Decisive round in European nations cup ?

[Toko_11]

Portugal 12-13 Georgia
Romania 33-3 Russia (unexpected margins)
Spain 35-13 Ukraine
1 Georgia 3 +120 14
2 Portugal 3 +8 9
3 Spain 3 -42 6
4 Romania 2 +23 5
5 Russia 3 -38 5
6 Ukraine 2 -81 0

1) Very close match between Georgia and Portugal in Lisbon as shown by the scoreline. Georgia did most of the attacking in the game but "impatient referee" made game really boring and hard to watch even for Georgians. Portugal was hardly a threat, every time they crossed the halfway line they went for a penalty. which was the only right thing to do against unbreakable Georgian defense. at the end hosts had a great chance to win the game a straight free kick from 40 meters but it turned into an embarrassing moment for the Portuguese kicker as he failed to kick. as a result Georgia gets a win vital for success in this years ENC.

2)Romania smashed Russia in Bucharest to end the hopes of winning the trophy for the bears who seem to be cracking from the pressure right before the world cup. Romania remain the only threat to Georgian success after three rounds. Georgia and Romania will meet on march 12 on Georgian soil a game equal to a final.

 

[dragos03]

Congratulations to Georgia for winning this year's edition of the Cup.

I think Romania played well enough though, and it was the bad form of our number 10 that facilitated the Georgian victory. Nice to see so many people at the stadium, but the booing of the Romanian anthem and players during the game was imo a disgraceful thing to do. The direct game between the two teams at the RWC should be pretty balanced.

I'm surprised by Spain's clear win against Portugal.

 

[Toko_11]

thank you. I think Romania deserves second place, they have a good team, this was a practice match for the world cup. number 10 is our weakest spot too.. and booing was caused by disgraceful Romanian players. I don't think that it was right but Georgians were upset and i understand why they did it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-WxnXZNT0I

 

[alexrugby]

Congratulations to Georgia for winning this year's edition of the Cup.

I think Romania played well enough though, and it was the bad form of our number 10 that facilitated the Georgian victory. Nice to see so many people at the stadium, but the booing of the Romanian anthem and players during the game was imo a disgraceful thing to do. The direct game between the two teams at the RWC should be pretty balanced.

I'm surprised by Spain's clear win against Portugal.

I came to stadium just after the anthems

I did not know about booing, that's annoying. but I think this disgraceful behavior had its roots in past season of Romania's national championship: where Georgian rugby players were assaulted by the members of Romania's national squad, and coaches also participated in this dirty fight

Of course this doesn't put light on booing anthem at all, but still angry crowd does stupid things

Number 10 of Romania spoiled match by missed kicks

RWC match will be great

Spain also astonished me

 

[LittleGuy]

The trophy isn't handed out at the end of this year it's a two year tournament with the winner determined at the end of next year's schedule. This way the teams can play home and away to determine the final winner.

Some great play from Georgia so far, that pack looks great it was devastating against Canada in November. Portugal has been dissapointing and it looks like Spain may be closing the gap a little bit with the other four, Ukraine will be a certainty for relegation at the end of next year.

Georgia and Romania have a pool at the RWC which plays to their strengths there will be some hard nosed battles against each other as well they may give Scotland some scares. Try bonus points by Argentina and England won't be guarentees aginst especially Georgia.

Russia has been kind of inconsistent judging from their results, I haven't seen too many highlights of their games and its been a while since they played Canada, November of 2010. I will get a look at them at the Churchill Cup this July and look forward to it.

 

[Toko_11]

I read on Fira website that there was a change in format and ENC would be awarded every year instead of 2 year cycle, I personally think its better this way.

haven't seen Russia play this year but the results are not what you would expect since all the fuss about their rugby making huge progress and the expensive practice tour to New Zealand. And the bad news, Russian Channels refused to show Georgia vs Russia on march 19th they didn't explain why the decision was made but my guess they are tired of being embarrassed every year .

Portugal ran out of steam at the end as always, not surprising because it happens every year their start is strong but finish not so much.

Romania might be at its weakest in a long time but they are still pretty strong second place would be well deserved.

as for Ukraine i hope they had good time. its been a long time since someone from lower division even attempted to stay up every year we see that the gap between Division 1 and lower divisions is growing and promotion relegation system is just a formality the last team that got promoted and actually managed to stay in top division was Spain back in 2004 (and it was because ENC format was changed from 5 to 6 teams )

 

[alexrugby]

Little Guy look Toko is right, FIRA AER changes rules more frequently than any virus changes (mutates) it's DNA

This season they've decided that that ENC would be awarded every year (stupid or not still to be understood )

What about RWC you're right: Georgia will make trouble to other teams like we have done in 2007 especially against Ireland

Russia sucks look this ***le what happened today http://worldsport.ge/Read.aspx?lang=2&news=17900

 

[dragos03]

I don't think there was any Romanian NT player in that fight you linked, but that's still a dubious reason to act like hooligans in a sport such as rugby. But if you think booing a country's anthem and acting like football fans because of some fight between clubs (in which i'm sure far more Romanians than Georgians got beaten anyway), that's fine with me.

