INTERNATIONAL RUGBY: IRB Nations Cup Begins

This IRB tournament takes place in Bucharest, Romania.

Schedule

11.06.2010
Namibia v Romania
Argentina A v Italy A
Scotland A v Georgia

15.06.2010
Italy A v Georgia
Scotland A v Namibia
Romania v Argentina A

20.06.2010
Georgia v Namibia
Italy A v Romania
Argentina A v Scotland A

Preview
The second cross-continental international rugby tournament kicks off in Bucharest Friday. There are two newcomers to this tournament, Namibia and Georgia. This tournament is an important benchmark for tier 2 nations to gauge their strength against A sides from tier 1 nations. It is also an important build up for Namibia and Georgia who have already qualified for the 2011 World Cup finals. Romania will use this tournament to prepare for its matches against Tunisia in its bid to qualify and fill the last place at the finals.

Scotland A won the tournament last year with a side handy with full Scottish rugby internationals behind them. This year the Scottish side is on tour and a good number of last years A side made that team. This side is younger and has fewer full internationals in it. Scotland A will find the going much tougher this year.

Scotland A squad

Forwards
Geoffrey Cross (Edinburgh) (*1)
James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors)
Calum Forrester (Glasgow Warriors)
Christopher Fusaro (Heriot's)
Roderick Grant (Edinburgh)
Ryan Grant (Edinburgh)
Allister Hogg (Edinburgh) (*47)
Andrew Kelly (Edinburgh)
Scott MacLeod (Edinburgh) (*21)
Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors)
Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh)
Steven Turnbull (Edinburgh)
Richard Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) (*3)
Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)

Backs
Alexander Blair (Edinburgh)
David Blair (Edinburgh)
Benjamin Cairns (Edinburgh) (*7)
Jack Cuthbert (Bath, England)
Robert Dewey (Glasgow Warriors) (*12)
John Houston (Edinburgh)
Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh)
Mark McMillan (Glasgow Warriors)
Bryan Rennie (Exeter Chiefs, England)
Mark Robertson (Edinburgh)
Colin Shaw (Scotland Sevens)
Nikki Walker (Neath Swansea Ospreys, Wales) (*15)
Head Coach: Sean Lineen

(*12) indicates test caps.
Note. Allistair Hogg last played for Scotland v Wales 2009 6 Nations.
Robert Dewey last played for Scotland v Argentina at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Adapted from http://www.irb.com/nationscup/news/newsid=2037552.html#scotland+a+look+youth+nations+cup

Georgia are going to struggle. I have listed 15 top players who played in the European Nations Cup team that qualified Georgia for the Rugby World Cup who are missing from the team. This is very much a developmental team similar to the one that played in last years Churchill Cup and who failed to win a game

Georgia Squad

Backs
Merab Kvirikashvili (Figeac, France) 43 tests
Irakli Kiasashvili (Lelo) 3
Irakli Chkhikvadze (AIA) 16
Sandro Todua (Lelo) 18
Malkhaz Urjukashvili (Aurillac, France) 62
Rezo Gigauri (Massy, France) 26
Giga Korkelia (Lelo) 0
Mamuka Ninidze (Batumi) 0
Tedo Zibzibadze (Perigueux, France) 47
Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo) 3
Samkharadze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 46
George Rokhvadze (AIA) 4

Forwards
David Dadunashvili (Massy, France) 26
Kakha Aseishvili (Kochebi) 1
Vasil kakovini (Brive, France) 5
Beka Sheqlashvili 0
Irakli Natriashvili (Farul Constanta, Romania) 25
Jaba Bregvadze (Kochebi) 6
Shalva Sutiashvili (Massy, France) 10
Kakha Uchava (Farul Constanta, Romania) 16
Kote Mikautadze 0
Simon Maisuradze (ASM Clermont-Auvergne, France) 11
Victor Kolelishvili (Lelo) 1
Lasha Tavartkiladze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 5
Shota Sakvarelidze (Saint-Etienne, France) 0
Dimitri Basilaia (ASM Clermont-Auvergne, France) 13

Head Coach: Tim Lane
Assistant Coach: Ilia Maisuradze
Manager Vasil Abashidze

Main players in ENC 1 who are missing
Irakli Machkhaneli-wing-41 tests
Davit Katcharava-centre-36 tests
Irakli Giorgadze-centre-39 tests
Lasha Malaghuradze-flyhalf-25 tests
Irakli Abusseridze-scrumhalf-65 tests-captain
Giorgi Chkhaidze-flanker-41 tests
Gia Labadze-flanker-61 tests
Ilia Zedguinidze-lock-59 tests
George Nemsadze-lock-16 tests
Goderdzi Shvelidze-prop-55 tests
Davit Khinchagishvili-prop-29 tests
Levan Datunashvili-lock-31 tests
David Kubriashvili-prop-14 tests
Besso Udessiani-No.8-39 tests
Davit Zirakashvili-prop-23 tests

That’s 15 top players unavailable-injured. That’s your first team!

More to come.