European Nations Cup back in action

Romania and Russia meet

The European Nations Cup, popularly known as the Six Nations B, comes back to life after a a period of hibernation with three matches over the weekend.

The hibernation is to avoid the worst of the winter cold which so disrupted last year's competition but the weather forecast for the weekend is not cheerful at all as a big freeze grips our rugby areas.

So far four matches have been played in the European Nations Cup. Portugal, the champions, have beaten newcomers Ukraine and big threat Georgia. Georgia beat Russia and Romania beat the Czech Republic.

FIRA-AER gives a point for pitching up, as it has done for a long time. As a result the standings are:

1. Portugal 6
2. Georgia 4
3. Romania 3
4. Russia 1
5. Czech Republic 1
6. Ukraine 1

Portugal and Georgia have played two matches each, the others one each.

For the teams having players playing in France remains a problem.

Portugal vs Czech Republic at Estádio Universitário de Lisboa no campo Engº. Vasco Pinto de Magalhães on Saturday, 26 February 2005 at 15.00

Last year Portugal won the championship but did not find the newly promoted Czechs easy meat at all, winning just 13-8 in Lisbon.

The most capped player in the Czech side is Jirí Skall who won his 50th cap against Romania in Prague last November. There are two uncapped players in the side - Josef Weber and Patrik Leroch.

The Czechs will rely heavily on the experience of their captain Ladislav Vondraaek, flyhalf Martin Kafka, wing Martin Jagr and of course Jirí Skall.

Czech Republic squad:

Forwards: Jirí  Skall (Sparta Praha), Lukáa Rapant (St Nazaire, France), Roman `uster (St Nazaire, France), Jan Kubálek (Rícany), Jan Oswald (Tatra Smíchov), Pavel `tastný (L´Isle Jourdain, France), Robert Voves (St Nazaire, France), Miroslav Nemecek (Bracknell, England), Josef Weber (Dragon Brno), Patrik Leroch (Havírov), Ladislav Vondraaek (captain) (Bracknell, England), Vlastimil Madry(Praga).

Backs: Pavel Syrový (Praga), Vítezslav Dosedla (Dragon Brno), Martin Kafka (Métro-Racing, France), Antonín Brabec (Tatra Smíchov), Martin Pekárek (Rícany), Jaroslav Tomcik (Havírov), Michal Schlanger (Petrovice), Jan Rohlík (St Nazaire, France), Martin Jágr (Toulon, France), Tomáa Krejcí (St Saturnin, France).

Coaches: Christian Galonnier ,Jan Machácek

Portugal: tbc

Referee: Johnny Meersman (Belgium)
Touch judges: Joseph Verhoest, Serge Goffinet (both Belgium)

Georgia vs Ukraine at National Stadium in Tbilisi on Saturday, 26 February 2005 at 15.00 (local time)

Georgia have played Ukraine five times since 1991 and won each time, but the last encounter was in 1998 - in Kiev. They have played only once previously in Georgia - in 1991.

Three of Georgia's best and most experienced playsers have asked the national coaches to allow them to play for their Ffrench clubs, which may be some sort of solution for the clubs to keep their players without incurring the IRB's wrath. The players concerned are Davit Ashvetia, Mamuka Magrakvelidze and Goderdzi Shvelidze. Asvetia and Shvelidze are both props playing for Clermont Auvergne. Magrakvelidze props for Montpellier.

Lock Zurab Mchedlishvili is out injured and veteran lock Viktor Didebulidze, who plays for Cannes, may just be fading out. The surprise omission is probably that of 24-year-old right-wing Malkhaz Urjukashvili.

Into the front row come Levan Javelidze, 27 years of age and experienced, 22-year-old Avtandil who was at the 2003 World Cup in Australia and Davit Zeraqashvili.

Others coming into the side are Zviad Maisuradze, experienced centre Vasil Katsadze, and Lasha Firfilashvili.

Teams:
 
Georgia squad:

Backs: David Kiknadze (Academy), Irakli Machkhaneli (Academy), Bessik Khamashuridze (clubless), Lexo Gugava (Locomotivi), Tedo Zibzibadze (Gourdon, France), Irakli Guiorgadze (Bourgoin, France), Lasha Pirpilashvili (Lelo), Otar Barkalaia (Lelo), Irakli Abusseridze (Orleans, France),George Katcharava (clubless).

Forwards: Avtandil Kopaliani (Chalon, France), Levan Javelidze (Nantes, France), David Zerakashvili (Clermont Auvergne, France), Akvsenti Giorgadze (Rovigo, Italy), Mikheil Sujashvili (Lelo), Ilia Zedguinidze (Orleans, France) (captain), Mamuka Gorgodze (Lelo), Levan Datunashvili (Vierzon, France), Vassil Katsadze (Albi, France), Rati Urushadze (Enissei, Russia),Besso Udessiani (Chalon, France), Zviad Maissuradze (Walsall, England).

