IRB Nations Cup 2014

Tomorrow will kick off in Bucharest IRB Nations Cup which is a tournament for development teams mostly.

Here are few info about previous years:
http://www.irb.com/nationscup/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRB_Nations_Cup

Stream will be available here:
http://www.rugbytv.ro/
http://www.tvrplus.ro/live-tvr-2 (works outside Romania with Hola unblocker)

It's also possible to be on IRB website, I'll updated the thread as soon as I'll find out. Anyway, it's broadcasted by Romanian National TV so quality will be good.

IRB Nations Cup 2014 Fixtures (all times are local)

Friday, June 13
16:00 - Emerging Ireland v Russia
19:00 - Romania v Uruguay

Wednesday, June 18
16:00 - Emerging Ireland v Uruguay
19:00 - Romania v Russia

Sunday, June 22
16:00 - Russia v Uruguay
19:00 - Romania v Emerging Ireland

Squads announced for this tournament:

Emerging Ireland

PROPS
Rodney Ah You (Connacht)
Michael Bent (Leinster - 3 caps)
Callum Black (Ulster)
John Ryan (Munster)
James Tracy (Leinster)

HOOKERS
Niall Annett (Ulster)
Bryan Byrne (Clontarf)

LOCKS
Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)
David Foley (Munster)
Mick Kearney (Connacht)

BACKROW
Paddy Butler (Munster)
Sean Dougall (Munster)
Billy Holland (Munster)
Tommy O'Donnell (Munster - 4 caps)
Dominic Ryan (Leinster) - Captain

SCRUMHALVES
Paul Marshall (Ulster - 3 caps)
Luke McGrath (Leinster)

FLYHALVES
JJ Hanrahan (Munster)
Ian Keatley (Munster - 2 caps)

CENTRES
Eoin Griffin (Connacht)
Brendan Macken (Leinster)
Noel Reid (Leinster)

WINGERS
Michael Allen (Ulster)
Craig Gilroy (Ulster - 6 caps)

FULLBACKS
Andrew Conway (Munster)
Johne Murphy (Munster - 2 caps)

Russia*

Gregory Tsnobiladze - frontrow
Pavel Butenko
Andrey Igretsov
Sergei Sekisov
Mikhail Babaev
Alexei Makovetskii
Dmitry Gerasimov
Alexey Shcherban
Evgeny Matveev - backrow
Andrey Garbuzov
German Davydov
Alexander Yanyushkin
Sergei Yanyushkin -scrum half
Alexei Volkov
Alexander Bezverkhov
Vladimir Ostroushko - center
Valery Tsnobiladze - frontrow
Stanislav Selskiy
Alexander Voitov
Denis Antonov
Igor Galinovskii
Igor Klyuchnikov
Ramil Gaisin
Artem Fatakhov
Andrei Temnov
Victor Gresev - eightman
Yury Kushnarev

I mentioned some positions for players I know better. It looks it's stronger compared with last years.

Uruguay

Props : Alejo Corral, Francisco Jiménez, Juan Echeverría
Hookers : Carlos Arboleya, Nicolás Klappenbach
Locks : Mathías Beer, Cristofer Soares de Lima, Mateo Sanguinetti
Backrow : Agustín Alonso, Fernando Bascou, Mathías Braun, Diego Magno, Franco Lamanna, Alejandro Nieto
Scrumhalves : Alejo Durán, Guillermo Lijtenstein
Flyhalves : Rodrigo Silva
Centres : Alberto Román, Joaquín Prada, Juan De Freitas
Wingers : Pedro Deal, Santiago Gilbernau, Leandro Leivas, Federico Favaro
Fullbacks : Jerónimo Etcheverry, Gastón Mieres

Uruguay is mostly first team, many players who played the qualifier vs USA are in the squad.

