6NB: The Russians are coming

Russia had a good win over Romania in Bucharest on Saturday and are well placed to be one of the two sides going directly to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, which would be a first for Russia.

Georgia’s big win over Spain suggests that they could well be the other side, though Portugal look strong. Spain on the other hand will feel that their hopes of again going tot he World Cup are fading.

Results for 28 February 2009

Georgia vs Spain, 55-11
Russia vs Romania, 28-19

Log at present

The competition is over two years.

Spain and German have each played four matches, the others three each.

1 Russia 9
2 Georgia 8
3 Romania 7
4 Portugal 6
5 Spain 6
6 Germany 4

Match details

Georgia vs Spain, 55-11

Spain held up well in the first half but eventually the amateurs succumbed to the muscular professionals.

Spain actually scored first when new flyhalf Jeremías Palumbo of Argentinian origin goaled a penalty in the first minute. Then the Georgian forwards got on top and a succession of mauls produced a succession of penalties and eventually a penalty try which gave Georgia a 7-3 lead after 14 minutes. Two minutes later Mamuka Gorgodze score d a try and then an exchange of penalties gave the visitors a 17-6 lead at the break.

The second half belonged entirely to Georgia. They scored seven tries to one by Palumbo. That try, which made the score 36-11 gave the crowd of some 10 000 something to cheer about. But then the Georgians rumbled on for another three tries.

Scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries: penalty try, Gorgodze 2, Abusseridze, Malaghuradze, Chkjikvadze, Natriashvili, Katcharava
Cons: Malaghuradze 6
Pen: Malaghuradze

For Spain:
Try: Palumbo
Pens: Palumbo 2

Teams:

Spain: 15 César Sempere, 14 Juan Cano, 13 Javier Canosa, 12 Jaime Nava, 11 David Mota, 10 Jeremías Palumbo, 9 Pablo Feijóo, 8 César Bernasconi, 7 Juan González, 6 David Hernández, 5 Sergio Souto, 4 Leandro Fernández Aramburu, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 José María Bohorquez, 1 Ion Insausti
Replacements: 16 Diego Zarzosa, 17 Marco Pinto, 18 Sebastián Hattori, 19 Romain Roques, 20 Mathieu López, 21 Sergio Guerrero, 22 Juan Rafael Álvarez

Georgia: 15 Otar Barkalaia, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Irakli Guiorgadze, 11 Irakli Chkhikvadze, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze (captain), 8 Mamuka Gorgodze, 7 Guia Labadze, 6 George Chkhaidze, 5 Levan Datunashvili, 4 Ilia Zedguinidze,  3 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 2 Akvsent Guiorgadze, 1 Davit Khinchagishvili.
Replacements: 16 Irakli Natriashvili, 17 Dudu Kubriashvili, 18 Dimitri Bassilaia, 19 Rati Urushadze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Tedo Zibzibadze, 22  Sandro Todua

Referee : Franck Maciello (France)
Touch judges: Bruno Bessot (France), Eric Briquet Campin (France)

Russia vs Romania, 28-19

Russia threatened to run away with the match and at one stage led 25-0 but the Oaks fought back, but not well enough. The home side’s recovery started when Russian flyhalf Yury Kushnarev was sent to the sin bin.

Romania felt the absence of tough, experienced men to stand up to the big Russians – men who play in France. They were without hooker Marius Tincu and big No.8 Ovidiu Tonita who both played for Perpignan on Saturday, prop Petrisor Toderasc and loose forward Alexandre Manta who both played for Brive on Saturday and prop Bogdan Balan who played for Montauban on Saturday.

Russia started with a penalty by Kushnarev and followed it with two tries by left wing Alexander Gvozdovsky to lead 15-0 at the break.

Alexandre Kushkin scored a try and then Kushnarev a penalty for 25-0.

Kusnarev was sitting out,  Igor Kluchnikov goaled a penalty but Ionut Dimofte then scored a try for the Oaks, followed by one by Catalin Dascalu  which Petre Mitu converted. The final try for the Oaks was scored by a heap of forwards who crashed over the line as Russia – not for the first time – faded. The scoreline may well have flattered Romania.

Scorers:

For Russia:
Tries: Gvozdovsky 2, Kushkin, ,
Cons: Kushnarev 2
Pens: Kushnarev 2, Kluchnikov

For Romania:
Tries: Dimofte,  Dascalu, A Forward
Cons: Dimofte, Mitu

Teams

Russia squad: Vasily Artemiev, Mikhail Babaev, Igor Kluchnikov, Andrey Kuzin, Yury Kushnarev, Viktor Motorin, Sergey Trishin, Alexander Shakirov, Alexander Yanushkin, Alexander Gvozdovsky, Alexander Gerasimov, Alexander Voytov, Vladislav Korshunov, Kirill Kulemine, Evgeny Matveev, Nikita Medkov, Andrey Ostrikov, Alexey Panasenko, Ivan Prishepenko, Evgeny Pronenko, Alexey Travkin, Artem Fatakhov, Alexander Khrokin

Romania squad: Nicolae Nere, Mihaita Lazar, Paulica Ion, Radu Basalau,  Catalin Beca, Florin Tasca, Stelian  Burcea,  Daniel Carpo, Daniel Ianus, Alin Coste , Gorcioaia Andrei, Mihai  Macovei, Valentin Popirlan, Florin Corodeanu, Petre Mitu, Ionut Dimofte , Catalin Dascalu , Adrin Barbuliceanu, Csaba Gal, Catalin Fercu,  Florian Vlaicu, Valentin
Calafeteanu, Andrei Filip, Ionut Botezatu, Stefan Ciuntu, Madalin Lemnaru

Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Touch judges: Phil Fear (Wales), Phil Connett (Wales)