Russia get closer
Russia's victory over Portugal in the European Nations Cup, edges them closer to a first appearance at the final round of the Rugby World Cup, this time in New Zealand in 2011.
Georgia, as expected, walloped Germany.
The third match - Romania vs Spain in Bucharest - succumbed to the big problem for Eastern European rugby - the weather. The snow came down and the temperature dropped below freezing. The match was postponed.
Results
Georgia vs Germany, 77-3
Romania vs Spain, postponed because of icy weather
Russia vs Portugal, 14-10
Log
Romania and Spain have a match in hand. The others have each played six matches.
1 Georgia 17 points
2 Russia 16 points
3 Portugal 13 points
4 Romania 9 points
5 Spain 7 points
6 Germany 6 points
Russia vs Portugal at Metreveli Stadium in Sotchi
The weather was a appalling and the field looked as if herds of cattle had danced on it for some time. It was impossible game.
Portugal had logistical problems - like visas and the hotel. A surprise in the Portuguese team is the choice of South African Conrad Stickling ahead of Gonçalo Uva who was such an impressive figure at the 2007 World Cup.
Russia led 8-3 at half-time.
Scorers:
For Russia:
Try: Yanyushkin
Pens: Kuhnarev 3
For Portugal:
Try: Gardener
Con: Pinto
Pen: Pinto
Teams:
Russia: 15 Igor Kluchnikov, 14 Vasily Artemiev, 13 Mikhail Babaev, 12 Sergey Trishin, 11 Alexander Gvozdovskiy, 10 Yuriy Kushnarev, 9 Alexander Yanushkin, 8 Andrey Temnov, 7 Andrey Ostrikov, 6 Victor Gresev, 5 Kiril Kulemin, 4 Alexander Voytov, 3 Evgeny Pronenko, 2 Vladislav Korshunov capt, 1 Carlo Maglakelidze,
Replacements: 16 Matveev Evgeny, 17 Khrokin Alexander, 18 Travkin Alexey, 19 Fatakhov Artem, 20 Shakirov Alexander, 21 Korobeynikov Alexey, 22 Kuzin Andrey
Portugal: 15 Joe Gardener, 14 Frederico Oliveira, 13 Pedro Silva, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 António Aguilar, 10 Cardoso Pinto,9 José Pinto, 8 Juan Severino, 7 Vasco Uva, 6 Tiago Girão, 5 David Penalva, 4 Conrad Stickling, 3 Juan Murre, 2 João Correia (captain), 1 Francisco Fernandes
Replacements: 16 João Junior, 17 Thomas da Costa, 18 Gonçalo Uva, 19 Salvador Palha, 20 Pedro Leal, 21 Pedro Cabral, 22 Gonçalo Foro
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)
Assistant referees: Bruno Bessot (France), Akim Hadj Bachir (France)
Georgia vs Germany at National Stadium in Tblissi
It was a one-sided as the score suiggests in freezing cold Tblissi with the snow coming down. By half-time Georgia led 42-3. The forwards were far too strong for the Germans.
Scorers:
For Georgia:
Tries: push-over try, Zedginidze 2, Kvirikashvili 2, Machkhaneli 2, Samkharadze 2, Udesiani,
Cons: Kvirikashvili 11
For Germany:
Pen: Davies
Teams:
Germany: 15 Raphael Hackl, 14 Mark Sztyndera, 13 Clemens von Grumbkow, 12 Edmoore Takaendesa, 11 Benjamin Simm, 10 Kieron Davies, 9 Mustafa Güngör (captain), 8 Alexander Hauck, 7 Shalva Didebashvili, 6 Jamie Ben Houston, 5 Daniel Preussner, 4 Manuel Wilhelm, 3 Tim Coly, 2 Alexander Widiker, 1 Benjamin Krause
Replacements: 16 Patrick Schliwa, 17 Rolf Wacha, 18 Lukas Hinds-Johnson, 19 Lukas Rosenthal, 20 Rafael Pyrasch, 21 Steffen Liebig, 22 Guillaume Franke
Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Irakli Giogardze, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Bidzina Samkharadze, 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Ilia Zedginidze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Akvsent Giorgadze, 1 Davit Khinchagishvili
Replacements: 16 Iuri Natriashvili, 17 Davit Kubriashvili, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Lasha Tavartkiladze, 20 Irakli Abuseridze, 21 Tedo Zibzibadze, 22 Alexandre Todua
Referee: Patrick Pechambert (France)
Assistant referees: Sébastien Minery (France), Eric Gonthier (France)