6NB: Surprise Champions

This one-point victory, astonishingly, made them the Champions, even though the trophy was awarded to Georgia after the match in Bucharest. "If two or more teams have same number of points the best ranked will be the Union having more match points in the games played between the tied Unions". 8-7 decided it. The trophy belongs to Romania.

Romania started the 2017 campaign beaten by Germany for the first time ever. But since then they have turned their fortunes around, winning their next four matches, including that over the Lelos in Bucharest. The victory was by only a single point, but what an important point.

Qualification from Rugby Europe's Championship for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, carries on in 2018, after which the qualifier for the World Cup and the qualifier for a further chance through répechage will be decided. Romania seem now set fair to join Georgia at. At the same time Germany's hopes, so bright after Round 1, are fading.

If the qualifiers were now decided, Romania would go to Japan and Spain into répechage.

Belgium, just promoted to this elite group, are to play Portugal in May in an attempt to ward off relegation.

Round 5 Results

Russia vs Germany, 52-25

Spain vs Belgium, 30-0

Romania vs Georgia, 8-7

Previous Results

Round 1

Spain vs Russia, 16-6

Georgia vs Belgium, 31-6

Germany vs Romania, 41-38

Round 2

Georgia vs Germany, 50-6

Russia vs Belgium, 25-18

Romania vs Spain, 13-3

Round 3

Romania vs Russia, 30-10

Germany vs Belgium, 34-29

Georgia vs Spain, 20-10

Round 4

Romania vs Belgium, 33-17

Spain vs Germany, 32-15

Georgia vs Russia, 28-14

Log after Round 5

1. Romania (19 pts)

2. Georgia (19 pts)

3. Spain (13 pts)

4. Russia (9 pts)

5. Germany (8 pts)

6. Belgium (2 pts)

Russia vs Germany

The first half was sedate in cold Sochi, ending with the score 12-7 but the second half produced 58 points.

Scorers

For Russia:

Tries: Gaisin, Simplikevich, Gerasimov 2, Elgin, Artemyev, Krotov 2

Cons: Yuri Kushnarev 5, Gaisin

For Germany:

Tries: Parkinson, Mathurin 2

Cons: Parkinson, Hilsenbeck

Pens: Hilsenbeck 2

Teams

Russia: 15 Yuri Kushnaryov, 14 Denis Simplikevich, 13 Dmitry Gerasimov, 12 Igor Galinovsky, 11 Vasily Artemyev, 10 Ramil Gaisin, 9 Konstantin Uzunov, 8 Anton Rudoy, 7 Dmitry Krotov, 6 Victor Gresev, 5 Evgeny Elgin, 4 Bogdan Fedotko, 3 Innokenty Zykov, 2 Valery Tsnobililze, 1 Andrey Polivalov

Replacements: 16 Nazir Hasanov, 17 Vladimir Podrezov, 18 Azamat Bitiyev, 19 Pavel Butenko, 20 Tagir Hajiyev, 21 Alexey Shcherban, 22 Sergey Trishin, 23 Alexey Mikhaltsov

Germany: 15 Harris Aounallah, 14 Bastian Himmer, 13 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Raynor Parkinson, 11 Pierre Mathurin, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 9 Sean Armstrong (captain), 8 Jarrid Els, 7 Kehoma Brenner, 6 Jaco Otto, 5 Sebastian Ferreira, 4 Eric Marks, 3 Samy Füchsel, 2 Mika Tyumenev, 1 Julius Nostadt

Replacements: 16 Dash Barber, 17 Jörn Schröder, 18 Anthony Dickinson, 19 Timo Vollenkemper, 20 H-T Schmidt, 21 Tim Menzel, 22 Oliver Paine, 23 Jamie Murphy

Referee: Cédric Marchat (France)

Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Thomas Déjean (France)

Spain vs Belgium

At the university ground in Madrid, Spain's Brad Linklater opened the scoring with a penalty after just three minutes. Tries and a second penalty made the half-time score 20-0. Replacement prop Juan Lazaro scored the only try of the second half.

