As well as the Six Nations, the European Nations Cup Division 1A kicked off this weekend. The three top ranked teams, Georgia, Russia and Romania, who are all bound for the rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year, played the three lower ranked teams, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine.
Ukraine has been promoted for the current series at the expense of Germany, who finished last in the previous series and has been relegated to Division 1B.
Every side plays each other team in their division home and away over a two-year period before promotion and relegation occurs.
The current series, the 2010-12 competition, has the following divisions: 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 3. The points system used is the same as Super Rugby – four points for a win, two for a draw, a bonus point for scoring four tries or more and a point for losing by seven or less points.
The 1A Division games are played at the same time as the Six Nations so that British and French clubs will allow European players to be released for their national sides.
In front of a vocal 10,000 home crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia easily outclassed the division newcomers, Ukraine, scoring 10 tries to nil for a final tally of 63-3.
Georgia wanted to score a 100 points but kept the ball in the forwards for too long and missed many opportunities. Ukraine’s campaign was not helped when their union’s president resigned on the eve of the game, sending the administration into disarray.
Portugal caused the upset of the round by defeating Romania in Lisbon, 24-17.
The Lobos led 24-3 at half-time and the under-strength Oaks fought back but could not catch Portugal. The 2,000 crowd groaned at the many handling errors made by the Portuguese in the second half. Australian Joe Gardener played fly-half for Portugal, scoring nine points with his boot before being replaced in the second term.
The other game saw Russia travel to Madrid to play Spain. Spain fielded only four Spaniards – the rest of the starting team made up of seven Frenchmen, three Argentinians and an Englishman. The Basques and Catalans treat the French-Spanish border as if it did not exist and players move across with ease.
Russia was travelling easily and were leading 22-3 well into the second-half. Egged on by the local 8000 crowd, Spain mounted a rally but could not catch the Russians. Although each side scored three tries each, penalties let the Spaniards down to let Russia win the match 28-24.
The results from the weekend were:
– Russia 28 beat Spain 24 in Madrid.
– Georgia 62 beat Ukraine 3 in Tbilisi.
– Portugal 24 beat Romania 17 in Lisbon.
Several lower division games were played last year but no clear trend has emerged to see any great improvers or losers. Only Germany’s loss to Poland in the 1B Division and Sweden winning both their Division 2A matches has been worthy of note so far.
Next weekend’s games are Georgia versus Spain in Tbilisi, Russia versus Portugal in Sochi and Ukraine versus Romania in Kiev.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'-The Spanish national team having a fraction of team being actual Spaniards' Look at the Italian side: Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Del Fava, Geldenhuys, Sole, Parisse, Burton, Canale, McLean.
GavinH
Guest
Good Stuff. It's a shame the main television rugby shows don't spend five minutes on highlights from these games. During a 6N weekend in a RWC year when 3 RWC teams play in the 6N 2nd tier comp and there was not one mention of this on say Srum V (the welsh rugby show). Yet they spent a lot of time on under 20 and women's highlights.
titus
Guest
oh come on, the women aren't that bad
Ben Carter
Guest
Must say thanks for this second division update. Would love to see an eight or 10-team European Cup a -la UEFA's one for football. Rugby union is played by some 150 nations yet stays maddeningly stuck in the same rut as cricket - about half-a-dozen decent countries that play it/host it all year round, except for the World Cup when they let others join in. It a sport that surely deserves a bigger stage than it sometimes gets...
kovana
Guest
Similar Facial hair trends? :lol:
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
One could argue that there are notable similarities between Melbourne and Tblisi.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
A huge weekend of excellent rugby. people turned out in their droves from Melbourne to Tblisi.
allblackfan
Guest
More like Alexs; it seemed like half the team that toured NZ recently all had Alex as a first name
kovana
Guest
Just some more notes i found. Georgia vs Ukraine had about 15'000 attend at Tbilisi. Spain vs Russia had 10'000 at the match. Some very good crowds. Not to mention the Huge crowds the 6N games got.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Expect to see 22 huge blonde Ivan Varko like superhumans turnout in New Zealand. :D
Spaldo
Guest
"according to one of my very few Russian contacts the national team has been engaged in a intense training program" Anyone else thinking of Rocky IV?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
True. There was a list in response to questions as to why Georgia didn't put 100+ points on Ukraine were the Georgians could have fielded another team with the players left out due to club commitments. Romania did have a few but no where near as extensive, that said, the result could have been different if some of the missing players did turn out. Still would have been close and that's still a good thing.
saliosi
Guest
You must remember that alot of romanias and georgias french based players were not playing
Judge Smails
Guest
What I don't get is, the German's are all big blokes picking fights with just about everybody they meet but they play soccer and not rugby. Does not make sense.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
True Tah While the Spanish situation is a little disappointing it was the means they chose to field a competitive team in the short term. There not the only ones. Italy most notably. As for the rest with the exception the Ukraine I see it a a good sign of an increased level of competition in the the division. Fewer blow outs are definitely a positive in my opinion. Plus, having seen highlights of the Portugal vs Romania game Portugal outplayed the Romanians in the backs overcoming the traditionally one dimensional Romanian forward play. Add to this that according to one of my very few Russian contacts the national team has been engaged in a intense training program and fatigue was a factor as well as a lack of urgency kjnowing their place in the RWC was secure. Not taking anything away from Spain as its a general improvement even if they nationalised most of the team. The only real concern is Ukraine and any others looking to compete as the chasm in standards that are clearly present. The IRB and FIRA need to identify 4-5 next bests and really work on developing 1B into a similar standard as 1A.
True Tah
Guest
Whilst it is good that Georgia has improved, the following are a bit disappointing: -The Spanish national team having a fraction of team being actual Spaniards -Ukraine getting smashed -Romania has gone backwards considerably -Russia struggling to contain Spain whilst I reckon Georgia has earned its place, the same can;t be said for the likes of Russia.
Wall-nut
Guest
It's time for Georgia to hit the six nations. They almost beat Ireland in last world cup!!! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.