Not sure what's happening in Bucharest, it's strange that even on the FRR website there is information about all other squads, but not a bit about the Oaks. The official press conference for the IRB Nations Cup was earlier yesterday but the Romania squad was still not announced. Captain Mihai Macovei mentioned it's a very young squad but the journalists were told that the team is not complete yet and it will be announced later on the FRR website. This is very unusual, I wonder if they are preparing some surprises. We are thinking that they are waiting for IRB's approval for a Tongan that wants to play for Romania, outside center Kinikinilau and there are also rumors about some very young Romanian players from France who are eligible for both countries. I suppose we shall see today the complete squad.

here is a clip with atmosphere from last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7adoOGA4v8

IRB updated website with press conference news from yesterday:

http://www.irb.com/nationscup/news/newsid=2071854.html#romania+poised+host+best+ever+nations+cup

It looks like indeed will be a very young team of Oaks:

Romania are missing about 10 players either through injury or because they are being rested after an arduous club season in France. Catalin Fercu, Madalin Lemnaru, Manole Dorin, Valentin Calafeteanu, Stefan Ciuntu, the Ursache brothers - Valentin and Andrei, Alin Coste and Ovidiu Tonita will definitely miss the tournament, with veterans such as Paulica Ion, Mihaita Lazar and Stelian Burcea given a break.

Too bad to see Ciuntu (Baia Mare, wing) injured, he played very well in Super Liga and many supporters tipped him for a spectacular come back in national squad.

Finally Romanian squad was announced. I've made some comments to the players there are new or I am looking to see them playing more for Oaks

Props:
Pungea Horatiu (Scarlets/Lanelli RFC)
Pristavita Constantin (Baia Mare)
Badiu Ionel (Carcassone) - one of the best props in Federale 1, just signed with Carcassone, 24 yo. good in the scrum and great with ball in hand.
Tarus Alexandru (Timisoara)

Hookers
Capatana Eugen (Timisoara)
Turashvili Otar (Farul Constanta)

Locks:
Poparlan Valentin (Timisoara)
Sirbe Marius (Tarbes)
Drenceanu Marian (Timisoara) - one of the most underrated players in Super Liga, great physicals (200 cm, 117 kg) and 24 yo

Backrow:
Macovei Mihai (St. Nazaire)
Nistor Vlad (Castres) - one for the future, 20yo
Lucaci Viorel (Steaua)
Lazar Dorin (Timisoara) - big backrow, 24 yo
Carpo Daniel (Timisoara)

Scrum-half:
Surugiu Florin (CSM Olimpia)
Ivan Valentin (CSM Olimpia) - may also play SH

Fly-Halves:
Conache Gabriel (Timisoara) 23 yo - took Fercu's place this season and was good in Super Liga, one to watch
Lazar Filip (St. Jean d’Angely) - 24 yo, had a great season in Fed 1
all of them can also play FB

Centers:
Vlaicu Florin (Farul Constanta) - also FB
Gal Csaba (Baia Mare)
Dascalu Robert (Steaua)
Ionita Florin (Steaua) - 23 yo, psyical center or wing

Wingers:
Ilie Andrei (Farul Constanta)
Dumitru Ionut (Steaua) - 22 yo, great speed
Hihetah Stephen (Baia Mare)

Fullbacks:
Statulescu Daniel (CSM Olimpia) - great boot and good speed;

So overall there are few first XV players and many young ones that will make their debut or will pass over 1st cap. Few surprises there and it will be interesting to see first XV that Howells will pick tomorrow.

Later edit: In fact, looking again, this is very experiemental and I am glad Howells is taking the chance to test some new options with World Cup qualification secured.

In the first match of the day, Emerging Ireland will play Russia, here are the squads:

15 - Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster) *
14 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
13 - Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht) *
12 - Stuart McCloskey (Dungannon/Ulster) *
11 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster) *
10 - Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9 - Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
1 - Callum Black (Malone/Ulster) *
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
3 - Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf/Connacht) *
5 - David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
6 - Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt) *
7 - Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
8 - Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues) *

Replacements:

16 - James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) *
17 - John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
18 - Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
19 - Sean Dougall (Dolphin/Munster) *
20 - Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) *
21 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
22 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster) *

* Denotes uncapped player at senior international level

Russian match squad:

1. Alexey Volkov
2. Stanislav Selsky
3. Sergey Sekisov
4. Alexander Voytov (Captain)
5. Denis Antonov
6. Andrey Garbuzov
7. Andrey Temnov
8. Viktor Gresev
9. Alexander Yanyushkin
10. Ramil Gaysin
11. Igor Galinovskiy
12. Alexey Makovetskiy
13. Herman Davydov
14. Mikhail Babaev
15. Igor Klyuchnikov

16. Valery Tsnobiladze
17. Grigory Tsnobiladze
18. Alexander Bezverkhov
19. Artem Fatakhov
20. Pavel Butenko
21. Alexey Shcherban
22. Sergey Yanyushkin

I don't know Russian rugby that well, but it appears they are resting a number of starters in this match (I assume they don't expect to win).

