Preview: Georgia to Win Again?
It used to be France’s domain but this century Georgia have dominated. They are the reigning champions and it would be a surprise if they did not win the title again this year.
In various forms, this competition dates back to 1936. It follows the dropping of France from the Five Nations in 1931, apparently because the Four Home Unions did not like the brutality of French rugby and suspicions of violating the amateur code.
France then joined up with other European countries to form FIRA – Federation International de Rugby Amateur. Apart from France the nations that formed the body were Italy, Romania, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, and Catalonia (still a part of Spain but with many longing for separation). That FIRA organised competitions in 1936, 1937 and 1938, France winning them all.
Then came World War II, after which France was back with the other four to form the Five Nations.
FIRA had competitions in 1952 and 1954 after which it created the FIRA Nations Cup (1965-1973) and then the FIRA Trophy (1973-1997). France played along as France A and did most of the winning, 20 times out of 25 competitions.
Since 2000, France and Italy are out of is and the competition, organised by Rugby Europe, the new name for FIRA, has become regular as the European Nations Cup (2000-16) and then the European National Championship. Of the 17 competitions so far, Georgia have won 11, Romania five and Portugal one.
Georgia have been so successful that there have been calls for a promotion-relegation match between the bottom team of the Six Nations and the top team of the European International Championship, in effect Italy vs Georgia. The two teams have met twice and on each occasion Italy have won – 31-22 in 2003 and 28-17 in 2018. Both matches were played in Italy.
Fixtures for 2020
Round 1
Russia vs Spain
Georgia vs Romania
Portugal vs Belgium
Round 2
Belgium vs Russia
Portugal vs Romania
Spain vs Georgia
Round 3
Georgia vs Belgium
Russia vs Portugal
Romania vs Spain
Round 4
Russia vs Romania
Belgium vs Spain
Portugal vs Georgia
Round 5
Romania vs Belgium
Georgia vs Russia
Spain vs Portugal
Results 2019
Georgia vs Romania, 18-9
Georgia vs Spain, 24-10
Georgia vs Belgium , 46-6
Georgia vs Germany, 52-3
Georgia vs Russia, 22-6
Spain vs Russia, 16-14
Spain vs Romania, 21-18
Spain vs Belgium, 47-9
Spain vs Germany, 33-10
Romania vs Germany 38-10
Romania vs Russia, 22-20
Romania vs Belgium, 43-17
Russia vs Belgium, 64-7
Russia vs Germany, 26-18
Belgium vs Germany, 29-22
Germany were relegated.
Georgia vs Romania at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilissi
The two countries are neighbours and in fact share the scholarly St Antim. When they ;play each other, they do so for the Antim Cup.
Georgia have rather usurped Romania’s place in eastern rugby and at the Rugby World Cup.
The match between the Lelos and the Oaks could be a tough forward battle. It will be intense.
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Lasha Khmaladze, 14 Mirian Modebadze, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Otari Giorgadze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Nodar Cheishvili, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (captain)
Replacements: 16 Giorgi Chkoidze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Giorgi Melikidze, 19 Shalva Sutiashvili, 20 Beka Saginadze, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Ioseb Matiashvili
Coach: Levan Maisashvili
Romania: 15 Melinte Ionel, 14 Simionescu Marius, 13 Fercu Catalin, 12 Vlaicu Florian, 11 Dumitru Ionut, 10 Plai Daniel, 9 Surugiu Florin( (captain), 8 Chirica Cristi, 7 Ser Dragos, 6 Lazar Dorin, 5 Johan van Heerden, 4 Ionut Muresan, 3 Aexandru-MihaiTarus, 2 Marian Capatina, 1 Constantin Pristavita
Replacements: 16 Cojocaru Ovidiu, 17 Hartig Iulian, 18 Motoc Adrian, 19 Ion Adrian, 20 Boldor Boghita, 21 Bratu Tudorel, 22 Neagu Robert, 23 Pungea Horatiu
Coach: Andrew Robinson
Referee: Tom Foley (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Paul Dix (England)
Citing commissioner: Mike Hamlin (England)
Portugal vs Belgium at Estádio Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon
This could be the battle to avoid relegation in the very first round of the competition. Portugal are just back and Belgium just award relegation, thanks to the weakness of the German side in 2019.
