tabascoboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:14 am
Forgot that these games had resumed, results this month
Russia 18 - 13 Romania
Portugal 16 - 29 Georgia
Portugal 27 - 28 Romania
Spain 19 - 25 Georgia
Whether other nations are improving or Romania going a bit backwards, I don't know - hard to tell if varied COVID restrictions are affecting the ability to train and play together.
Romania haven't been at their best for a few years now, and were in fact very close to having to play the relegation games. Got saved by the Belgian government's refusal to allow the Belgium team to travel to Romania for the deciding game.
What is also interesting is how close the Georgia results have been. They're still winning, but not by huge margins.
Spain looking good, odds-on favourites to qualify for RWC2023 as Europe 2, imo.
No dates as yet for the Belgium - Netherlands play off to see who the 6th team in the comp will be. Dutch players are back training with a special exemption from the 9PM curfew, top league to restart in April to run until end of May. So I'd assume RugbyNL are aiming for early June play-offs with Belgium.