Rankings provide twist to ENC tusslesFourth spot is not beyond Spain, but they are also looking over their shoulders at the threat of relegation - Photo: Pablo CuadradoGeorgia and Russia may have already claimed the two direct passages to Rugby World Cup 2011, but there is still plenty at stake in the latest round of European Nations Cup matches this weekend.
The battle to decide who qualifies as Europe 1 and Europe 2 - whereby slotting into Pool B or C - is unlikely to be determined until 20 March when Georgia and Russia meet on neutral soil in Turkey.
However, the race to win the European Nations Cup is only one intriguing element as the top tier enters its final stages, with Portugal and Romania battling to claim the third spot that will keep their hopes of playing at RWC 2011 alive.
Portugal currently lead that charge with 17 points, three more than Romania who do have a game in hand after last month's encounter with Spain was postponed due to freezing conditions and snow in Bucharest.
The two sides meet in Lisbon on 20 March for what could determine third place, but neither will be underestimating the challenges awaiting them this weekend when Portugal travel over the border to Madrid and Romania host Georgia.
Georgia have won their last three meetings with Romania, although two of these have been decided by a single score. Another loss would not end their hopes of preserving an ever present RWC record, but it would put pressure on them to then beat Portugal.
Portugal know that victory over Romania will pit them into a play-off against either Lithuania or the Division 2A winner for the right to enter the cross-continental play-off to determine the 20th and final qualifier for RWC 2011.
Their hopes of finishing third may have ended for Spain, but fourth is not out of their reach yet. On the other hand they are still also looking over their shoulders, sitting as they do only a point above Germany in the battle to avoid relegation.
Georgia on the rise?Germany are the only side in the top tier not to have tasted victory over the last two seasons, having conceded 213 points and scored only eight in their three matches so far in 2010.
Their quest for that elusive win on their return to the top flight after two decades away does not get any easier, when they travel to Sochi to face a Russian side riding on the crest of a wave after qualifying for a first ever World Cup.
The Lelos, who have qualified for a third successive Rugby World Cup, are the highest ranked of the six nations at 16th and Germany the lowest at 29th after a three-place slide on the back of that Portugal loss.
A fourth successive win over Romania could see Georgia climb two places at the expense of Canada and Tonga with a victory by more than 15 points in Bucharest, a smaller margin will still lift them above Tonga into 15th.
Romania cannot slip from 19th spot even with an heavy loss because they currently enjoy a healthy four-point plus advantage over Uruguay beneath them. Portugal, though, could slash the deficit to 1.43 points with a comfortable win over Spain, a result which would take them above Uruguay into 20th.
By contrast a Romania victory by more than 15 points would improve that position by one place with Georgia slumping three places on the back of a loss - presuming Russia also beat Germany in Sochi.
Rise or fall for SpainA smaller margin would bring Romania to within five tenths of Georgia, the Lelos still slipping below USA and Russia. If Russia were to suffer a surprise loss to Germany then the victorious Romanians would climb above them into 18th.
Russia, though, will retain 18th spot if both they and Romania lose at home - unless they are beaten by a greater margin. A Russian victory will not improve their rating, given the 12.75 points and 11 places that separate the two sides in the IRB World Rankings.
If Germany can spring the surprise of the European Nations Cup 2010 and bring Russia back down to earth after their historic qualification, then they will return to 26th. They could actually enjoy a new high of 25th with a win by more than 15 points and a Spanish loss by a similar margin.
Spain will fall two places to 25th - slipping below Chile and Korea - with defeat by their neighbours Portugal. A victory in Madrid would see Ged Glynn's side swap places with Namibia, but an emphatic win would also take them above Portugal to equal their best ever position.
There is one other European Nations Cup match this weekend - which does not double as a Rugby World Cup 2011 qualifying match - between Greece and Luxembourg.
However this will not impact the IRB World Rankings as Greece - coached by former French international Olivier Magne - are not yet a Full Member Union of the International Rugby Board and therefore not ranked.
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/qualifying/ne...ist+enc+tusslesმოკლედ, თუ რუმინეთს 15-ზე მეტი ქულით ვუგებთ, რეიტინგში ტონგასა და კანადას ვუსწრებთ და მე-14-ზე გადავდივართ, ნაკლები სხვაობით გამარჯვებით მხოლოდ ტონგას ჩამოვიტოვებთ და მე-15 პოზიციას ვიკავებთ.
This post has been edited by datuchi on 12 Mar 2010, 15:02
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რუმინეთი-საქართველო, 13 მარტს, LIVE 1 არხზე, 16:00-ზე
