It's crunch time for Russia and Romania in RWC 2019 bid

For five of the competing teams vital RWC 2019 qualification points are at stake as the Rugby Europe Championship returns from a one-week break.

While the road to Japan is still a long one for Europe's teams to navigate, there will be no bigger incentive for the players of Germany and Belgium to go all the way than in Offenbach this weekend as the most coveted prize in the sport, the Webb Ellis Cup, will be on show pitchside at the Sparda Bank Hessen Stadium.

Germany kicked off their bid to compete on the game's biggest stage in two years' time in fine style with a thrilling 41-38 round one victory over the higher-ranked Romania at the same venue back in February, before they fell to a heavy defeat to Georgia in their next game.

Newly-promoted Belgium were competitive for large periods in their opening round defeat to Georgia and came within a whisker of an historic draw against Russia in their next game only to concede a heart-breaking try at the death and lose 25-18 in Brussels.

Russia and Romania meet in Sochi where a second Championship defeat for either would make the road to Japan 2019 that much tougher, while defending champions Georgia travel to Madrid to play a Spanish side who took four points from a 16-6 win over Russia in round one and then picked up a creditable losing bonus point away to Romania in round two.

VIEW RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS >>

Elsewhere this weekend, the Americas Rugby Championship title is on the line in Comodoro Rivadavia as reigning champions Argentina XV go toe-to-toe with 2016 runners-up USA.

VIEW AMERICAS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 STANDINGS >>

While that game will not have any impact on the World Rugby Rankings, the other fixtures between Canada and Brazil and Uruguay and Chile will. Bottom-of-the-table Chile, for example, could climb the rankngs by as many as five places if they were able to beat Los Teros in Montevideo.

VIEW FULL WORLD RANKINGS >>

We bring you all the team news and some interesting facts and figures around this weekend’s seven internationals. 

SPAIN (22) v GEORGIA (12)

Thirty-four-year-old Javier Canosa returns to the Spain side for the first time in nearly three years to win his 50th cap – but at openside flanker, not in his usual position in midfield.

Canosa joins a pack showing wholesale changes to the one beaten 13-3 by Romania a fortnight ago. Only prop Fernando Martin Lopez survives from the eight who took to the field in Bucharest.

Number eight Gautier Gibouin captains Spain for the first time in his 31-test career as a direct replacement for long-time skipper Jaime Nava. The backline has a much more settled feel though, with the only change coming in the centres where Dan Snee replaces Thibaut Alvarez. 

Bayonne youngster Jon Zabala has been named on the bench and will win his first cap if he makes it on to the field.

Georgia hand a test debut to winger Ioseb Matiashvili in an otherwise experienced starting line-up boasting more than 600 caps.

Matiashvili, who has experience of international rugby on the European sevens circuit, is named on the right wing in place of Giorgi Pruidze as Lelos head coach Milton Haig makes six changes, split evenly between backs and forwards, from the 50-6 win over Germany a fortnight ago.

Centre and captain Merab Sharikadze renews his midfield partnership with David Kacharava on the day of his 50th cap – one of six players in the starting line-up to have reached the landmark, while Merab Kvirikashvili, the first Georgian to reach a century of test appearances, continues at full-back.

But there is a totally new half-back combination as Vasil Lobzhanidze makes his first appearance of the season at scrum-half alongside 50-cap veteran Lasha Khmaladze.

In the forwards, Soso Mamumkashvili retains his spot at tight-head but he has two new players alongside him in the front-row in fellow rookie Giorgi Tetrashvili and seasoned hooker Shalva Mamukashvili.

Konstantine Mikautadze is called up into the squad to join Giorgi Nemasdze in the second row, while Giorgi Giorgadze returns to a back row featuring Giorgi Tkhilaishvili at openside and Lasha Lomidze at number eight.