Coaches: Malkhaz Tcheishvili, David Chavleishvili

Ukraine: 15 Andriy  Tyshchenko, 14 Oleh Kvasnytsya, 13 Iaroslav Pereguda, 12 Andriy Polosenko,11 Sergiy  Monastyrov,  10 Maksym Bilmovych,9 Maksym  Kravchenko, 8 Artur Martyrosyan,7 Vitalii  Zadvirnyi, 6 Sergiy Kureza,  5 Andriy Melnykov, 4 Volodymyr Koshelia,3 Sergiy Bubela, 2 Dmytro Krasnoshchok,1 Oleksandr Polyanskyy, 
Replacements: 16 Dmytro Levichev, 17 Oleksiy Zybalo, 18 Dmytro Fedishyn, 19 Vasyl Titov, 20 Valerii Maksiuk, 21  VolodymyrVadym Kolyshkin, 22 Cherednychenko.

Referee: Hervé Dubes (France)

Romania vs Russia in Timisoara on Saturday 26 February 2005 at 14.00 (local time)

Apparently Alin Petrache, former captain of Romania who plays for Beziers, has retired from international rugby. Not playing against Russia are star Biarritz prop Petru Balan, Pau hooker Marius Tincu who was sent offlast weekend, and loose forward Florin Corodeanu who plays for relegation-threatetend Grenoble.

The French Top 16 cluibs are playing this weekend.

Romania last played in Timsoara in 1974 when the Oaks beat Spain 19-6.

Romania:

Starting team: 15 Danut Dumbrava 14 Cristian Sauan, 13 Gabriel Brezoianu, 12 Valentin Maftei, 11 Ioan Teodorescu,  10 Ionut Tofan, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Alexandru Tudori, 6 Costica Mersoiu, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Sorin Socol, (captain), 3 Marcel Socaciu, 2 Razvan Mavrodin,1 Cezar Popescu
Replacements: 16 Paulica Ion, 17 Bogdan Zebega, 18 Bogdan Balan, 19 George Oprisor, 20 Iulian Andrei, 21 Darie Curea, 22 Stefan Dumitru

Squad:

Forwards: Ion Paulica (Steaua Bucuresti), Cezar Popescu (Tarbes, France), Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucuresti), Razvan Mavrodin (Tarbes, France), Marcel Socaciu (Rovigo, Italy), Bogdan Balan (Bordeaux Begles, France), Sorin Socol (Agen, France), Florin Tatu (Steaua Bucuresti), Cristian Petre (Tarbes, France), Daniel Carpo ((Farul), George Oprisor (Perpignan, France), Marian Tudori (Perigueux, France), Costica Mersoiu (Perigueux, France), Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan, France)

Backs: Lucian Sirbu (Métro-Racing, France), Iulian Andrei (Steaua Bucuresti), Ionut Tofan (Métro-Racing, France), Darie Curea (Steaua Bucuresti), Ioan Teodorescu (U Cluj), Vasile Ghioc (Dinamo Bucuresti), Cristian Sauan (Rovigo, Italy), Gabriel Brezoianu (Dax, France), Csaba Gal (U Cluj) Stefan Dumitru (Steaua Bucuresti), Valentin Maftei (Aurillac, France), Danut Dumbrava (Steaua Bucuresti)

Russia: Russia: 15. Loskutov Dmitriy (Penza) 14. Gvozdovskiy Alexander (Krasniy Yar) , 13. Kobzev Oleg (VVA-Podmoskovje), 12. Akulov Denis (Enisy-STM), 11. Uskov Maxim (Penza) 10. Sugrobov Sergey (Slava), 9. Shakirov Alexander(Enisey-STM) 7. Grachev Viatcheslav( Montoban -France), 8. Sarychev Alexey(Krasniy Yar), 6. Garbuzov Andrey(Krasniy Yar) 5. Voitov Alexander(VVA-Podmoskovje), 4. Lugin Andrey (Penza) 3. Travkin Alexey(VVA-Podmoskovje), 2. Romak Roman (Enisey-STM), 1. Shukaylov Oleg(Krasniy Yar)
Replacements: 16. Novoselov Sergey(Enisey-STM), 17. Khrokin Alexander(VVA-Podmoskovje), 18. Vasilev Sergey (Krasniy Yar), 19. Malyakin Dmitriy (Penza), 20. Bykanov Andrey(Slava), 21. Lubkov Artem(Krasniy Yar), 22. Kazantsev Alexander(VVA-Podmoskovje)

Referee: Didier Mene (France)