulou (Colomiers, France), Damien Elgohyen (St Jean de Luz, France), Pablo Feijóo (CRC Madrid), Mathieu Lopez (Mont-de-Marsan, France), Cesar Sempere (Montpellier, France), Mathieu Gratton (Graulhet, France) and Martín Heredia (Costa del Sol).
Those coming into the squad are with one exception Spain-based – Sebastián Hattori, Manuel Mazo, Víctor Acevedo, Ignacio Gutierrez, Marc Puigbert , Matías Tudela, Diego Quirelli, Federico Negrillo, Gautier Gibouin and Anthony Pradalie. Puigbert of Barcelona is still Under-19 and has played for Spain at that level and also for Cataluña.
Georgia, too, have lost players – Akvsent Giorgadze (Castres), Davit Khinchagishvili (Brive), Anton Peikrishvili (Agen), Davit Kubriashvili (Toulon) and Alexandre Todua.
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 Ilia Zedginidze, 4 Levan Datunashvili, 3 Davit Qubriashvili, 2 David Dadunashvili, 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze
Replacements: 16 Bregvadze, 17 Davit Zirakashvili, 18 Giorgi Nemsadze, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Davit Katcharava, 22 Irakli Chkhikvadze
Spain squad: José-Maria Bohorquez (Ciencias Sevilla), David Gurgenadze (CRC Madrid), Marco Pinto (Clermont Espoirs, France), Leandro Fernandez-Aramburu (Ciencias Sevilla), Jesus Recuerda (Ciencias Sevilla), Vidal Souto (Cetransa El Salvador), Rafael Camacho (Ciencias Sevilla), Martin Aceña (La Vila), Matthew Cook (La Vila), Benjamin Pardo (Valladolid RAC), Jaime Nava (Alcombendas), Javier Canosa (CRC Madrid), Pedro Martín (Bayonne Espoirs, France), Ignacio Martín (Overmach Parma, Italy), Sebastián Hattori (Cajasol Rugby Ciencias), Manuel Mazo (Cajasol Rugby Ciencias), Víctor Acevedo (Vrac Quesos Entrepinares), Ignacio Gutierrez (Vrac Quesos Entrepinares), Marc Puigbert (Santboiana), Matías Tudela (CRC Madrid), Diego Quirelli (La Vila), Federico Negrillo (Gernika), Gautier Gibouin (Bourdeaux Begles, France), Anthony Pradalie (Périgueux, France)
Date: Saturday, 27 February 2010
Kick-off: 14.00
Venue: National Stadium, Tblissi
Expected weather conditions: Freezing cold. 30% chance of snow with a high of 3°C, dropping to 0°C and an easterly wind to make it colder.
Referee: Jean Pierre Matheu (France)
Assistant referees: Philippe Bonhoure (France), Bernard Dal Maso (France)
Russia vs Romania
This is a crunch match for both sides. Russia will be looking to making sure of their claim to be the first Russian team to go to the World Cup while the Romanians will be desperately striving not to be the first Romanian team not to go to the World Cup.
Sotchi will be a warm place for both the Russians and the Romanians as they head for the Black Sea resort, which must be welcoming relief.
