Emerging Nations: Rugby Europe Championship (3)
Home Field Advantage
GEO VS NED
This weekend’s fixtures kicked off early Saturday afternoon in Tbilisi, where The Netherlands had an opportunity to take a shot at the current champions, Georgia. It was a promising start for the Dutch as poor Georgian discipline offered them plenty of territorial advantage and an early three points. Unsurprisingly it was Georgia’s dominant scrums that got them into the lead where they were awarded a scrum penalty then scored from the subsequent lineout catch and drive. Throughout the first half the Netherlands found themselves in the Georgian twenty-two a number of times but just couldn’t make the final move over the line. Although Georgia’s scrums continued to dominate, it was their Winger, Tabutsadze who found the space to take them into halftime with a 14-3 lead.
Georgia set the precedence only two minutes into the second half where poor defensive folding allowed Centre, Kveseladze, to run through untouched from the half way line.
There was an attempt to halt Georgia’s scrummaging onslaught with a Prop substitution but replacement Fikken’s game time was brief as he was immediately sent to the sin-bin for infringing at the very scrum he was supposed to remedy. Kveseladze didn’t have to wait long for his second try of the game as he put the finishing touches to a well curated attack to the wing which saw Georgia stretch their lead to 26-3. With a quarter to go the penalties continued to rack up against the Netherlands and eventually the referee was left with no choice but to bin a second Dutch forward. This allowed Georgia to score their second maul try of the day and final one of the match to give them a tally of 31. This seemed to rally the remaining fourteen men as the final ten minutes was predominantly spent on the Georgian five meter line where Dutch pressure resulted in two yellow cards and a penalty try.
GEO 31 - 10 NED
ROU VS BEL
After a historic win against Portugal last week Belgium had the mammoth task of backing it up against Romania in Bucharest. Belgium's Fly-half, Gott, impressed early on with two penalties, the second at a challenging angle from the touchline. The Romanians, trailing by six points, failed to impress for the majority of the first half. They took advantage of a weaker Flemish scrum but their attack lacked dummy runners or switch plays so covering defence was relatively easy for the Belgian backline. Eventually the Oaks found the playing style that better suited their abilities with forward pods playing off veteran scrum-half Surugiu. Here they traded finesse for pure power and it proved enough to get them over the line. This pressure also resulted in a yellow for the Flemish who had to survive the last ten minutes of the half a man down. Romania took advantage of this fact when after a repeat scene of them hammering away on the try line, culminated with them handing the ball to their Fly-half, Conache. The twenty-one year old managed to breeze through a defence whose attention were preoccupied with the men outside of him.
The forty minutes was already up when Romanian Flanker, Ser, took an unintentional knee to the head. This resulted in him clearly losing consciousness for a few moments. The ensuing discussion between the coach and ref caused alarm though as there were attempts from the coaching staff to allow the still dazed player to remain on the field. Thankfully the ref was adamant in removing the player but the fact that high level international coaches are still trying to have clearly concussed players remain on the field should be investigated. I also believe it would be wise to ask for actions to be taken upon the staff who’s clearly on camera protesting the ref’s decision to remove the player. Once Ser was eventually taking off for medical attention Belgium had one last ditch effort for a pick-and-go. Although mere centimetres from the try line they knock it on to end the half 14-6.
One Romanian who regularly caused the Belgians issues was winger, Manumua, who earned himself a well deserved try early in the second half. This also put the Oaks in contention for the all important bonus point, which would prove to be vital for them to remain top of their group. Belgiums woes continued as three consecutive pummels at the scrum resulted in a penalty try for Romania and ten minutes in the sin-bin for Tight-head, De Wolf. The unfazed Belgians struck back with some quick play that put them in the danger zone for Romania and due to a deliberate knock on by Burtila, it was now Belgium’s turn for a penalty try and the playing numbers equalised for both teams to fourteen. The Romanian ranks continued to deplete after Conache who, up until this point had been pulling the strings masterfully at Fly-half, decided to cynically slap the ball out of the oppositions hand to prevent a quick penalty. With Romania missing their back field cover, Fly-half Gott started to hit the corners with cross-field kicks, the second of which resulting in a try for Soenen. After another near miss from the Belgians to get themselves within a scores reach, the Romanians had an advantageous five meter scrum. There was a last gasp effort from the Flemish to halt the Romanian pack but replacement Deceuninck eventually powered over an exhausted Belgium to reclaim the bonus point win.
