6NB: Two top matches
In the European Nations Cup, the top four teams will be in action this weekend for Georgia and Russia meet and so do Romania and Portugal.
These are vital matches as the top two players go directly to New Zealand in 2011 and the third can qualify through répechage.
Romania, who have been to all World Cups so far, are worried and there have been ructions in Bucharest about the team and the non-selection of experienced players playing in France. Some of them will be in the side this week – and “coincidentally” – France’s Top 14 has a bye this weekend. So Portugal are likely to play the fill Romanian might. That said, the weakened side ran Georgia close in Tblissi last weekend.
It is tight in the “Six Nations B”.
The log at present is:
1 Georgia 11
2 Russia 9
3 Portugal 9
4 Romania 8
5 Spain 7
6 Germany 4
Russia vs Georgia
In 12 matches Russia have beaten Georgia, once a part of the USSR, only once. There has been a draw and the Lelos have won the rest. History will not produce victory for the Georgians for Russia are a much improved side this year and the Portuguese proved the Lelos’ vulnerability recently.
Still Georgia had a good win over Romania in Tblissi last week and they have virtually the same side to face the Russian Bear.
Whereas only one of the Georgians plays his club rugby in Georgia only three Russians play abroad – Kiril Koulemine of Castres, Andrey Ostrikov of Agen and Vasile Artemeev of University College, Dublin. Georgia has more players playing in Russia than in Georgia!
This match is not being played in Russia by at Mariupol, a warmer seaport and resort on the Sea of Azov. It was for a short while called Zhdanov. If this is warmer the rest is cold indeed!
Didier Mene will referee the match, his last Test match as he goes into administration as France’s refereeing boss.
Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili (Massy, France), 14 Irakli Machkhaneli (Agen, France), 13 David Katcharava (Enissei, Russia), 12 Irakli Guiorgadze (Dax, France), 11 Malkhaz Urjukashvili (Aurillac, France), 10 Lasha Malaghuradze (Béziers, France), 9 Irakli Abusseridze (Orleans, France) (captain), 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier, France), 7 George Chkhaidze (Métro Racing, France), 6 Grigol Labadze (Toulon, France), 5 Ilia Zedguinidze (Aix, France), 4 Levan Datunashvili (Aurillac, France), 3 Goderdzi Shvelidze (Montauban, France), 2 Irakli Natriashvili (Farul Romania), 1 David Khinchagishvili (Brive, France)
Replacements: 16 Anton Peikrishvili (Agen, France), 17 David Kubriashvili (Toulon, France), 18 Ratiu Urushadze (Enissei Russia), 19 Dimitri Basilaia (Morlaàs, France), 20 Bidzina Samkharadze (Farul Romania), 21 Sandro Todua (Lelo, Georgia), 22 Otar Barkalaia (Andorra)
Russia squad: Vasile Artemeev (UCD), Mikhail Babaev (VVA), Igor Kluchnikov (VVA), Andrey Kuzin (VVA), Yury Kushnarev (VVA), Viktor Motorin (VVA), Sergey Trishin (VVA), Alexander Shakirov (VVA), Alexander Yanushkin (Slava), Alexander Gvozdovsky (Krasniy Yar), Alexander Gerasimov (Enisey-Stm), Alexander Voytov (VVA), Vladislav Korshunov (VVA), Kiril Koulemine (Castres), Evgeny Matveev (VVA), Nikita Medkov (Slava), Andrey Ostrikov (Agen), Alexey Panasenko (VVA), Ivan Prishepenko (Enisey-Stm), Evgeny Pronenko (Enisey-Stm), Alexey Travkin (VVA), Artem Fatakhov (Enisey-Stm), Alexander Khrokin (VVA)
Date: Saturday,
Kick-off:
Venue:
Expected weather conditions: 20% chance of snow with a high of 1°C which becomes -9°C because of a strong northwester.
Referee: Didier Mene (France)
Touch judges: Cédric Marchat, Laurent Cardona
Romania vs Portugal
Romania sacked the coach Ellis Meachen because he was not selecting players from abroad..
Back in the Romanian side after missing last week are star scrumhalf and goal-kicker Petre Mitu, Florin Corodeanu, Alex Manta and Christian Petre. But there are several still missing – Ovidiu Tonita and Marius Tincu of Perpignan, Bogdan Balan and Silviu Florea of Montauban and Petru Balan of Brive.
Romanian squad: Paulica Ion (Bath, England), Nicolae Nere (Steaua Bucuresti), Mihaita Lazar (Poli Iasi), Mihai Adascalitei (Dinamo Bucuresti), Florin Tasca (Dinamo Bucuresti), Catalin Beca (Dinamo Bucuresti), Alin Coste (Narbonne, France), Cristian Petre (Béziers), Cosmin Ratiu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Stelian Burcea (Dinamo Bucuresti), Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare), Daniel Carpo (Farul Constanta), Florin Corodeanu (Saint Marcellin), Daniel Ianus (Steaua Bucuresti), Alexandru Manta (Agen, France), Petre Mitu (Montauban, France), Vali Calafeteanu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Razvan Stanca (Dinamo Bucuresti), Ionut Dimofte (Steaua Bucuresti), Adrian Barbuliceanu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Catalin Dascalu (Steaua Bucuresti), Csaba Gal (Dinamo Bucuresti), Catalin Fercu (Steaua Bucuresti), Madalin Lemnaru (Aurel Vlaicu Arad), Catalin Nicolae (Farul Constanta), Ionut Botezatu (Baia Mare), Stefan Ciuntu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucuresti)
Portugal squad: João Correia (Direito), Aderito Esteves (Direito), Pedro Leal (Direito), Vasco Uva (Direito), Salvador Palha (Direito), Antonio Aguilar (Direito), Eduardo Acosta (Direito), Pedro Silva (Belenenses), João Uva (Belenenses), Diogo Mateus (Belenenses), David Mateus (Belenenses), Bernardo Duarte (Agronomia), Juan Severino (Agronomia), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), João Junior (CDUL), David Penalva ( Auch, France), Cristian Spachuck ( Auch, France), Gonçalo Uva (Montpellier), Juan Murré (Saint-Naaire), Jose Pinto (Roma Olimpico), Pedro Cabral (Madrid), Diogo Gama (Madrid), Tiago Girão (Madrid), Julian Bardi (Clermont Auvergne)
Date: Saturday,21 March 2009
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain, a high of 9°C dropping to 0°C and an easterly wind that would make itmuch colder.
Referee: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Touch judges: Akim Hadj Bachir, Thierry Laur
