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World Cup weekend and other matches

Friday 14th November 2008

As well as those matches profiled elsewhere, Europe's lower echelons have also been abuzz with activity over the past fortnight, and this weekend is no exception.

The biggest clash of the weekend is in Madrid, wherre Spain have a chance to instantly banish their 42-15 defeat to Russia last weekend to memory.

The Spanish host Germany, whose playing stock and world profile within the game is rising rapidly, courtesy of the recent Hannover Sevens tournament.

A defeat for Spain would all but end their World Cup hopes, as they need to finish third in the European Nations Cup Division One - which includes Georgia, Romania and Portugal - to progress.

In Division 2A, the Czech Republic host Poland in Ostrava, with the Poles also having got off to a rough start losing 12-13 at home to table-topping Ukraine. But the Czechs will pose a big threat, and include Toulon winger Martin Jagr in their side.

Moldova host Belgium on Sunday in Chisinau in the same division, with the Belgians having beaten Ukraine 9-8 in Brussels last week to be in second place. Moldova are yet to play a game.

Another step down the ladder sees Lithuania play Switzerland in Vilnius, with Lithuania seemingly the only team capable of rivalling Armenia in Division 3A. Armenia have won two from two, including a 35-15 win over the Swiss.

In Division 3C Bulgaria ought to post a victory past Israel when both kick off their respective campaigns in Sofia.

In non-World Cup qualifiers, the Asian Five Nations Division One is currently taking place in Chinese Taipei. Singapore beat the hosts by a point - 23-22 - on Thursday, and scored a last-minute try to draw with Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankans now need to win by more than a point over the hosts on Saturday to progress to the Asian Five Nations to be played over next April and May, involving Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Kazakhstan.

Georgia line up against Scotland A on Friday at Firhill in Glasgow, but because the match is not an IRB-sanctioned match Georgia have not been able to call upon their professional players based in France for the game.

13 of the players in the squad were at the heroic World Cup display in France last year, including the wing who scored the memorable intercept try against Ireland, Giorgi Shkinin.

Georgia: 15 Otar Barkalaia, 14 Irakli Chkhikvadze, 13 Sandro Todua, 12 Davit Kacharava, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Lasha Malaguradze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze (captain), 8 Dimitri Basilaia, 7 Besso Udesiani, 6 Rati Urushadze, 5 Khaka Uchava, 4 Ilia Zedguinidze, 3 Guram Kavtidze, 2 Irakli Natriashvili, 1 Davit Gasviani
Replacements:16 Levan Dadunashvili, 17 Vassil Kakovini, 18 Shalva Sutiashvili, 19 Simon Maisuradze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Merab Kvirikashvili, 22 Guiorgui Shkinini

Finally, Japan line up against the US Eagles in the first of two Tests in Nagoya on Sunday.

The Eagles will be confident, coming off a 43-9 win over Uruguay last week, but both sides are at as full strength as possible, and Japan will get the chance to show their continued progress under John Kirwan.

Japan: 15 Kaoru Matsushita, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Koji Tomioka, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Takashi Kikutani (capt), 6 Hajime Kiso, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Hisateru Hirashima
Replacements: 16 Naonori Mizuyama, 17 Naoki Kawamata, 18 Tomoaki Taniguchi, 19 Michael Leitch, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Masakazu Irie, 22 Bryce Robins.

USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Junior Sifa, 11 Gavin DeBartolo, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Pat Quinn, 7 Todd Clever (capt), 6 Inaki Basauri, 5 John VanderGiessen, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 2 Mark Crick, 1 Mike MacDonald
Replacements: 16 Joe Welch, 17 Shawn Pittman, 18 Alec Parker, 19 J.J. Gagiano, 20 Chad Erskine, 21 Valenese Malifa, 22 Thretton Palamo.