Emerging Nations: Rugby Europe Championship (4)
DECIDING THE BEST AND THE REST
GEO VS ESP
It was a combative opening ten minutes in the pool A decider which kicked off in Tbilisi early Saturday afternoon where it was clear both sides were eager to impress. The Georgians were soon in their element, camped on the Spanish five meter line with a succession of scrums. Unusually they failed to shove their way over and Spain, not only cleared their half, they also won a penalty that Lopez-Bontempo expertly slotted from forty metres. Spain’s own penalty count was ticking over with a regularity that gave Georgia plenty of platforms to test out their attacks. The Georgians played with a speed that eventually got scrum-half, Peranidze, through a flustered Spanish defence. The Conversion was good and after an error strewn Spanish possession they headed into the half at 7-3.
Both teams started the second half opting for a frenetic style of play and traditionally you’d expect this to benefit Los Leones however its Georgian Winger, Tabutsadze, who beat his opposite number and has the reach to put the ball on the line. Reverting back to type, Georgia have a rolling maul five meters out and earn themselves a penalty try as Spanish 8, Imaz, is sent for ten minutes for illegal defending. Only three minutes later Spain, obviously not content with the challenge, asked for another yellow as fullback, Bell, also took ten for a deliberate knock on. Taking full advantage of the two man overlap, Georgia found space on the edge of Spain’s defence for Centre, Kveseladze, to score in the corner. The superior fitness of the Georgians became apparent as they closed the final ten minutes with two extra trys while Spain looked dead on their feet. It was a display of total rugby from the Georgians, who finish the pool stages three wins from three and it will take an incredible effort from their upcoming opposition to stand in the way of the Lelos claiming their sixteenth Championship.
GEO 33 - 3 ESP
ROU VS POR
Portugal opening proceedings with an ambitious playing style that the Romanians struggled to deal with. Predicting a tight game, the Portuguese attempted a penalty kick from near the half-way line but kicker, Aubry, lacked the power to reach the posts. Eventual Portugal’s speed was too much for Romania to deal with as Pinto took advantage of an overlap to score the first try. Aubry returned to the tee with renewed confidence after a successful conversion and put his second penalty through the posts to give his team a 10 point lead. Romania had to wait untill a five metre lineout before they could make their mark on the scoreboard. After a well organised maul, Cojocaru benefitted from his team’s power and flopped over for the try. Aubry once again attempted a near fifty metre penalty only this time he found his rhythm and gave Portugal some breathing space. The spotlight was to shine on young Romanian fly half and extraordinaire, Conache, as he commanded his team into the red zone then hit a drop goal to keep his men in the fight. Portugal were to have the last words of the half as Appleton sidesteps his way through the middle of a sleepy, meandering defence to set the score at 10-20 as they finished the half.
Romania came out of the sheds swinging and after a grounding that was deemed inadequate by the ref, the Oaks made amends from a scrum set-piece move where Gontineac scored a try that clearly rankled the Portuguese. The Romanian attack was relentless but the Portuguese defence held out and eventually won a scrum penalty in their own twenty two. The captain, Aubry made the brave decision to tap and go out of their own half which resulted in Martins receiving a Cross-field kick to score what will probably be the try of the week. Romania hit straight back and due to consistent infringements on the try line, Batista saw yellow and Portugal were down to fourteen. With his first touch, replacement Neagu found the recently vacated space in the defensive line and got his team within a score of the visitors. In a desperate attempt to keep their lead and run the clock down Aubry successfully kicks for three points off the tee following another scrum penalty. While still with a man in the bin Portugal manage to score again off the first phase, this time off the line out and with Pinto claiming the points. As the game came to a close, it was clear the Romanians were beaten not only physically but also mentally. Their attack became toothless and due to their defence looking lost, the Portuguese managed to add another two trys before the final whistle. A length of the field effort from Lucas Martins to get his second of the day and back rower Nicolas Martins bullied his way into the corner.
Portugal earned themselves a home semi final against old rivals Spain and if they continue this trend of scoring from anywhere then it should be an easy route to the final. Romania came at them in fits and starts but just couldn’t apply enough pressure consistently to get ahead in any part of the game. It will be a tough away day for Romania in two weeks as Georgia are just hitting their stride.