 

[Toko_11]

well dragos thats is only half the reason.. the thing is after the fight was started everyone started beating Georgian players then Romanian rugby federation blamed whole fight on Georgians to hid the truth they said that Georgian started the fight.... that is the disgraceful fact because fights always happen in rugby but lies like that?!?. anyway I said that i don't think booing at anthems is right but ... most of the Georgian rugby fans are also football fans and since rugby is new in Georgia people still don't know that they should act differently on rugby games

 

[Toko_11]

By the way Game in sochi Russia vs Georgia just ended final score 9-15 to Georgia.

 

[dragos03]

Romania - Spain 64 - 8 after 9 Romanian and one Spanish try.

 

[alexrugby]

Georgia wins 15:9 over Russia

 

[LittleGuy]

My apologies for not being aware of the change in the handing out of the trophy yearly I guess the organizers want to make it more like a Six Nations B. Are promotion and relegation still over two years or will Ukraine be relegated after this season?

Was Romania able to field their best team every game? I know a couple of seasons ago they weren't selecting some of the non-domestic players I hope this isn't the case still.

@ alex I wish we could combine the Georgian forwards with the Canadian backs into a team!! I think it would be a pretty good side.

 

[dragos03]

Sadly, Romania was not able to field the best team in any of the games, for various reasons.

Some players have been injured (including the best Romanian players Tincu and Tonita), others (such as London Irish prop Paulica Ion) are recovering from past injuries and asked for time to go back into shape at their clubs. Lyon's Alex Manta has decided to retire from the national team after the Uruguay games, although there are hopes to make him change his mind until the RWC. Finally, long-time captain Sorin Socol has left the team 3 days before the game against Spain due to a conflict with the coach. Most of these missing players are forwards, thus hurting Romania's traditional strong point.

Despite the absent players, I would say the team did pretty well. Romania dominated in Portugal, but lost due to absurd personal mistakes, then we crushed Russia in Bucharest. I think we played well in Georgia and could have won the game if our number 10 wouldn't have had a bad day right when his conversions were needed the most. Finally, we beat Spain with a score worthy of the old days. The last game vs Ukraine should also be a clear win.

 

[Toko_11]

Yes it would be interesting to see Georgian forwards play with strong back line. Its not impossible our federations just have to make few phone calls.. if there are Barbarians and Brit-Irish lions why cant we have Georgian-Canadian team.. I think it will be a very strong team that would have a chance to beat anyone (except maybe top 3) in my opinion.

yes Ukraine will be relegated even if they beat Romania which is impossible.

 

[LittleGuy]

Sadly, Romania was not able to field the best team in any of the games, for various reasons.

Some players have been injured (including the best Romanian players Tincu and Tonita), others (such as London Irish prop Paulica Ion) are recovering from past injuries and asked for time to go back into shape at their clubs. Lyon's Alex Manta has decided to retire from the national team after the Uruguay games, although there are hopes to make him change his mind until the RWC. Finally, long-time captain Sorin Socol has left the team 3 days before the game against Spain due to a conflict with the coach. Most of these missing players are forwards, thus hurting Romania's traditional strong point.

Despite the absent players, I would say the team did pretty well. Romania dominated in Portugal, but lost due to absurd personal mistakes, then we crushed Russia in Bucharest. I think we played well in Georgia and could have won the game if our number 10 wouldn't have had a bad day right when his conversions were needed the most. Finally, we beat Spain with a score worthy of the old days. The last game vs Ukraine should also be a clear win.

I also think Romania will beat Ukraine by a lot. Lets hope the Oaks get their best team at the RWC, some players may be inspired to return to action and hopefully the injuries are healed. It is always a shame when a player of such high calibre has a dispute with the coach or managment, but we are all human beings and we don't all get along with one another, at one point Canada's entire team went on strike in I think 2004 LOL. Perhaps they can work things out before September.

 

[Toko_11]

I just cant wait for the world cup anymore I'm counting down hours. Its Disappointing that IRB couldn't/wouldn't let us play against a top 10 side in past four years. That once again leaves us floating in the air and we are going to the world cup absolutely no clue about our standing... i mean we have no idea how our team compares to the teams that we are going to face on the world cup. we did beat every opponent on the European nations cup but that doesn't make me feel any better because i think ENC teams are not progressing a bit. I'm afraid it might be the other way around and we might be the only side that didn't get worse ? ? fingers crossed I hope thats not the case and maybe in future IRB would let us play test matches against top teams.... Playing with top "reserve" teams every year makes us feel like they are just throwing us the bone to keep us quiet

 

[gagawar]

GEORGIAAA!! : )))

 

[Toko_11]

who will be promoted for the 2012 season?

I believe it's Belgium who got promoted

 

[Bail]

When does Romania play Ukraine ?