Preview: IRB's Nations Cup, Round 2
With the IRB Nations Cup approaching the midway point, the six teams are concentrating on the crucial second round matches on Sunday at the ‘Arcul de Triumf’ Stadium in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.
In the first match of the day at 16:00 local time, Georgia take on Uruguay with both teams having lost their opening matches by narrow margins against Emerging South Africa 11-3 and Romania 10-6 respectively.
Uruguay are flying in two additional players in veteran prop Pablo Lemoine, who will arrive here after playing for Montauban on Saturday in the French League, and youngster Diego Magno of Montevideo Cricket Club, a winner with the Uruguayan Under-20 side at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Santiago, Chile, in April.
“A very hard match against a strong tackling team,” said Uruguay manager Marcello Callandra of the Georgian match. “The injury of Gonzalo Peyrou has deprived us of options in the line-out and so the arrival of Magno is crucial for our ball winning ability.
“We played twice against Georgia and won, but this Georgian team has made a great deal of progress, and so we have a very hard game on our hands.”
Georgians, men of few words, are desperately keen to set the record straight against Uruguay, who beat them in their first ever encounter at the Aussie Stadium in Sydney at RWC 2003.
“We will do the talking on the field and will do our best to win this match. It means so much to this young team,” forwards coach Nikoloz Chavchavadze said.
The second match of the day may well decide the winner of the tournament, as two of first day winners Italy A and Emerging South Africa meet in the 18:00 kick off.
Chester Williams, the Emerging South Africa coach, is on record describing the Italians – after their composed 38-15 performance against Russia – as the main favourites. That may well have been just your traditional mind-games to shift the focus from his defending champions onto the up-and-coming Italians.
He has made four changes to the starting line-up with Hendrick Roodt coming in for Nico du Plessis in the second row and dynamic Ashley Johnson replacing Francois Prinsloo, who drops on the bench. Rocco Jansen moves from the centre to the wing to allow Justin St Jerry to partner captain Morgan Newman at centre. There is also one more change on the wing with Lolo Waka, the Leopards wing, replacing the Cheetahs’ Howard Noble.
Six changes, one positional, in the Romanian starting line-up to face Russia suggests a considerable degree of displeasure for the disappointing team performance on day one as expressed by Director of Rugby Ellis Meachen after the match.
Full back Florin Vlaicu, who was slightly injured against Uruguay, drops to the bench and is replaced by Adrian Barbuliceanu, a centre who wins his first cap in the 15 jersey. Catalin Fercu switches to the right wing in place of Stefan Ciuntu, who is dropped altogether, to make room for Gheorghita Bigiu on the left.
Scrum half Florin Surugiu, who won his first cap as a replacement on Wednesday, is in the starting line-up for the first time with Ciprian Caplescu dropped to the bench. In the back row Mihai Macovei from the Baia-Mare club replaces Stelian Burcea, while in the second row Steaua’s Valentin Ursache comes in at the expense of Alin Coste of Narbonne, who is recovering from injury.
“We have had a look at the video of the Uruguay match and are well aware where we erred in the second half, ” said Romania head coach Marin Mot. “We lost concentration in key moments and a certain state of complacency seemed to have crept in.
“It is obvious that we need to improve against Russia. They are athletic and they play a more physical game. We will not be able to prevail if we do not play a more mature game, which I am sure we are capable to play.”
Several niggling injuries have forced the Russian team to plan three fitness tests for the morning of the match with several players sitting on the fence as their colleagues trained intensely on Saturday morning.
The forwards worked under the supervision of captain Vladimir Marchenko, who is doubling up as forward coach, while acting head coach Nikolai Nerush has been practiced with the backs.
“We suffered against Italy when they had the better of us mostly due to their superior pace. The heat was a factor, but we simply did not play well,” admitted Nerush.
“I hope we will recover for the match against Romania, who showed against Uruguay how strong they are. The match is going to be tough and in addition the Romanian team will be supported by the public. However, I think we can give them a good run for their money!”
Match Officials
Georgia vs Uruguay at 16.00 local time
Referee Radu Petrescu (Romania)
Touch judges: Horatiu Bargaunas (Romania), Vladimir Volnik (Russia)
Italy A vs Emerging South Africa at 18.00 local time
Referee Jérôme Garces (France)
Touch judges: Gustavo Gerbasi (Uruguay), Horatiu Bargaunas (Romania)
Russia vs Romania at 20.00 local time
Referee Alan Falzone (Italy)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Michael Chachua (Georgia)
Thanks to the IRB