In brief

• Spain were the last team to beat Georgia in this competition, 25-18 in Madrid in February 2012
• Georgia have won 13 matches compared to Spain’s three in the overall head-to-head records, with the only draw (6-6) coming in Reus in February 2004
• Last year’s fixture ended in a 38-7 win for Georgia
• Georgia need 38 points to reach 3,000 in this competition, only Romania have scored more

Rankings predictor

Due to the 13-point difference that separates Georgia from Spain in the rankings, a win for the Lelos will not come with any reward. Spain, however, will pick up between two to three rating points in victory, which could move them up as high as 18th place, equalling their best-ever position since the rankings were introduced in October 2003, if Russia slip up at home to Romania.

RUSSIA (18) v ROMANIA (16)

Russia captain Vasily Artemyev has recovered from the knock he picked up in training on the eve of the Belgium game to take his place at outside-centre for the visit of Romania. Dimitri Gerasimov shifts in one position to No.12 as a result.

Artemyev is one of five changes made to the starting line-up by Bears head coach Alexandre Pervukhin, with RWC 2011 winger Denis Simplikevich making his first appearance since the Cup of Nations campaign in Hong Kong last November.

Yury Kushnarev, Russia’s fly-half in the dramatic 25-18 win in Brussels, trades places with full-back Ramil Gaysin. Tight-head Innokenty Zykov and second-row Bogdan Fedotko make their first appearances of the season in a pack showing only two changes.

For Romania, Florin Vlaicu starts at fly-half for the 17th time in this, his 99th international for the Oaks. Romania’s record points scorer shifts inside position to form a new half-back partnership with Valentin Calafeteanu, with test debutant Sione Fakaosilea now wearing the No.12 jersey.

Having seen his side labour to a 13-3 win over Spain a fortnight ago, coach Lynn Howells has chosen to bring in eight new faces. As well as Calafeteanu and Fakaosilea, winger Madalin Lemnaru is given his first run out in just over a year.

In the forwards, Ionel Badiu and Alexandru come in at prop, either side of hooker Otar Turashvili, while the second row sees Marius Antonescu pack down with Johannes van Heerden, one of the standout performers against Los Leones.

Viorel Lucaci is joined in the back row by flanker and captain Mihai Macovei and number eight Andrei Gorcioaia.

In brief

• Last year’s 30-0 victory over Russia was the third time Romania have kept the Bears scoreless
• Russia won the last time they played Romania at home, 16-13 in Krasnodar
• Romania have won 13 and Russia seven of the 21 previous meetings between the nations, with the only draw (21-21) coming in Sochi in 2010

Rankings predictor

It is not possible for Russia to move any higher than 18th as their nearest rivals in the rankings, Romania and USA, enjoy a sufficiently large enough points buffer going into the weekend. Romania are too far behind 15th-placed Samoa for victory to make any difference to their position but a gain of 1.25 points is possible if they win well in Sochi.

GERMANY (23) v BELGIUM (27)

Germany coach Jacobus Potgieter has made five changes to his starting personnel and one positional from the side that took to the field against Georgia in round two.

Both changes in the pack come in the back row where Jacobus Otto is reinstated to the six jersey and Jarrid Els lines up at number eight.

Potgieter has chosen to bring in two new wingers, Pierre Mathurin and Steffen Liebig, while Clemens von Grumbkow comes into the midfield with Marcel Coetzee shifting out one place to outside-centre.

READ A FEATURE ON GERMANY V BELGIUM >>

Belgium have rejigged their backline for the trip to Offenbach, near Frankfurt. Julien Berger captains the side form scrum-half instead of No.10, with Alan Williams partnering him in the halves having moved from full-back.

Exciting outside back Charles Reynaert, one of the Black Devils’ try scorers against Russia in round two, shifts to full-back. Florent Debatty takes his place on the right wing.

Hooker Max Dubois gets his first start since September 2015 in a new-look front row also featuring another new face in Sep Debacker at tight-head prop. The rest of the pack remains the same.

