Big opportunities in ENC

The European Nations Cup – “Six Nations B” – is played over two years, and this is the second year. There is a lot at stake for the six sides.

First there is the title itself. Secondly there is the carrot of a trip to New Zealand next year for the World Cup. The first two teams at the end of this competition go to New Zealand; the third-placed side has a chance to qualify further.

At the moment Georgia, Russia and Portugal are in the top three. If the status quo remains Russia will go to the World Cup for the first time and Romania will miss out for the first time.

All the teams have played five matches.

Log

1 Georgia – 14 points
2 Russia – 13 points
3 Portugal – 12 points
4 Romania – 9 points
5 Spain 5 – 7 points
6 Germany 5 – 5 points

By the FIRA-AER system of allotting points, the winner takes three points, the loser one point and there are two points for a draw.

Fixtures this weekend

Russia vs Portugal in Sotchi
Romania vs Spain In Bucharest
Georgia vs Germany in Tblissi

Matches and Teams

Russia vs Portugal in Sotchi

This is the top match of the weekend – 2nd vs 3rd with a lot riding on it by both sides. Both teams have had warm-ups for it. Russia have again been in South Africa and have had a match against Namibia. Portugal have stayed at home and also played Namibia and also, last weekend, England Students, whom they beat. Russia had matches against Pretoria teams – Blue Bulls and Tukkies – and lost them. Portugal had home matches against Tonga and the Argentinian Jaguars, and lost them.

But Russia beat Namibia – admittedly a weakened side – 30-15 in Windhoek while Namibia beat Portugal 12-9 in Lisbon.

In the first round Russia just beat Portugal in Lisbon.

Carlo Maghlakelidze of the Russian squad is a Georgian by birth.

Portugal are without four France-based players who are injured – Christian Spachuk (Colomiers), Julien Bardy (Clermont), Aurélien Beco (Limoges), Emmanuel Rebelo (Dijon) and Lionel Campergue (Pau).

Russia have back big 29-year-old lock Kiril Kulemin who plays for Castres in the Top 14.

The match will be played down in Sotchi, a warm town on the Black Sea at the fort of the Caucuses, southeast of Krasnodar. Russia is using the area near the Georgian border more and more to avoid the extremes of Moscow’s climate.

Teams:

Russian squad: Alexander Khrokin (captain), Vladislav Korshunov, Alexander Voytov, Kiril Kushnarev, Evgeny Matveev, Viktor Gresev, Alexei Panasenko, Alexander Shakirov, Alexander Yanyushkin, Yuri Kushnarev, Sergei Trishin, Mikhail Babaev, Vasily Artemiev, Andrei Kuzin, Igor Klyuchnikov, Vladimir Botvinnik, Eugene Pronenko, Andrew Temnov, Artem Fatakhov, Alexei Korobeynikov, Andrew Garbuzov, Alexei Makovetskii, Igor Galinovsky, Alexander Gvozdovsky, Kiril Kulemin, Andrew Ostrikov, Carlo Maglakelidze

Portugal squad: João Junior (CDUL), Juan Murré (Auch, France), Francisco Fernandes (Tyrosse, France), Thomas da Costa (Lourdes, France), João Correia (Direito) (captain), Eduardo Acosta (Direito), Gonçalo Uva (Direito), David Penalva (Auch, France), Vasco Uva (Direito), Salvador Palha (Direito), Juan Severon (Agronomia), Tiago Girão (CDUL), José Pinto (Direito), Pedro Cabral (CDUL, Cardoso Pinto (Agronomia), Pedro Silva, Belenenses), Diogo Matues (Belenenses), David Mate (Belenenses), Frederico Oliveira (CDUL), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), Antonio Aguilar (Direito), Pedro Leal (Direito)

Date: 6 February 2010
Kick-off: 15.30 (GMT12.30)
Venue: Metreveli Stadium in Sotchi
Expected weather conditions: 20% chance of rain with a high of 11°C, dropping to 5°C and an easterly wind of 10 km/h
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)
Assistant referees: Bruno Bessot (France), Akim Hadj Bachir (France)
 
Romania vs Spain in Bucharest

It’s important for Romania if they are to have a hope of going to New Zealand and for Spain, participants in 1999, this is last-ditch saloon.

Victors in Madrid, the Oaks will surely win in Bucharest. Their forwards will be too strong for the Lions of Spain. Even the weather is more likely to suit the Romanians than the Spaniards.

Most of the Romanian forwards play in France, the backs all in Romania – which may be a comment on the relative strengths of Romanian Rugby.

Teams:

Romania squad: Cezar Popescu (Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, France), Dragos Dima (Oloron, France), Silviu Florea (Montauban, France), Paulica Ion (London Irish, England), Mikhail Lazar (Saint-Étienne, France), Marius Tincu (Perpignan, France), Andrei Radoi (Baia Mare), Sorin Socol (Oloron, France), Augustin Petrichei ( Marmande, France), Cristian Petre (Béziers, France), Valentin Ursache (Baia Mare), Stelian Burcea  (Arad), Daniel Carpo (Farul), MikhaIL Macovei (Baia Mare), Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan, France), Alexandru Manta (Lyon, France), Sergiu Ursache (Casinò di Venezia, Italy), Lucian Sirbu (Somillau), Valentin Calafeteanu (Arad), Iulian Dumitras (Albi, France), Dan Dumbrava (Steaua Bucuresti), Ionut Dimofte (Baia Mare), Csaba Gal (Baia Mare), Robert Dascalu (Steaua Bucuresti), Constantin Gheara (Farul), Ionel Cazan (Steaua Bucuresti), Catalin Fercu (Arad), Stefan Ciuntu (Baia Mare), Nicolae Catalin (Farul), Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucuresti), Ionut Botezatu (Baia Mare)