Teams:
Portugal: 15 Manuel Pinto, 14 Danny Antunnes, 13 Antonio Vidinha, 12 Tomas Appleton (captain), 11 José Vareta, 10 Miguel Morais, 9 Joao Belo, 8 Thibault Freitas, 7 Joao Granate, 6 David Carvalho, 5 José Andrade, 4 José Madeira, 3 Diogo Ferreira, 2 Lionel Campergue, 1 Ivo Morais
Replacements: 16 Francisco Bruno, 17 Rodrigo Bento, 18 Duarte Torgal, 19 Manuel Eusebio, 20 Duarte Azevedo, 21 Joao Lima, 22 Joao Freudenthal, 23 Joao Corte-Real
Coach: Patrice Lagisquet
Belgium: 15 Alan Williams, 14 Craig Dowsett, 13 Nathan Bontems, 12 Guillaume Piron, 11 Gaspard Lalli, 10 Ryan Godsmark, 9 Julien Berger, 8 Gillian Benoy, 7 Jean-Maurice Decubber, 6 Lucas De-Coninck, 5 Mathieu Verschelden, 4 Guillaume Mortier, 3 Maxime Jadot, 2 Thomas Dienst (captain), 1 Bastien Gallaire
Replacements: 16 Vincent Tauzia, 17 Julien Massimi, 18 Billi Bertrand, 19 Thomas De-Molder, 20 William Van-Bost, 21 Tom Cocqu, 22 Louis De-Moffarts, 23 Bruno Vliegen
Coach: Guillaume Ajac
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Graeme Ormiston (Scotland)
Citing commissioner: Gordon Black (Ireland)
Russia vs Spain at Sochi Central Stadium, Sochi
There were only two points in it in 2019 when Spain won in Spain. It may well be close this time in Russia when the Russians are expected to dominate up front with tough veteran Victor Gresev in the lead while the Spanish backs are expected to be a handful.
Much may well depend on the boot of New Zealand-born Brad Linklater at flyhalf for Spain. It is just possible that Russia may at the end be hoping for a contribution from veteran Yuri Kushnarev, capped 112 times and the scorer of nearly 800 points for his country.
Teams
Russia: 15 Artemyev Vasily (captain), 14 German Davydov, 13 Dmitrii Gerasimov, 12 Kirill Golosnitskii, 11 Po Daniiltikhanov, 10 Ramil Gaisin, 9 Vasili Dorofeev, 8 Viktor Gresev, 7 Vitaly Zhivatov, 6 Nikita Vavilin, 5 Andrei Garbuzov, 4 Igor Zykov, 3 Vladimir Podrezov, 2 Stanislav Selskii, 1 Andrei Polivalov
Replacements: 16 Matveev Evgenii, 17 Mishechkin Evgeny, 18 Bitiev Azamat, 19 Elgin Evgeny, 20 Sychev Anton, 21 Shcherban Alexey, 22 Yuri Kushnarev, 23 Sozonov Vladislav
Coach: Lyn Jones
Spain: 15 John-Wessel Bell, 14 Ignacio Contardi, 13 Richard Stewart, 12 Thibaut Álvarez, 11 Jordi Jorba, 10 Bradley Linklater, 9 Guillame Rouet, 8 Lionel-Afase Tauli, 7 Gauthier Gibouin, 6 Victor Sánchez, 5 Michael Walker-Fitton, 4 Lucas Guillame, 3 Albert Bolanco, 2 Vicente Del-Hoyo, 1 Fernando Lopez (captain)
Replacements: 16 Thierry Futeu, 17 Matthew Smith, 18 Jon Zabala, 19 Nathan Paila, 20 Fred Quercy, 21 Lucas Rubio, 22 Andrea Rabago, 23 Julen Goia
Coach: Santiago Santos
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Federico Boraso (Italy), Emanuele Tomò (Italy)
Citing commissioner: Beth Dickens (Scotland)
