European Nations Cup

Last round of this year's tournament (now renamed the Rugby Europe International Championships) concludes tomorrow.
Romania v Georgia will be the decider but with Romania currently 4 points behind and not well placed on points difference, I make it they need a try bonus.
Game is at 1pm Irish time and streamed live on the Rugby Europe website.
www.rugbyeurope.eu/rugby-europe-internat...4-romania-vs-georgia

Rugby Europe have made a formal approach to the Six Nations about introducing some kind of promotion/relegation process and with Georgia now a good way ahead of Italy in the world rankings and Romania not that far behind, they kinda have a point ...

(I had actually forgotten to even follow this tournament this year until there was a question in the Connacht Clan Table Quiz about it)

So apparently I was wrong about Romania needing a BP win ...
They were actually only 3 points behind (I think the table on the website was wrong).
A one point win put them level. Georgia had the better points difference but according to the rules, head to head is the deciding factor, so Romania won the championship.
However, no one explained that to whoever was running the show in Bucharest and they gave the trophy to Georgia!
I watched the end of the game but turned it off at the final whistle so I missed all the fun ... and it looks like they took the video down out of embarrassment.
I'd say the Georgians were in La La Land!

www.rugbyeurope.eu/precision-rec-ranking

There's a bit more on the line in this tournament this season as some of the games double as qualification for the World Cup. The top side over last season and this season in the games not involving Georgia (already qualified) will be in Ireland's pool. The second best will play (and probably beat) Portugal go into a playoff against Samoa, the winner of which will also be in Ireland's pool, and the loser of which will probably also qualify via the repêchage but will end up with NZ and SA.

Spain had a good win away to Russia in Krasnodar overseen by our old friend Frank, which leaves them just 3 points behind Romania, whom they host next Saturday. Both teams would be expected to win their remaining two games so that one is kinda the decider. If Romania win, they're pretty much sorted. If Spain win they're very much in poll position but if Romania get a LBP they'll be ahead on head to head so could go to the wire.
Game should be live on the Rugby Europe site at 11.45 on Saturday if you're suffering International Rugby Withdrawal Symptoms during the 6N rest week.
www.rugbyeurope.eu/welcome-rugby-europe-tv

(No joy for Hans Peter Wild's quest to get Germany in, they got stuffed 85-6 by Romania, whom they beat last season).

Here you go if you're bored. Sure I'll give Spain a bit of a shout. Would be nice to play someone new at the RWC ...

www.dailymotion.com/video/x6egl94

Fond memories of that stadium from 2010. Remember when we used to hammer teams 66-0?

Nice win for Spain 22-10. Could nearly have had a TBP but the last minute try went the wrong way. Looked like the best atmosphere I've seen at an international in a while.
Spain are 1 point ahead now and have a better head to head than Romania so as long as they can beat Germany at home and Belgium away, they should stay ahead and play Japan in the opening game of the RWC (and meet Ireland on a Thursday morning later on). I think they need one TBP to be sure of it, but Romania would do well to get a TBP at home to Russia so they're looking good.

If Spain hold on, one of Canada, Romania or Samoa has to miss out. Romania would likely play Samoa over two legs in June. You'd fancy Samoa but Romania beat them in November.
The loser of that goes into the repechage along with Canada (and someone like Tahiti and Kenya) with only one qualifying.

So Romania beat Russia 25-15 at home. It was 3-2 on tries and then they went for it with a last minute penalty and got the fourth try. Cue big celebration. I don't know the Romanian for bonus point but the Romanian commentator definitely said it a few times. Rugby Europe site doesn't update very quickly but someone was straight on to Wikipedia to record Romania's TBP win. Four points clear of Spain so. Except oops, they use the French BP system where you need 3 tries more than your opponent, so bye bye bonus point. Only 3 clear of Spain and they have a game in hand and better head to head.
So from what I can see, Spain just need to beat Germany at home and Belgium away and they're through, regardless of what Romania do to Belgium at home. That is assuming it goes to head to head, I'm pretty sure it does. Anyway I would expect Spain to get a TBP against Germany.
Spain lost to Georgia but that does not count towards RWC qualification. Looks like the Rugby Europe Championship itself will go down to the last day in Tbilisi against Romania but you'd have to fancy Georgia for the slam.

Looks like Romania are getting out of jail here. Spain 15 down in Brussels with 17 mins left ...
Edit: Lost 18-10. You'd have to say Spain really blew that opportunity. So Romania join us in the RWC. Spain have to face a two-legged play-off with Samoa assuming they beat Portugal. And if they lose that then Canada await in the Repêchage.
Looked like a great crowd in Tbilisi for the Other Grand Slam.