Spain squad: Forwards : José-Maria Bohorquez (Ciencias Sevilla), David Gurgenadze (CRC Madrid), Alejandro Onega (CRC Madrid), José Moreno (Bordeaux-Bègles, France), Marco Pinto (Clermont Espoirs, France), Mathieu Cidre (Carcassonne, France), Leandro Fernandez-Aramburu (Ciencias Sevilla), JesRecuerda (Ciencias Sevilla), Sergio Souto (Cetransa El Salvador), Rafael Camacho (Ciencias Sevilla), Martin Aceña (La Vila), Matthew Cook (La Vila), Julien Tourtoulou (Colomiers, France), Damien Elgohyen (St Jean de Luz Olympique, France), Pablo Feijóo (CRC Madrid), Mathieu Lopez (Mont-de-Marsan, France), Cesar Sempere (Montpellier, France), Mathieu Gratton (Graulhet, France), Martín Heredia (Costa del Sol), Benjamin Pardo (Valladolid RAC), Jaime Nava (Alcombendas), Javier Canosa (CRC Madrid), Pedro Martín (Bayonne Espoirs, France), Ignacio Martín (Overmach Parma, Italy).

Date: 6 February 2010
Kick-off: 14.00 (GMT12.00)
Venue: Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Expected weather conditions: 20% chance of snow with a high 1°C, dropping to -3°C and a westerly of  21 km/h
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Darragh McCormack (Ireland)
 
Georgia vs Germany in Tblissi

This is probably the easiest result to bet on – log-leaders against the winless bottom team.

Matthieu Franke has withdrawn from the German team because of a knee injury. He is replaced by his brother Guillaume.

This is about as strong a team as Georgia can pick, given the suspension of Mamuka Gorgodze.

Teams:

Germany squad: Kieron Davies (Ampthill, England), Raphael Hackl (Berliner RC), Benjamin Krause (DSV 78 Hannover), Rafael Pyrasch (DSV 78 Hannover), Benjamin Simm (DSV 78 Hannover), Steffen Liebig (Heidelberger RK), Patrick Schliwa (Heidelberger RK), Guillaume Franke, Alexander Widiker (Orléans, France), Clemens von Grumbkow (RC Prato/Italien), Tim Coly (RG Heidelberg), Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg), Edmoore Takaendesa (RG Heidelberg), Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg), Lukas Hinds-Johnson (RK 03 Berlin), Lukas Rosenthal (RK 03 Berlin), Alexander Hauck (SC Frankfurt 1880), Jamie Ben Houston (SC Frankfurt 1880), Daniel Preussner (SC Frankfurt 1880), Mark Sztyndera (SC Frankfurt 1880), Rolf Wacha (SC Frankfurt 1880), Shalva Didebashvili (SC Neuenheim)

Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Irakli Abuseridze, 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Ilia Zedginidze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Akvsent Giorgadze, 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze
Replacements from: Davit Khinchagishvili, Iuri Natriashvili, Levan Datunashvili, Viktor Kolelishvili, Lasha Tavartkiladze, Dimitri Basilaia, Irakli Kiasashvili, Alexandre Todua, Irakli Chkhikvadze, Irakli Giorgadze, Bidzina Samkharadze

Date: 6 February 2010
Kick-off: 14.00 (GMT10.00
Venue: National Stadium, Tblissi
Expected weather conditions: Miserable – overcast with a high of 0°C, dropping to -5°C and a southerly wind of 10 km/h
Referee: Patrick Pechambert (France)
Assistant referees: Sébastien Minery (France), Eric Gonthier (France)

Results in the first round

Georgia vs Germany, 38-5 in Heidelberg
Georgia vs Portugal, 20-20 in Tblissi
Georgia vs Romania, 28 – 23 in Tblissi
Georgia vs Russia, 29-21 in Mariupol (Ukraine)
Georgia vs Spain, 55-11 in Madrid
Portugal vs Germany, 44 – 6 in Lisbon
Portugal vs Spain, 24-19 in Lisbon
Portugal vs Romania, 22-21 in Bucharest
Romania vs Spain, 19-10 in Madrid
Romania vs Germany, 22-0 in Heidelberg
Russia vs Germany, 53-0 in Hanover
Russia vs Portugal, 18-14 in Lisbon
Russia vs Spain, 42-15 in Moscow
Russia vs Romania, 28-19 in Bucharest
Spain vs Germany, 22-11 in Madrid

Matches for the rest of the competition

13 February
Spain vs Russia in Madrid
Portugal vs Georgia in Lisbon
Romania vs Germany in Bucharest

27 February
Russia vs Romania in Sotchi
Germany vs Portugal in Heusenstamm
Georgia vs Spain in Tblissi

13 March
Romania vs Georgia in Bucharest
Spain vs Portugal in Madrid S
Russia vs Germany in Krasnodar/Sotchi

20 March
Germany vs Spain in Heidelberg
Georgia vs Russia in Trabzon, Turkey
Portugal vs Romania in Lisbon