6NB: Two rounds to go
This is the penultimate round of Division 1 of the FIRA-AER's European Nations Cup, the so-called Sis Nations B. Two things are to be decided - who will be champions and who will come third.
Georgia and, for the first time. Russia have booked their passages to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. All is not lost for the team coming third for they get another chance through répechage. this will be decided between Romania and Portugal who play each other in the last round.
Of the two Romania have quite the harder task - playing Georgia in Georgia with the Antim Cup at stake, a trophy played for just between the two of them and named for a saint common to both countries.
Portugal on the other hand go across to Madrid to take on the keen Spaniards who will be angry at having slipped from the Iberian crown it once had.
Germany, the most amateur of the countries, will be relegated next year - barring a massive miracle. They have a much weakened side for this match.
Fixtures for Round 9
Romania vs Georgia at Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest in Bucharest
Spain vs Portugal at Estádio Universitário De Madrid
Russia vs Germany in Sotchi
Log after Round 8
The teams have each played eight matches, except for Romania and Spain who have to play each other in a postponed match. Winning that match could taken Romania level with Portugal whom they play in the last round.
In this competition there are three points for a win, two for a draw and one for playing.
1 Georgia 23
2 Russia 21
3 Portugal 17
4 Romania 14
5 Spain 9
6 Germany 8
Teams
Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 10 Lasha Malaguradze, 9 Irakli Abuseridze, 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Giorgi Nemsadze, 4 Ilia Zedginidze, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 2 Irakli Natriashvili, 1 David Khinchagishvili
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Lasha Tavartkiladze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Irakli Giorgadze, 22 Alexander Todua
Germany squad: Raphael Hackl (Berliner), Benjamin Krause (DSV 1878 Hannover), Rafael Pyrasch (DSV 1878 Hannover), Benjamin Simm (DSV 1878 Hannover), Anjo Buckman (Heidelberger RK), Patrick Schliwa (Heidelberger RK), Steffen Liebig (Heidelberger RK), Clemens von Grumbkow (I Cavalieri Prato), Gilles Pagnon (Orléans), Alex Widiker (Orléans), Kehoma Brenner (RG Heidelberg), Tim Coly (RG Heidelberg), Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg), Christopher Weselek (RG Heidelberg), Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg), Lukas Hinds-Johnson (RK 03 Berlin), Lukas Rosenthal (RK 03 Berlin), Alexander Hauck ( SC Frankfurt 1880), Jamie Ben Houston ( SC Frankfurt 1880), Mark Sztyndera ( SC Frankfurt 1880), Rolf Wacha (SC Frankfurt 1880), Alexander Metz (TSV Handschuhsheim).
Portugal squad: Francisco Fernandes, Tomaz Da Costa, João Correia,Bernardo Duarte, Gonçalo Uva, Conrad Stickling, Eduardo Acosta, Vasco Uva, Tiago Girão, Juan Severino, Salvador Palha, José Pinto, Pedro Leal, Pedro Cabral, Duarte Cardoso Pinto, Diogo Mateus, Miguel Portela, Pedro Silva , Frederico Oliveira, Gonçalo Foro, Joe Gardner , Antonio Aguilar
Romania squad: Cezar Popescu (Saint Medard), Mihai Lazar (Saint Etienne), Dragos Dima (Oloron), Paulica Ion (London Irish), Marius Tincu (Perpignan), Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucuresti), Sorin Socol (Oloron), Cosmin Ratiu (Dinamo Bucuresti), Cristian Petre (Beziers), Valentin Ursache (Baia Mare), Stelian Burcea (Arad), Daniel Carpo (Farul), Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare), Lucaci Viorel (Steaua Bucuresti), Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan), Alexandru Valcu (Bucuresti), Daniel Ianus (Steaua Bucuresti), Lucian Sirbu (Somillau), Valentin Ivan (Dinamo Bucuresti), Iulian Dumitras (Albi), Dan Dumbrava (Steaua Bucuresti), Ionut Dimofte (Baia Mare), Csaba Gal (Baia Mare), Robert Dascalu (Steaua Bucuresti), Constantin Gheara (Farul), Ionel Cazan (Steaua Bucuresti), Catalin Fercu (Arad), Stefan Ciuntu (Baia Mare), Catalin Nicolae (Farul), Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucuresti), Ionut Botezatu (Baia Mare)
Russia squad: Vladimir Botvinnikov, Alexander Khrokin, Evgeny Pronenko, Alexey Travkin, Vladislav Korshunov, Evgeny Matveev, Alexander Voytov, Artem Fatakhov, Nikita Medkov flanker, Georgy Minadze, Victor Gresev, Kirill Kushnarev, Alexey Panasenko, Andrey Temnov, Alexander Yanushkin, Alexander Shakirov, Yuriy Kushnarev, Alexey Korobeynikov, Alexander Gvosdovskiy, Vladimir Ostroushko, Vasily Artemiev, Andrey Kuzin, Sergey Trishin , Mikhail Babaev, Alexey Makovetskiy, Igor Kluchnikov
Spain squad: Carlos Arenas Muñiz, José Maria Bohorquez Gómez-Millan, Rafael Camacho Bilbao, Leandro Fdz-Aramburu Rodríguez, Sebastián Hattori, Manuel Mazo Cañas, Jesús Recuerda Núñez, Víctor Javier Acevedo, Benjamín Pardo García, Jaime Nava De Olano, César Bernasconi, Juan Cano Rodríguez-Arias,Javier Canosa Schack, David Gurgenadze, Martín Ignacio Aceña Colaneri, Matthew Cook, Igor Mirones Truan, Federico Negrillo Kovacevich, Pedro Martin Enrique, Gautier Gibouin Fontana, Anthony Pradalie Diaz, Mathieu Cidre Baroni, Mathieu Gratton Cristol, Ignacio Martín Goenaga
Match officals
Romania vs Georgia
Referee: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Keane (Ireland), John Carvill (Ireland)
Spain vs Portugal i
Referee: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Assistant referees: Emiliano Roscini (Italy), Luigi Sorrentino (Italy)
Russia vs Germany
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Philippe Bonhoure (France), Jean-Marie Piraveau (France)