Rugby Europe Championship/Trophy

[tabascoboy]

Netherlands v Georgia fairly close at half time, 3 - 12 to Georgia

Final score Netherlands 8 - 40 Georgia

[tabascoboy]

Another result from yesterday: Belgium 5 - 56 Romania

[tabascoboy]

Germany v Spain now playing, what's with the mismatching boots? Result was Germany 14 - 32 Spain

[clydecloggie]

Spain not playing well so far this year. Could have lost at home against the Netherlands, and this is a poor margin versus Germany.

[Biffer]

Have there been any close games yet? Might question if the new format was the right way to go.

[tabascoboy]

Have there been any close games yet? Might question if the new format was the right way to go.

That's one criticism of the new format, that it pitted the strongest teams against the weakest in the first two rounds. In the next round (last pool matches) there is finally potential for more closely contested games, e.g. Portugal v Romania

[clydecloggie]

Have there been any close games yet? Might question if the new format was the right way to go.

Spain - Netherlands was unexpectedly close and the Dutch could have won it with better kicking. 8-point margin in the end.

But yeah, the depth isn't really there to justify it going to 8 teams.

There's Georgia in a class of its own, then Portugal, Spain and Romania (+ Russia in pre-war times), and then a group below that of which the Dutch were the best the last few seasons - but they found the step up to the next level far too big. Some signs this may be changing given their last two results, and it is their stated ambition to get there over the next few years. Although tellingly, the target of RWC qualification in 2027 has quietly been shifted to 2031.

The problem is that there is sufficient young talent to have hope for the future, but most of the real prospects move away early and are then hard to keep within the Dutch age group and senior ranks. See Fabian Holland who is trying to make it to the All Blacks rather than his own country's national team. Not too dissimilar to Tim Visser and Zeno Kieft (La Rochelle back row for 12 seasons, never played for the Dutch NT in that time).

[tabascoboy]

Last round of Pool Games

Saturday
Germany - Netherlands at Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg
Spain - Georgia at Torrelavega nr Santander
Poland - Belgium at Gdynia

Sunday
Portugal - Romania at Lisbon


The last one is the pick of the games, traditionally it has been about two contrasting styles but Romania have been playing a more open game albeit against weaker opponents. The games should not be as one-sided although Spain look quite weak with no pro players picked - though they are assured of 2nd place in the pool they could be rather heavily defeated if the Lelos apply themselves.

[tabascoboy]

Well the first game did turn out to be close despite NL leading for most if not all the game

Germany 29 - 33 Netherlands





More highlights

[tabascoboy]

Result Spain 3 - 41 Georgia




Poland v Belgium underway in Gdynia. Poland won 21 - 15

[tabascoboy]

Portugal win in Lisbon 38 - 20 against Romania to finish top of Pool B and get a home semi-final. Have to admire the way Portugal play the game...

[tabascoboy]

In the first game this weekend, in the ranking tournament Netherlands beat Belgium 31 - 19

Halftime in the first Championship semi-final where Spain have held the lead since an early penalty to be ahead 7 - 10. Great try from Portugal though



Storming 2nd half from Portugal though to win 27 - 10 for a place in the final.

[tabascoboy]

Rather easy win for Georgia 31 - 7 over Romania in the other Championship Semi-final today. So the final is Georgia v Portugal in neutral venue of Badajoz.






In the last game, in the ranking section Germany beat Poland 23 - 18

[tabascoboy]

In Amsterdam, Belgium beat Poland 18 - 17 in a very close game to take 7th place. Hosts Netherlands play Germany to contest 5th & 6th places.

[tabascoboy]

Netherlands coasting to 28 - 0 at halftime, helped by a 10 second try!



Germany made the score a little more respectable in the end but still 50 - 28 to the Netherlands

[tabascoboy]

Two excellent games to wrap up the tournament last night

Georgia won the final 38 - 11, only 12 - 11 at halftime but Portugal fell away somewhat in the 2nd half




Bronze: Romania 31 - 25 Spain

[tabascoboy]

It's a long way down the pyramid but Kosovo played their first official international rugby union match today, losing 7 - 51 against Austria at Hajvalia near Pristina

[tabascoboy]

2024 Fixtures, Russia of course still banned from competing

[clydecloggie]

Big game for the Netherlands first up. They came close to Spain last year (should have won, actually) so this time round, at home in Amsterdam, it's the ideal game to show the progress everyone thinks is happening is actually happening.

Eventual Georgia v Portugal final might be a good one.

[clydecloggie]

Big game for the Netherlands first up. They came close to Spain last year (should have won, actually) so this time round, at home in Amsterdam, it's the ideal game to show the progress everyone thinks is happening is actually happening.

Eventual Georgia v Portugal final might be a good one.

Tomorrow 1.15PM local time (12.15 UK). Really looking forward to how the balance of power has (or hasn't) shifted between these two sides.

[tabascoboy]

I didn't see it, but it turned out to be close!



NL had a chance to win with a penalty at the death...



Bit of lapse in the defence was costly

[tabascoboy]

Considering how well Portugal played at the RWC, this is a great result for Belgium



The only try of the game

[tabascoboy]

[tabascoboy]

And the last result of the weekend

[tabascoboy]

Belgium not able to repeat the heroics this weekend, going down 33 - 18






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And Georgia win 31 - 10 over Netherlands

[tabascoboy]

Portugal back to form with 54 - 7 win over Poland

[tabascoboy]

In the last game of the round, today Spain beat Germany 27 - 5 in Madrid

[tabascoboy]

Results from today

Georgia 38 - 3 Spain - much more one-sided than expected

Belgium 31 - 10 Poland

Romania 24 - 49 Portugal - a very good away win for Portugal who played some terrific rugby



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Sunday's result

Netherlands 39 - 13 Germany

[tabascoboy]

The pools for the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship are decided. Poland were relegated and in their place is promoted Switzerland. Russia of course still barred. Don't know if they are keeping exactly the same format for the finals next time.

Pool A:
Georgia
Spain
Netherlands
Switzerland

Pool B:
Portugal
Romania
Germany
Belgium

[clydecloggie]

The pools for the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship are decided. Poland were relegated and in their place is promoted Switzerland. Russia of course still barred. Don't know if they are keeping exactly the same format for the finals next time.

Pool A:
Georgia
Spain
Netherlands
Switzerland

Pool B:
Portugal
Romania
Germany
Belgium

It will be Spain away for The Netherlands, and after two years of close losses - they have to win that one to take the next step in their journey.

Barring another big upset win for Belgium, Portugal should walk pool B.