Cold Krasnoyarsk crunch
Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:38
It's crunch time in the European Nations Cup on Saturday when Georgia goes up to Siberia to play Russia, a match which will surely determine the winners of the championship.
Both teams are on 22 points after eight matches. After this Russia play Czech Republic who have not won a single match and Georgia play Spain in Tblissi.
This is the one that counts.
It may be spring in Siberia but it is still cold with snow forecast and a temperature high of just 3°C. That is the high. After that it gets colder in Krasnoyarsk, the third biggest city in Siberia with a population of just under a million, a junction on the Trans-Siberian railway.
The present standings with matches played, points and points' difference is as follows:
1 Georgia 8; 22; 170
2 Romania 10; 22; 133
3 Russia 8; 22; 125
4 Portugal 9; 15; -18
5 Spain 8; 14; -9
6 Czech
Republic 9; 9; -401
The points' difference does not matter all that much, unless Georgia lose to Spain. It's victory in this match that really counts.
As so often happens, the Lelos are not at full strength. Their French clubs would not release prop Davit Zirakashvili, prop Davit Khinchagishvili, hooker Akvsenti Guiorgadze, flank Gia Labadze and wing Irakli Machkhaneli (wing). In addition Irakli Giorgadze and Malkhaz Urjukashvili are crocked.
The competition is run home and away over two years. Each side has lost a match - Georgia to Spain in Madrid and Russia lo Georgia in Tblissi. The Lelos beat the Bears 31-12.
Squads:
Russian squad: Valerei Fedchenko, Ivan Prishepenko, Igor Klyuchnikov, Oleg Kobzev, Andrei Kuzin, Aleksei Panasenko, Sergey Trishin, Yuri Kushnarev, Victor Motorin, Alexandr Shakirov, Victor Gresev, Vladislav Korshunov, Evgeny Matveev, Mikhail Babaev, Vladimir Marchenko, Alexandr Khrokin, Vladimir Botvinikov, Artem Fatakhov, Andrei Garbuzov, Alexandr Yanushkin, Igor Galinovskiy, Alexandr Gvozdovskiy, Oleg Azarenko, Aleksei Chernyshov, Vyacheslav Grachev, Andrey Ostrikov, Kirill Kulemin
Georgian squad: Goderdzi Shvelidze, Yuri Natriashvili, Anton Peikrishvili, David Dadunashvili, David Kubriashvili, Mamuka Gorgodze, Datunashvili, Uchava, George Mchedlishvili, Shalva Sutiashvili, Dimitri Basilayya, Simon Maisuradze, Urushadze, Lasha Malaghuradze, Merab Kvirikashvili, David Katcharava, George Shkinini, Irakli Chkhikvadze, Aleksandr Todua, Revaz Guigauri, Irakli Abusseridze, Bidzina Samkharadze, Otar Barkalaia
Date: Saturday, 12 April 2008
Venue: Krasnoyarsk
Expected weather conditions: Snow with a high of 3°C, dropping to -12°C and alight wind.
Referee: Franck Maciello (France)
Touch judges: Bruno Bessot
(France), Hervé Gilard (France)