In brief

• Belgium won 30-29 the last time the sides faced each other, on 17 March, 2012 in Heusenstamm, Germany
• Belgium have won the last three but the overall head-to-head is only five-four in their favour
• Belgium need two tries for 100 in the European Nations Cup/Rugby Europe Championship
• Germany have conceded the most tries (13) in this year’s Championship

Rankings predictor

It is possible for Germany to pick up between 0.24 and 0.36 of a point depending on the margin of victory, which will not be enough for them to climb any higher than their present position of 23rd unless Canada and Uruguay draw or lose to Brazil and Chile in the Americas Rugby Championship, in which case they will climb two places.

Belgium stand to gain 1.76 points and two places for a narrow victory and 2.64 and three places if they win by more than 15 points.

NETHERLANDS (29) v PORTUGAL (25)

The Netherlands play Portugal in their first game of 2017 as they look to two build on their perfect start in the Rugby Europe Trophy.

Bonus-point wins over the Ukraine and Moldova back in November mean the Dutch are a perfect 10 points from 10 two rounds into the campaign.

Josh Gascoigne has bagged a brace of tries in each of the wins, while Sep Visser, brother of Scotland international Tim, has crossed the line on three occasions.

Gascoigne starts Saturday’s game at full-back instead of outside-centre in a backline showing three changes. The pack is unchanged from the Moldova game.

Portugal go into the game on the back of a 35-10 win over Poland in Lisbon a fortnight ago. Scrum-half Vasco Fragoso Mendes scored his side’s fifth and final try in the win and will once again lead Os Lobos out in what should be a keenly-fought contest.

In brief

• Portugal lead the head-to-head with eight wins compared to the Netherlands’ three. The first meeting in 1970 ended 9-9

Rankings predictor

A third straight Rugby Europe Trophy win will see the Netherlands move up one place – unless Chile pull off a shock win away to Uruguay in the Americas Rugby Championship. Big wins for the Netherlands and Germany combined will send the Dutch up three places to 26th. If Portugal win by more than 15 points and Germany and Uruguay lose by the same margin, they will leapfrog both in the rankings.

Click HERE to join the Front Row to be the first to receive all the latest news and ticketing updates for Rugby World Cup 2019.

BRAZIL (33) v CANADA (20)

Moises Duque, Brazil’s try scorer in last week’s 79-7 defeat to Argentina XV, lines up in a backline featuring his brother, scrum-half Lucas, who has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the first four rounds of the Americas Rugby Championship, and the Sancery twins, Felipe and Daniel at outside-centre and full-back respectively.

Lucas Duque is one of two changes to the backline that started the heavy loss in Ushuaia, with Lucas Tranquez replacing De wet van Niekerk on the left wing.

Os Tupis coach Rodolfo Ambrosio has shuffled his pack with only hooker Yan Rosetti and number eight and captain Nick Smith retaining their places.

The brotherly theme extends to Canada too, with Brett and Matt Beukeboom set to make their first test start together in Friday’s clash. There will also be a test debut for Rory McDonell on the wing.

“It’s going to be an amazing experience,” Matt Beukeboom said. “We’ve never actually played on the same team before. I remember watching Brett and thinking there was no way I was going to be able to play at that level so I’m just excited to see what Friday brings.”

The Beukeboom’s become the first set of Canadian brothers to start in the same test since Jamie and Phil Mackenzie in the Rugby World Cup 2015 match against Italy.

“It’ll be an exciting time for our family,” Brett said. “There’s always aunts, uncles, mums and dads who love bragging about us back home so I’m sure they’ll all be watching Friday night.”

Rob Brouwer and Matt Tierney will line-up either side of Eric Howard, who makes his first test start after his previous eight test caps came as a replacement, in the front row. Brett Beukeboom has a new second-row partner in Liam Chisholm while Matt Beukeboom replaces Clay Panga at openside flanker with Lucas Rumball at blindside and Admir Cejvanovic at number eight.

