There is another Six Nations Rugby Championship being played in Europe at the moment. It is played over two years which allows for home and away games against each other.
There is also promotion and relegation at the end of the two year cycle. For the 2008/10 series, Germany has been promoted at the expense of the Czech Republic.
Last weekend, saw two important games being played, Romania at home to Portugal and the Russia/Georgia clash.
It was the first rugby clash between the two countries since last year’s invasion by Russia of Georgia. Both teams were undefeated going into the game.
Originally scheduled to be played in Russia, the match was shifted to Mariupol in neutral Ukraine to avoid potential administrative problems.
A determined second half attack against a tiring Georgia was not enough for Russia to win the game. Coached by Australian, Tim Lane, Georgia held a commanding 21-6 halftime lead.
Russia closed the score to 24-21, but the Lelos with flyhalf, Lasha Malaguradze outstanding, Georgia finally scored five tries to two to win the match, 29-21.
In Bucharest, Romania went to a 21-9 lead early in the second half but Portugal kept plugging away to narrow the gap and in the last play of the game, scored a converted try to win the game 22-21. It was the first time that Portugal had ever won in Bucharest.
The Lobos of Portugal have been described as “a real mystery. When you’re watching them, you just see an undersized pathetic team, and they keep going on, win matches where they are completely dominated in possession and territory.”
On the other hand, Romania appear to be static or even falling back as they now slide to fourth on the table.
Portugal gave had only one loss, that to Russia, but managed to snatch a 20 all draw in the final minute against Georgia in Tbilisi.
This is the way the table looks at the moment. There is one game to play in the first round, a 2nd May fixture between Russia and Germany. Note that FIRA-AER points awarded are 3 for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for a loss.
This system goes back to the bad old days when teams would forfeit or just not turn up and were given no points.
Play Win Draw Lose For Agst Pts
Georgia 5 4 1 0 170 80 14
Portugal 5 3 1 1 124 84 12
Russia 4 3 0 1 109 77 10
Romania 5 2 0 3 104 88 9
Spain 5 1 0 4 77 151 7
Germany 4 0 0 4 22 126 4
Both Spain and Germany have been competitive but unable to match the “big boys” in fitness or tactics.
Georgia’s win on Sunday will put them in 13th place in the world rankings, overtaking Tonga.
It also means that the Lelos are within striking distance of 12th placed Italy. Is it now the time to look at promotion and relegation to the major Six Nations Championship?
Georgian fans waiting at Tbilisi airport for the return of their winning Lelos team
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nick said | March 25th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
great to see the game growing!
WorkingClassRugger said | March 25th 2009 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
I have been keeping a keen eye on this championship. My tip for automatic RWC qualification are Georgia and Russia. This is a great Championship. Involving some the the more populus European nations. I would like to see a freeze on the Relegation in this division though. Germany just got in and probably will get the axe straight up. Germany offers far greater growth potential than say the Czech Rep. at the moment, so the IRB should give them time to stabilize and establish themselves. In fact set these nations as the permanent Div 2 that get promoted up to the Six Nations proper or even into a Expanded Version. The nations directly below the Division 2 championship can be worked on to increase their competitiveness and exposure. But give these six as much quality games as they can on a yearly basis.
Georgia will probably crack the top 10 by the 2011 RWC. They have had Tier 1 aspirations for a long time now, watch out for Russia, they are getting real serious now their acadamy set up is impressive and can challenge anyone in the world in facilities and resources. Romania could enter Tier 1 if they got their act together. Portugal showed they have what it takes to achieve greater things, Spain if done right can become a rugby nation alongside football (soccer) and Germany. Well I was rather excited by their promotion into this competion, a nation of 84 million with potential to boot. If managered right Tier 1 coulld grow from 10 to as many as 12 in coming years and 16 – 20 in the next 15 or so. Next stop Africa.
By the way Tier 1 now consistis of:
SA
AUS
NZ
ARG
IRE
ENG
ITA
WAL
SCO
FRA
If developed right and given more exposure:
GEO
RUS
USA
CAN
JAP
ROM
FIJ
SOM
TON
GER
SPA
PORT can press for ligitimate top tier status. Some may call this a pipe dream but all these nation have what it takes so it up to the IRB to help them get there.
Oh, yeah here’s a roughy. Kenya. Already they have a impressive participation rate and the IRB have investment a good deal of money to introduce 100,000 school kids to the game over the next few years. So maybe a 15′s side might start making waves aswell as their 7′s team. Plus there are a couple of S. American nations that have promise too.
True Tah said | March 26th 2009 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
WCR
yes the Russians are getting pretty serious about rugby, I remember seeing a clip on Total Rugby which showed the Academy they set up – it would put anything in Australian rugby to shame…a bunch of rich blokes with admittedly questionable backgrounds are starting to put some $$$ into the game…plus the Russians are big strong guys, rugby would be a good fit for them.
