The Wallabies might have to keep an eye on Georgia at the Rugby World Cup, the latter having won the Rugby Europe championship.
The ‘Lelos’ were followed in order by Spain, Romania, Russia, Belgium and Germany.
For those who say Georgia should be in the Six Nations at the expense of Italy, there is still a big standard gap. Last November, Italy defeated Georgia 28-17 in Florence.
Maybe the World Cup will give the Georgians the impetus to raise a higher level.
Russia could have finished in second place, scoring two ties to one against Spain, but lost the match 16-14. They then scored four tries against Romania’s penalty try and five penalty goals to lose 22-20.
The Russians need a goal kicker and to stop giving away penalties to have any hope in Japan.
In the final round, Russia hosted Georgia but both teams blooded new players and Georgia won 22-6.
The big improvers over the course of the comp was Spain, and it’s unfortunate they’re not going to Japan. Their 21-18 win over Romania went right down to the wire.
Internal fighting between Germany’s controlling body and the clubs has rubbed off, the national team losing all games by big margins. Germany has always been regarded as a sleeping giant but there is no improvement on the horizon.
Romania has dropped a notch, the nation’s interest in rugby having waned, while Belgium continues to struggle.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Indian Ocean super league, week 2 Highland Blues Curepipe (Mau) v COSFA (Mad) 19-31 Desperados M'taspéré (May) v Etang Salé (Reu) 15-43
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
This weekend (March 23/24) Martinique wrapped up their RAN group with a 39-0 win over Curacao. In Europe, Portugal blitzed Czechia 93-0, Malta thumped Cyprus 37-10 in Paphos, and the Swiss edged Poland 28-25 in Lodz. Meanwhile, Uganda thumped a French Army side 38-10, and Georgia won the Zimbabwe 7s with the last act of the tournament in the final against Cheetahs.
HookerHarry
Roar Rookie
Great article. Surely FoxSports would be willing to pay a small fee for braodcasting rights in Australia? Allow the content to played on demand via Kayo. The more content on Kayo, the more penetration into the market it will have.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Yes, Romania had a string of wins against France in their annual derbies back in the late 70s and early 80s, so Wales headed over there out of curiosity - and got thumped. Next up Scotland, straight off the grandslam, suffered the same fate! So suddenly everyone was talking about not Italy, but Romania for an expanded '6 Nations.' Unfortunately, a nasty civil war followed the collapse of communism and I believe a number of the Oaks' stars gave their lives to that cause. Meanwhile, funding dried up, freedom arrived, and Hagi performed miracles at the FIFA World Cup, so that rugby's numbers had plummeted even before the game turned pro. However, it should be added that Georgia does not have particularly large playing numbers either, according to World Rugby stats, and is largely dependent on its foreign-based pros.
Sherry
Guest
Thanks for the update Wingman. Some of those teams you list would have trouble getting 23 players together. The history of Romanian rugby is interesting. Years back they might have been included in the Nations tourney but it was decided their home games would be too cold. But they certainly had their day in the sun when they beat Wales one year. As for Princeton and the Ivy League, Dartmouth, perennial champs, lead Brown and Penn, with the Tigers close to the cellar. But their women's team is at the top ahead of Columbia and Yale.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Spain had a 33-10 win in Germany to come second to Georgia this year; their best finish for a long while. It is indeed a pity Los Leones won't be in Japan, though they only have themselves to blame for that. Still, another argument in favour of World Cup expansion, as Romania won't be there for the same reason. The Oaks thumped Belgium's 'Black Devils' at the weekend, 43-17. I got to see a little of Portugal hammering the Swiss via the ENC site's live stream, and also The Dutch late show against the Czechs. The latter led throughout the game but were forced to defend for the entire last 10 minutes, which culminated in the winning score for the visitors in orange. Tough luck, Czechia! Meanwhile Martinique hammered Barbados 43-19. They are not currently affiliated to World Rugby and apparently a few of their boys might have been ineligible had it been an official World Rugby fixture. It does count in Americas North competition, however. Next up they host Curacao. Cayman Islands, meanwhile, are hosting New Jersey's Princeton University this week. In club rugby The Indian Ocean champs got underway with Madagascar's FTM blitzing Mayotte's Desperadors 120-22 and Reunion's Saint-Pierre downing Highland Blues of Mauritius 33-13.