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.
