Preview: The 'other' Six Nations 2016
Unlike the Six Nations which annually produces a champion, the Nations Cup is spread over two seasons. This season is the decisive second season with Georgia well on top and kicking off against bottom-placed Germany who lost all five of their matches in the first round. Georgia on the other hand won all five matches.
The log
1 Georgia 21 points
2 Romania 15 points
3 Spain 14 points
4 Russia 13 points
5 Portugal 5 points
6 Germany 1 point
When Georgia and Germany met in 2015, Georgia won 64-8, and that was in Germany.
Of the Georgian team, playing at home this time, 10 play their rugby in France, one in Scotland and one in Russia.
In the first round Romania beat Portugal 37-10 in Lisbon and Spain beat Russia 43-20 in Madrid.
Romania vs Portugal in Cluj, kick-off 17.15
Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu (Saracens), 14 Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara Saracens), 13 Paula Kinikinilau (Timisoara Saracens), 12 Florin Ionita (CSA Steaua ucuresti),11 Stephen Shennan (Timisoara Saracens), 10 Florin Vlaicu (Calvisano), 9 Valentin Calafeteanu (Timisoara Saracens), 8 Stelian Burcea Timisoara Saracens), 7 Vlad Nistor (Castres), 6 Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua Bucuresti), 5 Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens), 4 Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare), 3 Alexandru Tarus (Timisoara Saracens), 2 Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens), 1 Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Replacements: 16 Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens), 17 Mihai Dico (Stiinta Baia Mare), 18 Silviu Vasiliu (CSA Steaua Bucuresti), 19 Marius Antonescu (Tarbes), 20 Andrei Gorcioaia (Valence d’Agen), 21 Alexandru Palii (Stiinta Baia Mare), 22 Ovidiu Melniciuc (U Cluj), 23 Ionut Botezatu (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Portugal squad: Bruno Medeiros (CDUL), Bruno Rocha (AEIS Tecnico), João Almeida (CDUL), José Conde (Cascais), Francisco Domingues Provence Rugby Duarte Diniz (GD Direito), Diogo Van Den Toorn (CDUL), Gonçalo Uva (GD Direito), Luis Cerquinho (CDUP), Salvador Vassalo (Cascais), Francisco Sousa (Cascais), Sebastião Villax (CDUL), Miguel Macedo (CDUP), João Lino (CDUL), Francisco Magalhães (CDUL), Francisco Vieira (CDUP), Manuel Costa (CDUL), Francisco Appleton (CDUL), Manuel Vilela (GD Direito), Jose Maria Vareta (GD Direito), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), Tomás Noronha (CDUL), Nuno Sousa Guedes (GD Direito)
Referee: Iñigo Atorrasagasti (Spain)
Assistant referees: Jorge Molpeceres (Spain), Pedro Montoya (Spain)
Russia vs Spain at Yug-Sport Stadium, Sochi on 6 February 2016
Russia: 15 Ramil Gysin, 14 Denis Simplikevich, 13 Igor Galinovsky, 12 Vladimir Rudenko, 11 Vasily Artemyev, 10 Yury Kushnarev, 9 Rushan Yagudin, 8 Anton Rudoi, 7 Andrew Temnov, 6 Victor Gresev, 5 Denis Antonov, 4 Andrey Garbuzov, 3 Innocent Zykov, , 2 Stanislav Country, 1 Alexey Volkov
Replacements: 16 Hasanov Nasir, 17 Sergei Sekisov, 18 Eugene Pronenko, 19 Paul Butenko, 20 Dmitry Krotov, 21 Alexey Shcherban, 22 Sergei Yanyushkin, 23 Mikhail Babaev
Spain: Thibaut Alvarez, Juan Anaya, Sergi Aubanell, David Barrera, Mathieu Belié , Francisco Blanco, Anibal Bonan, Xerom Civil, Ignacio Contardi, Javier de Juan, Jonathan Garcia, Julen Goia, David Gonzalez, Gareth Griffiths, Brad Linklater, Fernando Lopez, Gregory Maiquez, Jesus Moreno, Facundo Munilla, Jaime Nava, Jesus Recuerda, Mathieu Roca, Dan Snee.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Georgia vs Germany at Avchala Rugby Stadium, Tbilisi on 6 February 2016, kick-off 14.00
Georgia: 15 Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotivi Tbilisi), 14 Giorgi Pruidze (Aia Kutaisi), 13 Davit Katcharava (Enisey Krasnoyarsk), 12 Lasha Malaghuradze (Qochebi Bolnisi), 11 Sandro Todua (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi), 10 Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi), 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze (Armazi Tbilisi), 8 Beka Gorgadze (Mont De Marsan), 7 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (Batumi), 6 Shalva Sutiashvili^Capt (Soyaux Angoulême), 5 Giorgi Nemsadze (Tarbes), 4 Giorgi Chkhaidze (Lille), 3 Anton Peikrishvili (Bayonne), 2 Shalva Mamukashvili (Glasgow Warriors), 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier)
Replacements: 16 Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français), 17 Kakha Asieshvili (Brive), 18 Giorgi Melikidze (Stade Français), 19 Lasha Lomidze (Beziers), 20 Saba Shubitidze (Akademia), 21 Giorgi Begadze (Qochebi Bolnisi), 22 Revaz Jintchvelashvili (Aia Kutaisi), 23 Giorgi Aptsiauri (Armia Tbilisi)
German squad: Pascal Fischer, Sean Armstrong, Benjamin Danso, Jarrid Els, Samy Füchsel, Jaco Otto, Michael Poppmeier, Hendrik van der Merwe, Clemens von Grumbkow, Eric Marks, Tom Behrendt, Rob May, Oliver Paine, Jörn Schröder, Carlos Soteras-Merz, Jeremy Te Huia, Matthias Schösser, Dale Garner, Tim Menzel, Mika Tyumenev, Maxime Oltmann, Paul Bosch, Chris Howells
Referee: Maxime Burlet (Belgium)