Teams
Russia squad: Karl Maglakelidze (Imperia Penza), Alexander Khrokin (VVA), Evgeny Pronenko (Enisey-STM), Alexey Travkin (VVA), Vladislav Korshunov (VVA), Evgeny Matveev hooker, (VVA), Alexander Voytov (VVA), Artem Fatakhov (VVA), Kirill Kulemin (Castres), Andrey Ostrikov (Aurillac), Nikita Medkov (Slava) Georgy Minadze (Imperia Penza), Victor Gresev (VVA), Kirill Kushnarev (VVA), Alexey Panasenko (VVA), Andrey Temnov (Enisey-STM), Alexander Yanushkin (VVA), Alexander Shakirov (VVA), Yuriy Kushnarev (VVA), Alexey Korobeynikov (Enisey-STM), Alexander Gvosdovskiy (Krasny Yar), Vladimir Ostroushko (Yug KrasnodarVasily Artemiev (VVA), Andrey Kuzin (VVA), Sergey Trishin (VVA), Mikhail Babaev (VVA), Alexey Makovetskiy (Krasny Yar), Igor Kluchnikov (VVA)
Romania squad: Popescu Cezar (Saint Medard ), Lazar Mihai (Saint Etienne), Dima Dragos (Oloron), Florea Silviu (Montauban), Ion Paulica (London Irish), Balan Bogdan (Montauban), Tincu Marius (Perpignan), Zebega Bogdan (Steaua Bucuresti), Socol Sorin (Oloron), Popirlan Valentin (Dinamo Bucuresti), Petre Cristian (Beziers), Ursache Valentin (Baia Mare), Burcea Stelian (Arad), Carpo Daniel (Farul), Macovei Mihai (Baia Mare), Tonita Ovidiu (Perpignan), Manta Alexandru (Lyon), Sirbu Lucian (Somillau), Calafeteanu Valentin (Arad), Ivan Valentin (Dinamo Bucuresti), Dumitras Iulian (Albi), Dumbrava Dan (Steaua Bucuresti), Dimofte Ionut (Baia Mare), Gal Csaba (Baia Mare), Dascalu Robert (Steaua Bucuresti), Gheara Constantin (Farul), Cazan Ionel (Steaua Bucuresti), Fercu Catalin (Arad), Ciuntu Stefan (Baia Mare), Nicolae Catalin (Farul), Vlaicu Florin (Steaua Bucuresti), Botezatu Ionut (Baia Mare)
Date: Saturday, 27 February 2010
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Metreveli Stadium, Sotchi
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 14°C. dropping to 6°C
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: John Paul Doyle (England), Bob Mullis (England)
Germany vs Portugal
Germany have found life in Division 1 a penitential march. They have not one a match and do not look like doing so. The Portuguese on the other hand will be hyped up as a World Cup place dangles before their eyes.
Fabian Heimpel makes his debut for Germany and much is expected from his boot, and Christopher Weselek has come out of retirement to play again in an effort to stave off relegation.
Teams
Germany: Kieron Davies (Ampthill, England), Raphael Hackl (Berliner), Benjamin Krause (DSV Hannover 1878), Rafael Pyrasch (DSV Hannover 1878), Benjamin Simm (DSV Hannover 1878), Clemens von Grumbkow (I Cavalieri Prato, Italy), Michael Poppmeier (Villagers, South Africa), Alex Widiker (Orléans, France), Damien Tussac (Toulon, France), Kehoma Brenner (RG Heidelberg), Tim Coly (RG Heidelberg), Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg), Fabian Heimpel (RG Heidelberg), Edmoore Takaendesa (RG Heidelberg), Christopher Weselek (RG Heidelberg), Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg), Lukas Hinds-Johnson (RK 03 Berlin), Alexander Hauck (SC Frankfurt 1880), Jamie Ben Houston (SC Frankfurt 1880), Mark Sztyndera (SC Frankfurt 1880), Rolf Wacha (SC Frankfurt 1880), Alexander Hug, (TSV Handschuhsheim) Alexander Metz (TSV Handschuhsheim), Alexander Pipa (TSV Handschuhsheim)
Portugal squad: Antonio Aguilar (Direito), Bernardo Duarte (Agronomia), Conrad Stickling (Cascais), Diogo Mateus (Belenenses), Duarte Pinto (Agronomia), Eduardo Acosta (Direito), Francisco Fernandes (Tyrosse, France), Frederico Oliveira (CDUL), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), Gonçalo Uva (Direito), João Correia (Direito), João Junior (CDUL), Joe Gardener (Agronomia), Jorge Segurado (Direito), Jose Pinto (Direito), Juan Severino (Agronomia), Miguel Portela (Direito), Pedro Cabral (CDUL), Pedro Leal (Direito), Pedro Silva (Belenenses), Salvador Palha (Direito), Tiago Girão (CDUL), Vasco Uva (Direito)
Date: Saturday, 27 February 2010
Kick-off: 14.30
Venue: Heusenstamm
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain, a high of 11°C, a low of 4°C and a westerly wind of 28 km/h
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: James Matthew (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