Tifosi said | March 26th 2009 @ 7:13pm | Report comment
Wouldnt Fiji be in the top tier as well?
For rugby to grow we shouldnt be putting teams like Portugal in a position where they will get thumped a 100 nil by NZ in a world cup. Doesnt do the tournament or team any favours.
Have a tournament for the lesser nations and keep them consistently playing. I know people say you have to play the best to improve, but look at Italy, they play six nations and still struggle. putting lesser names against the bigger ones once every 4 years isnt going to help them.
WorkingClassRugger said | March 26th 2009 @ 8:08pm | Report comment
They are pretty close when they have their best(Fiji that is). But unfortunately they rarely ever achieve this due to clubs holding onto their players. The Russian set up is very impressive considering they are a tier 2 nation. Definite future planning on their part. They want to play regular test rugby in the not to distant future. They will probably get there either around the same time as Georgia or even earlier.
WorkingClassRugger said | March 28th 2009 @ 12:27am | Report comment
Teams like Portugal getting thumped isn’t good. But they really have only just started to emerge. Give them a few more years of consistent competitive rugby against their current rivals and organise annual or bi-annual games against lesser 6 Nations teams i.e Italy and Scotland and 100-0 tallies will begin to reduce rapidly. A controlled introduction in standard is the key. Georgia and Russia would benefit greatly to a approach like this. I don’t believe it would be long before they actually beat these teams and assert themselves in the big leagues of international Rugby. This is my opinion in regards to the US and Can. They already have the Churchill Cup but should also be permitted to play in a expanded Pacific Nations cup. The more International rugby these two get the better they’ll get. I long for the day when I can go watch a test match between AUS and USA/CAN and can be assured of a competitive and tough game. I’m pretty disappointed at the lack of interest in this topic. This is one of the great strengths of our game. In terms of ball sports we lie second only to soccer. We are actually larger than Basketball, but its pretty close. To be able to look all around the world and find Rugby being played. Being the 2nd football code internationally is a great place to be sitting. If we gain Olympic status its game over for our competitors(except soccer) We are bopping along very well in terms of growth especially in non traditional areas. I believe we should form a partnership with Soccer internationally. Not every can player Soccer and my bet is that many of those who can’t would be better suited to Rugby. And vice versa. Its parasytic but its symbiotic.
Sammy22 said | March 29th 2009 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
WRC
Great write up and completely agree with your comments re soccer and good to learn insights to other countries. Partnering with soccer has huge benefits as you say body types that don’t go well in soccer do in rugby and those athletes with not so good foot skills use their more rounded abilities in rugby. There is way to much focus in Aus on what the leaguies etc are or not doing. If we only focus on doing the best by our own internationally and in Aus it will be better all round. The other codes have their place leave them to it. As an aside working with soccer now means in Melbourne finally a stadium that suits all rectangular codes. Soccer is a great sport I love it but i always played better rugby, I live on the Gold Coast and will happily get my Gold Coast UTD membership for next season though i am yet to go to the stadium, never watched a Titans game. Point being there is plenty of market there if we treat it right. Work in the progressive not reactive.
WorkingClassRugger said | March 29th 2009 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
Internationally contrary to what many we want you to believe Rugby is growing rapidly both in presence and profile. In the US recently the ABC network televised the San Diego 7′s as a highlights package. And the USRU is very close to a mainsteam TV deal with ESPN.Not one of the secondary channels. And contrary to beliefs Rugby is not a threat to Soccer. Different body type and physical attributes needed. I know many Rugby fans who are also Soccer fans (I myself am a Tahs tragic and a life long Man U fan). The origins of both games come from the one game. A partnership would be in a sense a re-uniting of the World’s two great football codes. Using combined resources they can benefit from one another. Rugby’s growth is beginning to move in Soccer dominated Nations. Look at Portugal and Spain. Both their National Rugby teams are playing in front of growing crowds at test level. Both average between 10-15,000. Only 5 years ago half that many would be a tremendous crowd. With a game like Soccer, Rugby should not be a competitor but a friend.
westy said | March 29th 2009 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
WorkingClassrugby I agree with you but Australian rugby cannot merely rely on this international growth. For a long time Australian football relied on this internationalism but it has not been until the A league was created that it has finallty got its act together.
I too support the Waratahs. However I have this feeling that they are no longer the state team. this is not intended to hurt and it may be just me . I am very much aware of NSW’s rich history in rugby. I even remember the Sydney rep team and some of its heroic achievements. Just it been usurped a little. They are the only super 14 club team i have but that is what they now no more no less they are not NSW team you leave out the bottom half of the state for a start and they are the greatest impediment to any further team in Western sydney. The ARC was sabataged and I have no doubt so would any prospectinve Western sydney team
We have to get over this if we are to move on, down the track i look forward to a western sydney team but that does not mean i am not a New South Welshman and it definitely means the Waratahs are not the state team.
For rugby to grow in Australia we have to get the professional domestic competition right not always rely on favourable overseas developments.