Russia leapfrog Spain

Romania had a big win, beating Portugal 39-14 but log-leaders Georgia had an even bigger win over Germany whom they beat 59-7. The close result was in wet Sochi when Spain came to play Russia.

In terms of the competition it is the sixth round as the competition runs over two years and five matches were played in 2015. Georgia remain firmly on top of the log. In fact the only change in position was caused by Russia's victory. It has taken them two points above Spain.

The Log

1. Georgia – 26 points

2. Romania – 20 points

3. Russia – 17 points

4. Spain – 15 points

5. Portugal – 5 points

6. Germany – 1 point

Germany, the only team not to have been to the Rugby World Cup's final tournament,  is still without a win.

Romania vs Portugal in Cluj. Romania won 39-14

Two of the Oaks each scored two tries – 25-year-old, Aucklander Stephen Shennan and flank Vlad Nistor, a 21-year-old brought up in the Castres Academy.

At half-time Portugal were leading 14-10 but then they scored no more while the Oaks forged ahead.

Making his debut for the Oaks, left wing Stephen Shennan, a former New Zealand rugby league international, scored a try  which Florin Vlaicu converted. The flyhalf, capped 86  times for Romania, is his country's leading points' scorer. But then hooker Duarte Diniz and lock Diogo Toorn both scored tries for Portugal, both converted by Nuno Guedes. Vlaicu brought his side closer with a penalty.

Three minutes into the second half Romania took the lead through a try by Nistor, converted by Vliacu. Vliacu kicked a penalty, Nistor and Shennan each scored their second tries and hookergot a try.

In the second half Romania scored 29 unanswered points in 27 minutes to settle for a good victory.

Scorers:

For Romania:

Tries: Stephen Shennan 2, Vlad Nistor 2, Andrei Radoi

Cons: Florin Vliacu 4

Pens: Florin Vliacu 2

For Portugal:

Tries: Duarte Diniz, Diogo Toorn

Cons: Nuno Guedes 2

Teams

Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Madalin Lemnaru, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Florin Ionita, 11 Stephen Shennan, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu, 8 Stelian Burcea, 7 Vlad Nistor, 6 Viorel Lucaci, 5 Valentin Poparlan, 4 Johan van Heerden, 3 Alexandru Tarus, 2 Andrei Radoi, 1 Constantin Pristavita

Replacements: 16 Eugen Capatana, 17 Mihai Dico, 18 Silviu Vasiliu, 19 Marius Antonescu, 20 Andrei Gorcioaia, 21 Alexandru Palii, 22 Ovidiu Melniciuc, 23 Ionut Botezatu

Portugal: 15 Nuno Guedes, 14 Tomas Noronha, 13 Jose Varet , 12 Manuel Vilela, 11 Goncalo Foro, 10 Manuel Costa, 9 Francisco Magalhaes, 8 Salvador Vassalo, 7 Sebastiao Villax, 6 Joao Lino, 5 Goncalo Uva, 4 Diogo Toorn, 3 Bruno Rocha, 2 Duarte Diniz, 1 Bruno Medeiros.

Replacements: 16 Jose Conde, 17 Francisco Domingues, 18 Francisco Sousa, 19 Luis Cerquinho, 20 Volodymyr Grikh, 21 Francisco Viera, 22 Francisco Appleton, 23 Joao Almeida.

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 won 22-20

It rained throughout this match but despite that there was a thrilling finish.

Russia, beaten in the first round in Madrid, turned tables on the Spanish Lions in this closely contested match.

With just four minutes to go Russia scored the winning try but two minutes before that they looked sunk. Mighty Victor Gresev was sent to the sin bin and Spain were awarded a penalty try to take the lead at 20-17 but then, immediately, No. 8 Anton Rudoi scored the try that gave the Bears the victory.

Scorers:

For Russia:

Tries: Denis Simplikevich 2, Anton Rudoi

Cons: Yury Kushnarev 2

Pen: Yury Kushnarev

For Spain:

Tries: Ignacio Contardi, penalty try

Cons: Gareth Griffiths, Brad Linlater

Pens: Brad Linklater 2

Teams

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: 15 Brad Linklater, 14 Julen Goia, 13 Thibaut Álvarez, 12 Mathieu Belié, 11 Sergi Aubanell, 10 Dan Snee, 9 Gregory Maiquez, 8 Jaime Nava, 7 Mathieu Roca, 6 David Barrera, 5 David González, 4 Anibal Bonán,  3 Jesús Moreno, 2 Juan Anaya, 1 Fernando López.

Replacements: 16 Jonathan García, 17 Francisco Blanco, 18 Xerom Civil, 19 Jesús Recuerda, 20 José Luis Del Valle, 21 Gareth Griffiths, 22 Silvio Casteglioni, 23 Ignacio Contardi.

It is a fairly international team. Linklater and Snee are a New Zealander, Belié, García, Civil, Roca and Barrera are French, Griffiths is English and there are three Argentinians – López,  Bonán and  Contardi.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Assistant referees: Darren Gamage (England), Andrew Pearce (England)

NB The father was the son's assitant.

Georgia vs Germany at Avchala Rugby Stadium, Tbilisi on 6 February 2016. Germany won 59-7.

After 25 minutes the score was 7-all but by half-time Georgia led 26-7 and in the match scored nine tries to one.

Then first No.8 Beka Gorgadze and then loosehead Mikheil Nariashvili scored tries, both converted by inside centre Lasha Malaghuradze who kicked seven of nine conversions.

Substitute flank Lasha Lomidze celebrated his release from the bench by scoring two tries.

Scorers

For Georgia:

Tries: Beka Gorgadze, Mikheil Nariashvili,Giorgi Nemsadze,Anton Peikrishvili, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Lasha Lomidze 2, Lasha Khmaladze      

Cons: Lasha Malaghuradze 7

For Germany:

Try: Oliver Paine

Con: Carlos Soteras-Merz

Teams

Georgia: 15 Beka Tsiklauri, 14 Giorgi Pruidze, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Lasha Malaghuradze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 6 Shalva Sutiashvili (captain), 5 Giorgi Nemsadze, 4 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili

Replacements: 16 Zurab Zhvania, 17 Kakha Asieshvili, 18 Giorgi Melikidze, 19 Lasha Lomidze, 20 Saba Shubitidze, 21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 Revaz Jintchvelashvili, 23 Giorgi Aptsiauri

Germany: 15 Oliver Paine, 14 Pascal Fischer, 13 Carlos Soteras-Merz, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Hendrik van der Merwe, 10 Jeremy Te Huia, 9 Pierre Mathurin, 8 Rob May, 7 Jarrid Els, 6 Jaco Otto, 5 Michael Poppmeier, 4 Benjamin Danso,  3 Samy Füchsel, 2 Dale Garner, 1 Jörn Schröder.

Replacements: 16 Christopher Kleebauer, 17 Matthias Schösser, 18 Chris Howells, 19 Eric Marks, 20 Tom Behrendt, 21 Daniel Koch, 22 Tomas van Gelderen, 23 Maxime Oltmann.

Referee: Maxime Burlet (Belgium)

Assistant referees: Nicolas Vandecauter (Belgium), John Catteau (Belgium)