ROU 24 - 49 POR
BEL VS POL
It’s wasn’t five minutes before Belgium have a lineout drive that buries Poland deep into their own half and allowed Jadot to mark the first try of the game. Apparently happy with the seven point lead, the Flemish allowed Poland to attack for the remainder of the half but to no avail. Where Poland managed to cough up penalties in the red zone, Belgium consistently made unforced errors that allowed the Poles to clear their lines. Aware of their own inadequacies with ball in hand, when they were awarded a penalty on the twenty two, Flemish fly half, De Francq, stepped up to slot the three points. Poland only had themselves to blame for not scoring as it was their attacking ruck that consistently cost them penalties. The ref continued to ask them to enter the gate and stay on their feet but the Polish players struggled to take heed. There was another attempt at a penalty kick by De Francq but a miss resulted in the score remaining 10-0 at half-time.
Replacement Flemish prop, Raynier, profited with a try from a heavy opening bombardment in the opening of the second half, displaying to Poland exactly how they intended the next forty minutes to go. At 17-0 down and desperate for points, Poland decided to kick their next penalty instead of going to the corner. This ensured they wouldn’t leave Belgium with a nil but it also showed a lack of ambition to win. Belgium’s scrums were dominant throughout the game and it became a platform for their second try of the half where 8-man, Demolder, put the hard work in to hand scrum half, Berger, his try. Buczek of Poland got to rebuttal as he took a hard line from the scrum half and beat three defenders to bring Poland up to 10 points. That was Polands last positive attack of the game as Belgium struck back with a midfield set piece that cut the Polish defence wide open. The panic caused Palamarczuk to commit a high tackle which cost him a yellow card. The following tap and go penalties allowed lock, Hendrickx, to bulldoze his way under the posts. Poland survived the final five minutes with thirteen men due to a deliberate knock on from Szczepansli. They managed this without leaking anymore points which, with Belgiums pace and power, was impressive.
Poland were not as far off the mark as the score suggests, they have the individual talent but appeared to lack the game plan and unity an international team needs to compete at this level. New coaching and initiatives to increase training time is a decision the Polish Union would need to commit to if they wish to progress. If they haven’t looked into entering a franchise team into the European Super Cup, then this should definitely be their next move as it has clearly advanced their peers in the competition.
BEL 31 - 10 POL
NED VS GER
It was torrential rain in Amsterdam on Sunday as an early 50:22 from full back, Van Oord, put the Netherlands in the red zone where they stayed for the opening ten minutes until Winger, Noorman, took the ball from a scrum and ran straight through the German defence to score. The Germans had a torrid time scrummaging as the Netherlands affected two penalties which returned them to defending their try line. A simple under’s line from the backs allows Dutchman, Reinhardt, the space to go through untouched for their second try. Things were about to get harder for the Netherlands as captain Bloeman receives a yellow for a cynical trip on a player chasing a kick. Germany missed touch on the kick but after some chaotic play back and forth they eventually took advantage of the overlap and pushed a maul over the line to make their presence felt in the game. They continued this presence as fly half, Stella, knocked an extra three points over to enter the half at 12-10.
Weersma and Stella traded successful penalty kicks to open the second half, each trying to obtain the scoreboard advantage in the poor conditions. The Dutch forwards decided to swell their ranks to nine men at a five meter lineout, an unorthodox method that proved worthy as the shocked Germans failed to defend the subsequent maul. Flanker, Van Dyke, who had been carrying exceptionally till now, finally had a try to show for his efforts. The Germans started to play in the right areas but poor decision making prevented them from scoring for the remainder of the game. Soon enough the Netherlands had another five metre Lineout and as the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, another nine man line out which Germany had no answer for, replacement hooker, Bennie-Coulson, benefitting from the mega-maul. Another three points off the boot for Weersma then its de ja vu as the final lineout of the game was a sea of nine orange shirts with Bennie-Coulson riding the waves to his second and closing try.
NED 31 - 13 GER
All teams now have two weeks rest before entering the first phase on the playoff stages. First we have the four teams still playing for the championship. All games being played on the 2nd March, proceedings will start with an Iberian derby played in Lisbon where Spain will be eager to make amends after an embarrassment in Tbilisi. Georgia will host their historically closest rivals in Romania who are yet to impress this tournament. The evening will display the teams fighting to stay within the REC starting with the ever improving Netherlands at home to Poland who will be hunting down their first win. The last game will be the underachieving Germany taking a short trip to Belgium who have already won two games this competition.