Gordon McRorie will captain Canada from scrum-half with Gradyn Bowd replacing Robbie Povey at fly-half. McDonell is joined by Dan Moor on the wing with Nick Blevins and Conor Trainor in the centres. Guiseppe du Toit starts at full-back in place of Brock Staller.

In brief

• The only other meeting between the two nations came in last year’s Americas Rugby Championship which the Canucks won 52-25 in Langford, Victoria
• Brazil have conceded more tries (24) than any other side in this year’s Championship

Rankings predictor

Brazil will move up two places to 31st if they win by 15 points or less. It is possible for them to rise as high as 29th if a big win is accompanied by defeats to Chile and the Netherlands. Canada will slip out of the world’s top 20 regardless of whether they win or not if Spain beat Georgia in the Rugby Europe Championship.

URUGUAY (21) v CHILE (30)

Uruguay coach Esteban Meneses has opted for continuity as Los Teros look to close off their  campaign with a hat-trick of wins.

Los Teros’ 23-man match-day squad is identical to the one chosen for last week’s 17-13 win over Canada and only shows two changes to the one that defeated Brazil 23-12 the round before.

Chile coach Bernard Charreyre has stayed true to his squad rotation policy by making seven changes to the team that was heavily beaten by the USA last weekend.

Influential prop Claudio Zamorano and number eight Benjamín Soto are welcomed back into the pack after serving their one-match suspensions, while Cristóbal Niedmann is another new addition to the back row.

In the backs, Juan Pablo Larenas is recalled at scrum-half and Ricardo Sifri and José Ignacio Larenas form a new midfield combination; On the right wing, there is a first Americas Rugby Championship start for Mauricio Urrutia, while Rodrigo Fernández earns a recall at full-back.

In brief

• This is the 50th test between the nations at this level
• Since the first game in 1948, Uruguay have won 36, Chile 12 – seven in the first nine fixtures
• Uruguay won 39-14 when they met in last year’s Championship
• Chile have only won twice in the last 15 years
• Chile are on an eight-match losing run in the Championship

Rankings predictor

With more than seven points between the nations in the rankings, Uruguay will not gain any points in victory. However, a resounding victory for Chile will shoot them up five places to 25th if the Netherlands also pile on the points at home to Portugal and Belgium fail to win away to Germany. In such an event, Chile will only be one place and just over a point behind Los Teros when the rankings are updated at 12:00 GMT on Monday.

ARGENTINA XV v USA

For the Americas Rugby Championship 2017 title decider, Argentina XV field an all new front row in a team showing a total of seven changes to the one that beat Brazil 79-7 last weekend.

Francisco Ferronato and Santiago Medrano are named at prop either side of hooker Gaspar Baldunciel. The only other change in the pack comes on the blindside flank where Francisco Gorrissen replaces Mariano Romanini.

The potent half-back partnership of Sebastien Cancelliere and Domingo Miotti remains intact and influential winger German Schulz also survives the cut, but it’s all change elsewhere in the backline with Bruno Devoto and Santiago Alvares forming a new midfield partnership. Julian Dominguez comes in on the left wing and the full-back duties are entrusted to Super Rugby player Gabriel Ascarate.

Eagles head coach John Mitchell has made just three changes to his team for Saturday’s winner-takes-all match.

John Quill covers for the injured Todd Clever in the back row, while the only other change in the pack sees Anthony Purpura return at loose-head prop

The selection of Will Magie at fly-half has required a reshuffle in the outside backs. Ben Cima moves to full-back with 2017 joint top try-scorer Mike Te’o shifting to the right wing.

In brief

• Both teams go into the game level on 19 points after four straight wins. The winner will therefore be crowned champions. In the event of a draw, Argentina XV will retain the title due to their superior points difference- unless the USA claim a try bonus point and the Argentina XV don't.
• Last year’s game at the BBVA Compass Stadium ended in a 35-35 draw
• Only five players survive from the starting line-ups 12 months on – Chris Baumann and Cam Dolan for the USA and Ignacio Larrague, Lautaro Bavaro and Domingo Miotti for the Argentina XV