Preview: Two 6 Nations B matches
There are two more Six Nations B matches this weekend, all of them so important in determining who will go to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Fixtures this weekend:
Spain vs Georgia in Madrid
Romania vs Russia in Bucharest
Log at present
Russia, Romania and Georgia have each played two matches, Portugal and Spain three each and Germany four. Portugal are at present top on points' difference.
1 Portugal 6
2 Russia 6, Romania 6
4 Georgia 5
5 Spain 5
6 Germany 4
Spain vs Georgia
In Madrid Spain play host to Georgia. The Leones need to get back on track and should be heartened by Portugal's away draw with the Lelos.
There are three changes to the Spanish team which lost to Romania. Leandro Fernández-Aramburu, Jaime Nava and Juan González come into the side for Julien Tourtoulou, Igancio Martín and Romain Roques. David Mota moves from outside centre to the left wing.
Teams:
Spain: 15 César Sempere, 14 Juan Cano, 13 Javier Canosa, 12 Jaime Nava, 11 David Mota, 10 Jeremías Palumbo, 9 Pablo Feijóo, 8 César Bernasconi, 7 Juan González, 6 David Hernández, 5 Sergio Souto, 4 Leandro Fernández Aramburu, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 José María Bohorquez, 1 Ion Insausti
Replacements from: Sebastián Hattori, Diego Zarzosa, Anibal Bonan, Matías Tudela, Sergio Guerrero, Juan Rafael Álvarez, Marco Pinto, Romain Roques, Lopez Bochet
Coach: Ged Glynn
Georgia squad: Otar Barkalaia, George Shkinini, Irakli Chkhikvadze, Irakli Machkhaneli, David Katcharava, Sandro Todua, Tedo Zibzibadze, Irakli Guiorgadze, Lasha Malaghuradze, Irakli Abusseridze (captain), Bidzina Samkharadze, David Khinchaguishvili, Goderdzi Shvelidze, Anton Peikrishvili, Irakli Natriashvili, Dudu Kubriashvili, Ilia Zedguinidze, Mamuka Gorgodze, Levan Datunashvili, Kakhaber Uchava, George Chkhaidze, Rati Urushadze, Dimitri Bassilaia, Guia Labadze
Coach: Tim Lane
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2009
Venue: Estadio Universidad Complutense in Madrid
Expected weather conditions: A 20% chance of Rain with a high of 19°C, dropping to 3°C.
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)
Touch judges: Bruno Bessot (France), Eric Briquet Campin (France)
Romania vs Russia
Romania lead Russia in matches won, but not by much but the much improved Russian could well win this one.
Mind you, the weather could still win!
Russia squad: Vasily Artemiev, Mikhail Babaev, Igor Kluchnikov, Andrey Kuzin, Yury Kushnarev, Viktor Motorin, Sergey Trishin, Alexander Shakirov, Alexander Yanushkin, Alexander Gvozdovsky, Alexander Gerasimov, Alexander Voytov, Vladislav Korshunov, Kirill Kulemine, Evgeny Matveev, Nikita Medkov, Andrey Ostrikov, Alexey Panasenko, Ivan Prishepenko, Evgeny Pronenko, Alexey Travkin, Artem Fatakhov, Alexander Khrokin
Coaches: Nikolay Nerush, Steve Diamond.
Romania squad: Nicolae Nere, Mihaita Lazar, Paulica Ion, Radu Basalau, Catalin Beca, Florin Tasca, Stelian Burcea, Daniel Carpo, Daniel Ianus, Alin Coste , Gorcioaia Andrei, Mihai Macovei, Valentin Popirlan, Florin Corodeanu, Petre Mitu, Ionut Dimofte , Catalin Dascalu , Adrin Barbuliceanu, Csaba Gal, Catalin Fercu, Florian Vlaicu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Andrei Filip, Ionut Botezatu, Stefan Ciuntu, Madalin Lemnaru
Coach: Ellis Meachen
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2009
Kick-off: 14.00
Venue: Arcul de Triumf Stadium, Bucharest
Expected weather conditions: Chance of snow with a high of 6°C, dropping to -1°C
Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Touch judges: Phil Fear (Wales), Phil Connett (Wales)