6NB sewn up?
The competition is played over two years and this is the second year. It would seem, that barring a catastrophe of a miraculous kind Georgia will win it. Perhaps more intriguing is who will come last – Germany or Portugal. That situation became real when in the last round Germany had its first win in eight matches, beating Portugal.
Portugal are involved in the Iberian Derby, which will give it an extra edge.
Russia and Georgia will also have a bit extra to their match, too. After all georgia was a part of Russia and Georgia played within the team called Russia, but now it is on its own and its rugby is flourishing.
The 3-4-5-6 Nations grew as the 6-10-12-14-15-18 Super Rugby has grown. Should the Six Nations become Seven, Georgia would be an obvious addition and one likely to acquit itself well in every way. After all they came third in their pool at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, beaten only by New Zealand and Argentina who did especially well.
Fixtures, Round 9
Russia vs Georgia in Sotchi
Spain vs Portugal in Madrid
Romania vs Germany in Iasi
Results, Round 6
Romania vs Portugal, 39-14
Russia vs Spain, 22-20
Georgia vs Germany, 59-7
Results, Round 7
Romania vs Spain, 21-18
Georgia vs Portugal, 29-3
Russia vs Germany, 46-20
Results, Round 8
Germany vs Portugal, 50-27
Georgia vs Spain, 38-7
Romania vs Russia, 30-0
Log after Round 8
1. Georgia – 36 points
2. Romania – 29 points
3. Russia – 22 points
4. Spain – 16 points
5. Germany – 6 point
6. Portugal – 6 points
Russia vs Georgia in Sotchi on 12 March 2016, kick-off 15.00 local, 12.00 GMT
Of the 13 Georgian forwards in their squad, 12 play abroad, 10 of those 12 in France.
Teams:
Russia: tba
Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Giorgi Aptsiauri, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Tamaz Mtchedlidze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Giorgi Begadze, 8 Lasha Lomidze, 7 Saba Shubitidze, 6 Shalva Sutiashvili (captain), 5 Giorgi Nemsadze, 4 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Kakha Asieshvili
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Zurab Zhvania, 18 Giorgi Melikidze, 19 Kote Mikautadze, 20 Beka Gorgadze 21 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 22 Lasha Malaghuradze, 23 Muraz Giorgadze
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson (England), Paul Dix (England)
Spain vs Portugal on Saturday 12 March 2016, at the Estadio Central de la Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Kick-off 16.00
Spain: 15 Seri Aubanell, 14 Julen Goia, 13 Brad Linklater, 12 Thibaut Álvarez, 11 Ignacio Contardi, 10 Dan Snee, 9 Gregory Maiquez, 8 Jaime Nava, (captain) 7 Mathieu Roca, 6 David Barrera, 5 David Gonzalez, 4 Anibal Bonan, 3 Xerom Civil, 2 Benat Auzqui, 1 Fernando López,
Replacements: 16 Juan Insausti, 17 Joe Hutchinson, 18 Federico Daniel Sanz, 19 Manuel Mora, 20 Adam Newton, 21 Pablo Gil, 22 Gareth Griffiths, 23 Pablo Pontes
Portugal: 15 Nuno Sousa Guedes, 14 José Maria Vareta, 13 Pedro Bettencourt, 12 Manuel Vilela Pereira, 11 Bernardo Seara Cardoso, 10 Tomás Appleton, 9 Francisco Magalhães (captain), 8 João Lino, 7 Miguel Macedo, 6 Maxime Vaz, 5 Salvador Vassalo, 4 Luís Cerquinho, 3 João Almeida, 2 Duarte Diniz, 1 Bruno Medeiros
Replacements: 16 João Corte Real, 17 José Conde, 18 Bruno Rocha, 19 Diogo Toorn, 20 Luís Portela, 21 Sebastião Villax, 22 Francisco Vieira, 23 Tomás Noronha
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
Romania vs Germany on Saturday 12 March 2016 at Stadionul Emil Alexandrescu in Iasi, kick-off 14.00
The great Ovidiu Tonita has announced that this will be his last match. The great forward who played in the Rugby World Cups of 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, turned 35 last August.
Teams
Romania: 15 Ionut Botezatu, 14 Adrian Apostol, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Florin Vlaicu, 11 Stephen Shennan, 10 Jody Rose, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu, 8 Stelian Burcea (captain), 7 Viorel Lucaci, 6 Ovidiu Tonita, 5 Valentin Poparlan, 4 Marius Antonescu, 3 Horace bag, 2 Eugene Capatana, 1 Constantin Pristavita,
Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Mihai Dico, 18 Paul Rusu, 19 Johan van Heerden, 20 Andrei Gorcioaia, 21 Tudorel Bratu, 22 Ovidiu Melniciuc, 23 Florin Ionita
Germany: 15 Raynor Parkinson, 14 Samuel Harris, 13 Paul Bosch, 12 Tomas van Gelderen, 11 Hendrik van der Merwe, 10 Jeremy Te Huia, 9 Sean Armstrong (captain), 8 Andries Theisinger, 7 Jaco Otto, 6 Kehoma Brenner, 5 Rob May, 4 Michael Poppmeier, 3 Damien Tussac, 2 Mikael Tyumenev, 1 Samy Füchsel.
Replacements: 16 Gilles Valette, 17 Jörn Schröder, 18 Matthias Schösser, 19 Eric Marks, 20 Timo Vollenkemper, 21 Tim Menzel, 22 Pierre Mathurin, 23 Pascal Fischer
Referee: Claudio Blessano (Italy)
Assistant referees: Federico Meconi (Italy), Gregorio Piran (Italy)
