6NB: Romania recover against Spain

The result puts a bit of a dent in Spain's hopes of qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

In the other results Georgia had an expected big win over a weakened German side while Russia battled to beat Belgium in Brussels in a cliffhanger.

Results, Round 2

Georgia vs Germany, 50-6

Russia vs Belgium, 25-18

Romania vs Spain, 13-3

Results, Round 1

Spain vs Russia, 16-6

Georgia vs Belgium, 31-6

Germany vs Romania, 41-38

That means that after just two rounds Georgia are the only unbeaten side.

Georgia are already qualified for World Cup 2019, but the team coming second will qualify and the team coming this will have another chance through répechage.

Log after Round 2

1. Georgia (10 pts)

4. Romania (5 pt)

2. Spain (4 pts)

3. Russia (4 pts)

5. Germany (4 pts)

6. Belgium (1 pt)

Fixtures, Round 3

There is a free week next week. These matches will be played on the first weekend of March.

Russia vs Romania  

Germany vs Belgium

Spain vs Georgia

Match Reports

Romania vs Spain at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest

It was freezing cold in Bucharest but the two teams went at it with great warmth. Romania did well through their forwards and their unyielding defence while Spain were better running with ball in hand.

The first score was a try. From a scrum Dorin Iakar, the Oaks' No.8, had a great run, carried on by Viorel Lucaci to put the Oaks hot on the attack. They kicked a penalty out for a five-metre line-out. Romania mauled and they went over, centre Florin Viaicu credited with the try. He converted as well and after 14 minutes Romania led 7-0.

Four minutes later Romania were penalised for a high tackle and Brad Linklater goaled.

When a scrum became a mess, Spain were penalised and Viaicu made the score 10-3 at the break.

The only score in the second half was a penalty against Spain for sealing off at a tackle after 55 minutes.

Scorers:

For Romania:

Try Viaicu

Con: Viaicu

Pens: Viaicu 2

For Spain:

Pen: Linklater

Teams

Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Ionut Dumitru, 13 Jack Umaga, 12 Florin Viaicu, 11 Stephen Shennan, 10 Luke Samoa, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Dorin Iazar, 7 Vlad Nistor, 6 Viorel Lucaci, 5 Johan van Heerden, 4 Valentin Poparlan, 3 Andrei Ursache, 2 Otar Turashvili, 1 Mihaita Lazar (captain)

Replacements: 16 Marian Capatina, 17 Constantin Pristavita, 18 Alexandru Tarus, 19 Ionut Muresan, 20 Andrei Gorcioaia, 21 Valentin Calafeteanu, 22 Madalin Lemnaru, 23 Jody Rose

Coach: Lynn Howells

Spain: 15 Bradley Linklater, 14 Javier Llorens, 13 Fabien Perrin, 12 Thibaut Álvarez, 11 Jordi Jorba, 10 Mathieu Belié, 9 Guillaume Rouet, 8 Jaime Nava De Olano (captain), 7 Gautier Fontana, 6 Pierre Barthere, 5 David Howarth, 4 Ignacio Martín, 3 Jonathan García, 2 Benat Auzqui, 1 Fernando Perez

Replacements: 16 Francisco Alonso, 17 Stephen Barnes, 18 Alberto Alonso, 19 David Gonzales, 20 Victor Borrego, 21 Sébastien Rouet, 22 Daniel Snee, 23 Silvio Algorritz

Coach: Santiago Santos

Referee: Elia Rizzo (Italy)

Assistant referees: Filippo Bertelli (Italy), Stefano Roscini (Italy)

Belgium vs Russia at King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

With 12 minutes to go Yuri  Kushnarev kicked a penalty to level the scores at 18-all. With 80 minutes played, the score was s till 18-all but Russia were battering at the Belgium line. The brave Belgians resisted wave after wave till tall Evgeny Elgin, picked up and plunged over fallen bodies to score near the posts, much to home disappointment.

Russia, playing in a skyblue strip, scored after just two minutes when Victor Gresnev went over and round. Two minutes later lanky flyhalf Kevin Williams reduced the lead to 7-3.

Back came Russia. A penalty gave them a five-metre line-out on their left. Lock Andrei Garburov peeled round the front and scored in the corner.

In all Russia scored three tries in the match, all by forwards which tells where their strength lay.

Belgium scored the try of the match from their own half when big centre Jens Torfs broke clean through on the left. Lacking support he kicked head. The ball bounced up inside the shallow in-goal but Charles Reynaert fell on it. That try, after 37 minutes, made the half-time score 12-8 to the Russians.

