Autumn Nations Cup 2020

[GeoRugby Profile]

Other than Matiashvili at fullback, I like this squad. Will be interesting to watch youngsters Alania and Niniashvili make their national team debut. Hopefully Niniashvili will get a decent amount of game time.

[Tobar Profile]

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from that page's html source

Thanks for the text and the tip

Good article, it seems sympathetic but condescending at the same time. But it does show the issue - Georgia needs something like a Pro14 team or Six Nations berth. But there really is no reason for Six Nations to want to open up to other teams. We can all agree that we want to see it happen but realistically there is no benefit (right now) for opening up to Georgia while basically shattering one country’s funding for a year.

Here’s an interesting idea, though not the ideal solution. Six Nations clearly won’t relegate one of their own, especially if the REC is nowhere near the same level. But what if Six Nations bought a stake in REC tournament as a means to improve it? It’s a tricky situation for many reasons (like how does the ownership work out) but the reason I’m suggesting this is because they currently have no incentive not reason to grow the REC as a decent Division 2 European tournament. It’s not their job to do so. But there is the opportunity of growing rugby in these countries as potential markets for the Six Nations which is the real win for them - Spain, Germany, Belgium, etc. are all good markets for growth which they need if they want to increase their sponsorship revenue. Improve the REC and show that the Six Nations is the pinnacle of European rugby and perhaps you can sell the rights for more and diversify your sponsorship sources.

I know it may seem a bit preposterous but we all know that growing rugby in the rest of Europe clearly benefits the Six Nations.

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Tobar, you forget something: Six Nations are already involved in REC. They are part of Rugby Europe. They have more voting power there than REC nations. They won't do anything because they don't care. Only France cared and they have progressively disengaged in the last few years because it cost them money and it barely gave them anything in return, only votes for their 2023 RWC bid.

[victorsra Profile Website]

I think what tobar means is Six Nations Ltd buying a stake of an hypothetical REC Ltd. But yes, no reason.

[Tobar Profile]

Yes, that’s what I’m saying. They currently have no reason to care about it other than potential votes. But if they owned a part of REC Ltd. then they would have financial gain from the tournament succeeding (in addition to theoretically stronger markets to sell to).

It’s out of left field and a bit much but just wondering if it makes any sense at all.

[beber Profile]

Interesting to see young Moldova born lock Cristian Stoian making his debuts for Italy!

[vino_93 Profile]

What a poor game from Italy tonight... They showed nothing against our C team. They never tried to play, only kicking kicking kicking...

[Canalina Profile]

Fortunately I've seen just the first half. I didn't expect a similar disaster in the second half, I thought we had some chances.
A good try by Zanon-Garbisi-Canna, and very few more.

[dropkick Profile]

What a poor game from Italy tonight... They showed nothing against our C team. They never tried to play, only kicking kicking kicking...

Isn't that what most teams are doing now?

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Yes. And at least half of them are wrong.

[GeoRugby Profile]

According to Georgian coach, there is a strong possibility that Fiji will be able to play next week. Apparently their players have been training together past few days.

[ihateblazers Profile]

Yes, that’s what I’m saying. They currently have no reason to care about it other than potential votes. But if they owned a part of REC Ltd. then they would have financial gain from the tournament succeeding (in addition to theoretically stronger markets to sell to).

It’s out of left field and a bit much but just wondering if it makes any sense at all.

I think it makes sense but the home unions have a superiority complex and probably don’t even appreciate that the European market is a potential financial gain for themselves. Too many chaps from the amateur days who still think of Romanian rugby in terms of the soviet era. I really think it’s ignorance from their part, it’s not even about business and strategy at this point.

[vino_93 Profile]

What a poor game from Italy tonight... They showed nothing against our C team. They never tried to play, only kicking kicking kicking...

Isn't that what most teams are doing now?

When you're lead by 15 points, no... You have to play to win. At the beginning of a game, when it's closed, you can put the pressure on your opponent. Italy tried to do it, failed every time... Then France took the lead, extended it. But italy never tried to play... How did they expect to come back and score points doing that ?

[BigG Profile]

Fortunately I've seen just the first half. I didn't expect a similar disaster in the second half, I thought we had some chances.
A good try by Zanon-Garbisi-Canna, and very few more.

It was the worst game of Italy in this tournament. Meantime I believe they did not waste energy as play-off game is ahead. I think Italy intends to take over weakened Wales and it is a correct strategy.

[GeoRugby Profile]

Georgia scored their first try. Half time. 20-7 to Ireland.

[fullbackace Profile]

Tedo Abzhandadze needs more experience to play fly-half at this level... Just way too many childish mistakes this fall.

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Congrats Lelos, easily best performance against a Tier 1 since 2007.

[GeoRugby Profile]

Wow. What a defensive effort by Georgia. Ireland wins 23-10. Best game of the tournament for Georgia.

[datodato Profile]

This was easily the best performance from Georgia in years.

[tryman Profile]

Hugely encouraging performance by Georgia. To hold Ireland 3-3 in the second half is great going. To remind everyone this was a good Irish team they put out, with injuries it was the best team they could play.

Shame about the injury to Beka Gorgadze, their best player and key on restarts. Hopefully they can catch Fiji cold next week.

In many respects this tournament offers a tougher competition than a World Cup, let’s hope it stands to them.

[tryman Profile]

Tedo Abzhandadze needs more experience to play fly-half at this level... Just way too many childish mistakes this fall.

He needs regular game time with Brive now. He’s got a decent boot on him but was so frustrated when he didn’t put the ball out when they had a penalty in the first half which ultimately led to an Irish try.

Only turned 21 in June, injuries pending, he’s got another 3 World Cups in him. Will be a very important player for Georgia.

[victorsra Profile Website]

Two matches in a row without conceding a bonus point to a 6N team is a good thing, congrats.

[vino_93 Profile]

Fortunately I've seen just the first half. I didn't expect a similar disaster in the second half, I thought we had some chances.
A good try by Zanon-Garbisi-Canna, and very few more.

It was the worst game of Italy in this tournament. Meantime I believe they did not waste energy as play-off game is ahead. I think Italy intends to take over weakened Wales and it is a correct strategy.

Come on, that was France C team. Substitutes of substitutes ... guys which never played together. That was the easiest game for them. Even if Wales plays poorly, they remain a strong physical team, which used to play together. They won't win against Wales neither.

[Canalina Profile]

Agree, I don't think they were sparing energies; they would have been really happy to defeat France and I'm pretty sure they were not thinking to Wales. Unfortunately we have not the players (a part Polledri, who has not been raised in Italy) to make the difference against the big teams. I'd like to see Italy play more games with the T2 teams, just to have some more wins and to see more tries, but probably that kind of match is not economically useful and maybe there's also a sort of fear by our federation that a loss against a T2 could make our T1 status even more trembling

[thatrugbyguy Profile]

Highlights? Sounds like defensively they were solid.