Georgia signalled their intentions to qualify for a third
consecutive Rugby World Cup with an emphatic 77-3 win over Germany
in their European Nations Cup encounter at the National Stadium in
Tbilisi.
The victory keeps Georgia one point clear of Russia in the
standings with four matches remaining in the top tier, which will
determine Europe's two direct qualifiers for Rugby World Cup
2011 in New Zealand.
Giorgi Nemsadze, Bidzina Samkharadze, Irakli Machkhaneli and
Merab Kvirikashvili all grabbed braces in the victory with Besarion
Udesiani and Irakli Abuseridze also crossing the try-line in
Tbilisi.
Georgia's 11 tries on home soil not only preserves the
only remaining unbeaten record in the top tier, but has also given
them a significant point differential over Russia which could prove
decisive come the final round of matches on 20 March.
Russia's campaign to qualify for a first ever Rugby World
Cup remains on target after they edged Portugal 14-10 in the first
rugby international to be played in Sochi thanks to a Alexander
Yanyushkin try and three Yury Kushnarev penalties.
The last meeting between these sides had been equally tight
with Russia winning 18-14 despite letting a determined Portuguese
fightback from 15-0 down at half time in Lisbon.
This weekend's encounter, played in heavy rain and muddy
conditions, followed a similar path with Russia moving out to a
14-3 advantage with 13 minutes to go and Portugal only able to
score one try, through full back Joseph Gardener.
With Georgia and Russia both winning on home soil, neither match
had any impact on the IRB World Rankings with the latter remaining
only thousandths ahead of the Lelos in 17th with Portugal 21st and
Germany 26th.
The weekend's other European Nations Cup match between
Romania and Spain was postponed due to snow and freezing conditions
in Bucharest. A new date is yet to be arranged for the stadionul
National Arcul de Triumf encounter.
Six Nations brings only change
The only positional change in the IRB World Rankings came as a
result of Scotland's 18-9 loss to France in their RBS Six
Nations encounter at Murrayfield on Sunday with Andy Robinson's
side swapping places with Fiji to drop to 10th.
Fiji reclaim the ninth spot they lost during the November
internationals, albeit only be three hundredths of a rating point.
Both Fiji and Scotland remain more than three points adrift of
Wales in eighth and the same margin above Italy.
Two Mathieu Bastareaud tries helped France to victory at
Murrayfield, one which improved their rating by just over seven
tenths. They still trail Ireland, the leading northern hemisphere
nation, by 1.47 points ahead of their meeting this weekend.
Ireland's 29-11 win over Italy at Croke Park in the first
Six Nations match of 2010 had no impact on their rating of fourth,
given they went into the match seven places and more than 12 rating
points ahead if their visitors in the IRB World Rankings.
The weekend's other Six Nations match saw England record
a first win over Wales in the competition since 2006, the 30-17
victory at Twickenham increasing their rating by six tenths to
stretch their advantage over Argentina in seventh.