Belgium had a five scrum at which the Russians were penalised. The penalty was right at the posts but the Belgians opted for another scrum and shoved the disintegrating Russian pack back. No.8 Thomas de Molder picked up dummied and plunged over the a try near the posts, and Belgium led 15-12.

Russia kicked a penalty to make it 15-all and Nicolas Meeus kicked a penalty and Belgium were back in front 18-15 with 19 minutes to play.

Russia drew level and then, with time already up, scored the winner.

Scorers:

For Russia:

Tries: Gresnev, Garburov, Elgin

Cons: Kushnarev 2

Pens: Kushnarev 2

For Belgium:

Tries: Reynaert, De Molder

Con: Williams

Pens: Williams 2, Meeus

Teams

Belgium: 15 Nicolas Meeus, 14 Ervin Muric, 13 Jens Torfs, 12 Guillaume Brébant, 11 Charles Reynaert, 10 Kevin Williams (captain), 9 Julien Berger, 8 Thomas De Molder, 7 Baptiste Lescarboura, 6 Tom Coupé, 5 Thomas Vervoort, T Moelants, 3 Jean-Baptiste De Clercq, 2 Thomas Dienst, 1 Martin Bonnel

Replacements: 16 Max Dubois, 17 Sep De Backer, 18 Bertrand Billi, 19 Gillian Benoy, 20 Nathan Bontems, 21 Tom Cocqu, 22 Alan Williams, 23 Christophe Debaty

Coach: Guillaume Ajac

Russia: 15 Ramil Gaisin, 14 Vasily Artemyev (captain), 13 Dmitry Gerasimov, 12 Sergei Sugrobov, 11 Igor Galinovskiy, 10 Yuri  Kushnarev, 9 Alexei Shcherban, 8 Anton Rudoi, 7 Pavel Butenko, 6 Victor Gresev, 5 Evgeny Elgin, 4 Andrei Garbuzov, 3 Evgeni Pronenko, 2 Valery Tsnobiladze, 1 Andrei Polivalov

Replacements: 16 Nazir Gasanov, 17 Vladimir Podresov, 18 Azamat  Bitiev, 19 Dimitri Krotov, 20 Tagir Gadzhiev, 21 Anton Riabov, 22 A Mikhaltsov, 23 Igor Kurashov

Coach:  Alexandre Pervukhin

Referee: Salem Attalah (France)

Assistant referees: Nicolas Datas (France), Bruno Gabaldon (France)

Georgia vs Germany at Rustavi Stadium, Tbilisi

For the second week in succession, Georgia scored a bonus point, this time scoring eight tries to nil. In fact all their points were try-related as seven of the tries were converted.

At half-time Georgia led 21-6. Germany fell away more and more in the second half.

Fullback Merab Kvirkashvili became the first Lelo to play 100 Tests for Georgia and celebrated it by scoring 10 points,

Scorers:

For Georgia:

Tries:Koshadze 2, Pruidze, Sharikadze, Tkhilaishvili 2, Gorgadze 2

Cons: Kvirkashvili 4, Koshadze

For Germany:

Pens: Parkinson 2

Teams

Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirkashvili, 14 Giorgi Pruidze, 13 Giorgi Koshadze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Revaz Jintchvelashvili, 9 Giorgi Begadze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 6 Lasha Lomidze, 5 Nodar Cheishvili, 4 Giorgi Nemasdze, 3 Soso Bekoshvili, 2 Badri Alkhazashvili, 1 Tornike  Matarasze

Replacements: 16 Giorgi Chkoidze, 17 Giorgi Tetrastili, 18 Lasha Tabidze, 19 Giorgi Mchedlishvili, 20 Saba Shubitdze,  21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Lasha Khmaladze, 23 Lasha Malaguradze

Germany: 15 Harris Aounallah, 14 Oliver Paine, 13 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Jamie Murphy, 11 Alistair Ledingham, 10 Raynor Parkinson, 9 Sean Amstrong (Capt), 8 Timo Vollenkemper, 7 Sebastian Ferreira, 5 Eric Marks, 4 Robert May,  3 Samy Fuchsel, 2 Dash Barber,  1 Julius Nostadt

Replacements: 16 Dale Garner, 17 Jorn Schröder, 18 Antony Dickinson, 19 Sven van Niekerk, 20 Jarrid Els, 21 Mark Sztyndera, 22 Daniel Koch, 23 Mathieu Docau

Coach: Jacobus Potgieter

Referee: Maxime Burlet (Belgium)

Assistant referees: John Catteau (Belgium), Kevin Sulejmani (Belgium)