Scorers

For Spain:

Tries: Martín, Perrin, Jorba

Cons: Linklater 3

Pens: Linklater 3

Teams

Spain:  15 Brad Linklater, 14 Silvio Algorritz, 13 Fabien Perrin, 12 Dan Snee, 11 Jordi Jorba, 10 Mathieu Belié, 9 Guillaume Rouet, 8 Jaime Nava De Olano (captain), 7 Gautier Gibouin, 6 Pierre Barthere, 5 Ignacio Martín, 4 David Howarth, 3 Jesus Moreno Rodriguez, 2 Marco Pinto Ferrer, 1 Benat Auzqui

Replacements: 16 Fernando Perez, 17 Juan Anaya Lazaro, 18 Alberto Blanco Alonso, 19 Anibal Fernando Bonan, 20 Ilaitia Gavidi, 21 Sébastien Rouet, 22 Thibaut Alvarez, 23 Alvar Gimeno Soria

Belgium: 15 Alan Williams, 14 Charles Reynaert, 13 Jens Torfs (captain), 12 Florian Piron, 11 Craig Dowsett, 10 Kevin Williams, 9 Tom Cocqu, 8 Thomas Demolder, 7 Baptiste Lescarboura, 6 Bertrand Billi, 5 Thomas Vervoort, 4 Clément Veeckman, 3 Jean-Baptiste De Clercq, 2 Thomas Diensté, 1 Julien Massimi

Replacements: 16 Max Dubois, 17 Christophe Debaty, 18 Tuur Moelants, 19 Gillian Benoy, 20 Sven D'Hooghe, 21 Nathan Bontems, 22 Isaac Montoisy, 23 Maxime Jadot

Referee: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)

Assistant referees: Radu Petrescu (Romania), Alexandru Ionescu (Romania)

Romania vs Georgia

On Sunday, Romania scored first at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf with its 4 000 spectators, when fullback Catalin Fercu went over for a try.

Just before half-time inside centre Merab Sharikadze scored the Lelos' try, converted by fullback Merab Kvirkashvili.

There was only one score in the second half but a vital one. With 28 minutes still to play, veteran Florin Viaicu, playing his 96th match for his country, goaled a penalty, and Romania led 8-7.

The rest of the match was played with increasing intensity.

Winning meant that Romania take the Championship and also the Antim Cup, named after a saint who had connections with both countries. The last time Romania beat Georgia was in 2010.

Scorers

For Romania:

Try: Fercu

Pen: Viacu

For Georgia:

Try: Sharikadze

Con: Kvirkashvili

Teams

Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Stephen Shennan, 13 Jack Umaga, 12 Sione Fakaosilea, 11 Ionut Dumitru, 10 Florin Viaicu, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Mihai Macovei (captain), 7 Andrei Gorcioaia, 6 Viorel Lucaci, 5 Johan van Heerden, 4 Marius Antonescu, 3 Alexandru Tarus, 2 Otar Turashvili, 1 Ionel Badiu

Replacements: 16 Eugen Capatana, 17 Constantin Pristavita, 18 Alexandru Gordas, 19 Valentin Poparlan, 20 Dorin Lazar, 21 Valentin Calafeteanu, 22 Jody Rose, 23 Madalin Lemnaru

Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirkashvili, 14 Irakli  Svanidze, 13 Davit Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka  Gorgadze, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (captain), 6 Giorgi Tetrashvili, 5 Konstantin Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemasdze, 3 Soso Bekoshvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Shalva Mamukashvili

Replacements: 16 Zurab  Zhvania, 17 Tornike Mataradze, 18 Lasha Tabidze, 19 Lasha  Lomidze, 20 Giorgi Tsutskiridze,  21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 L Malaguradze, 23 Giorgi  Koshadze

Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)

Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)