ROU 33-18 BEL
POR VS POL
We ended Saturday night in Estadio Nacional Jamor where Portugal had the home advantage to rectify last weeks loss to Belgium. With Poland coming within two scores of powerhouse Romania last week, you would have thought Portugal would be feeling a lot of pressure but the opening minutes put rest to that idea. A poor Polish kick chase in minute one allowed Portuguese Winger, Lucas, to link up with Scrum-half, Camacho, who ran in a try which originated from deep within their own half. It took an equal amount of time for their second try to come as with every clearance from Poland, Portugal’s back three managed to return with interest and after a simple tip pass from a pod, Lock Torgal, wandered through unchallenged. This woke the Polish up briefly and after finally getting into the twenty-two they moved the ball quick enough to cause confusion in the defensive line, allowing Maltby to put Poland on the scoreboard. Ten minutes in and we were already sitting at 14-7 but Portugal's lead extended when they were awarded a penalty try due to a high tackle from Bachurzewski, who also saw yellow for his misdemeanour. In the remaining time of the half, Camacho scored his second try along with his teammate Begic’s first.
Portugal restarted the second half 33-7 up and Polands situation didn’t improve as it was only three minutes till the Wonder-kid Camacho gets his hattrick. This caused an off camera scuffle that left the ref no option but to dish out a red card to both the Polish Fly-half and Portuguese Blindside flanker. This would suggest that punches were thrown but with footage missing and the ref mic not working we will just have to await the results of the disciplinary. A timely reminder we’re still working with emerging nations here and therefore emerging funds and technical support. Having less players on the field helped the Portuguese’s elaborate playing style much more than it did Poland’s rudimentary plans and they managed to stick another two converted trys on the board before full-time. One from a well worked lineout move for Lima and the last for Batista after a flurry of passes out of contact to keep the ball alive. Poland ultimately lacked options in attack and discipline in defence while Portugal redeemed themselves with the tournaments biggest score so far.
POR 54 - 7 POL
ESP VS GER
The final match of round two kicked off in Madrid on Sunday where bottom of the pool Germany had the daunting task of facing Spain in their capital. Germany opened up the game with strong attacking intent but Spain defended with a calm pragmatism that denied all the German advances. It took nearly fifteen minutes before Los Leones managed to cut the Germans apart, a lineout move straight off the training paddock that gave Winger, Cian, the room to dart through and score the first try. After missing the conversion, Guemes redeems himself five minutes later with a penalty kick to give them an eight point lead. The Germans were superior when it came to strength, winning scrum penalties and defending Mauls exceptionally but once they committed the players, Spain found the space out wide to put centre Mateo in for their second try. A tackle in the air from the Spaniards caused the German tempers to flair and after a harmless scuffle the Germans hit back where it really mattered, on the scoreboard, with a successful rolling maul. Half-time and the score is a reasonable 15-5.
Guemes continues to be temperamental from the tee as he missed a penalty in front of the posts but it proved inconsequential. Spain eventually played to the wing where Carmona chips a well weighted kick into the try area for Bay to chase down and bring his team to three trys and hunting down the bonus point. Spain had to close the game out with fourteen men after a flurry of defensive penalties causes Hooker, Del Hoyo, to sit out. Despite the yellow card and Germany’s best efforts the Deutschlanders fail to get any more points on the board. Their lack of accuracy impeded their success more so than their opposition. Spain twisted the knife on the final play of the game as Full-back, Bell, scores the forth try that ensures the bonus point and put them on level points with Pool A leaders Georgia.
ESP 25 - 5 GER
This weekend will be the third and final weekend of the pool stages and it’s certain to be an exciting affair. Georgia will play Spain to see who will take the top seeding of pool A, if Spain can bolster their scrums and keep the ball alive then they stand a chance of toppling the Georgians in front of their home crowd. Afterwards the Pool B decider kicks off with Romania against Portugal, the former holding a three point lead in the standings. This means losing with a bonus point could keep Romania on top. Saturday ends with Belgium hosting Poland where the visitors would need an unlikely bonus point win to escape being placed last. The excitement comes to a crescendo on Sunday in Amsterdam where the Netherlands will face their eastern neighbours Germany. The Dutchmen are carrying a single point into this fixture, Germany zero, so both teams will be playing for the third place in pool A and the probable subsequent opponents of Poland.