Second game of the day, Romania vs. Uruguay:

Romania
1. Constantin Pristavita (Baia Mare)*
2. Otar Turashvili (Farul Constanta)
3. Horatiu Pungea (Scarlets)
4. Valentin Poparlan (RCM Timisoara)*
5. Marius Sarbe (Tarbes)
6. Viorel Lucaci (Steaua)
7. Mihai Macovei (Massy) - captain
8. Daniel Carpo (RCM Timisoara)
9. Florin Surugiu (CSM Bucuresti)
10. Filip Lazar (St. Jean D'Angely)*
11. Florin Ionita (Steaua)*
12. Florin Vlaicu (Farul Constanta)
13. Csaba Gal (Baia Mare)
14. Ionut Dumitru (Steaua)*
15. Gabriel Conache (RCM Timisoara)*

16. Eugen Capatana (RCM Timisoara)
17. Alex Tarus (RCM Timisoara
18. Dorin Lazar (RCM Timisoara)*
19. Vlad Nistor (Castres)*
20. Robert Dascalu (Steaua)
21. Valentin Ivan (CSM Bucuresti)*
22. Daniel Statulescu (CSM Bucuresti)*

* players who will make debut or did it earlier this year and I will look closely to see how they'll play.

Uruguay
1. Alejo Corral
2. Nicolas Klappenbach (Captain)
3. Juan Echeverria
4. Cristofer Soares de Lima
5. Franco Lamanna
6. Juan de Freitas
7. Diego Magno
8. Alejandro Nieto
9. Guillermo Lijenstein
10. Alejo Duran
11. Gaston Gibernau
12. Alberto Roman
13. Joaquin Prada
14. Santiago Gibernau
15. Gaston Mieres

16. Carlos Arboleya
17. Mateo Sanguinetti
18. Mathias Braun
19. Fernando Bascou
20. Agustin Alonso
21. Jeronimo Etcheverry
22. Federico Favaro

Not a very good game by Oaks but understandable considering the amount of new players.

Eightman (Carpo, who's coming after a long injury) - scrum-half (Surugiu) connection did not worked well and the former played one of his weakest games for Oaks. No. 6 Lucaci dropped some good balls but overall he was the most penetrating forward.

Some better play in threequarters in the second half and I liked our 11 (Ionita), he is becoming a first XV choice (he's actually a center). Flyhalf was OK at debut but I think he can do better, same for no. 15, both young players.

I think one of Howells' aims is to give to second string frontrow more game time.

The set-piece has, as usual, laid foundation for all scores. On the flip side, the backline was - as usual - utterly unimaginative and predictible. Ionita showed some sparks, but you can only do so much when you barely touch the ball. And even the pack looked at times chaotic in loose play, too often the ball carriers were caught without (or with late) support - this time they got away with it as the visitors too reacted slowly.

Mieres' try made Romanian defense look really bad.

I'll re-watch the game today

Regarding the other game, everybody was shocked how awful Russians were; true, it was a second string but their team had 511 caps all together.... 

Romania 34 -  15 Uruguay, full match here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p110Icdfw9w

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/220525.html

Emerging Ireland 66 - 0 Russia, full match here (45 minutes due thunderstorm, that is):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-s3Za ... 6QW3onmVOQ

A preview from IRB before tomorrow games:

http://www.irb.com/nationscup/news/newsid=2071975.html#romanias+vlaicu+nations+cup+record

Vlaicu was designated kicker only in last 3-4 years and I think last year missed entirely (or two years ago) IRB Nations Cup. Yes, it's a developmental competition, that's clear.

Lineups for Romania - Russia:

Romania:
1 Ionel Badiu
2 Eugen Capatana
3 Alexandru Tarus
4 Marian Drenceanu
5 Marius Sirbe
6 Mihai Macovei (C)
7 Dorin Lazar
8 Daniel Carpo
9 Florin Surugiu
10 Filip Lazar
11 Ionut Dumitru
12 Florin Vlaicu
13 Catalin Robert Dascalu
14 Stephen Hihetah
15 Gabriel Conache

16 Otar Turashvili
17 Horatiu Pungea
18 Valentin Poparlan
19 Viorel Lucaci
20 Csaba Gal
21 Valentin Ivan
22 Andrei Ilie

Just 4 players from first XV: Surugiu, Vlaicu, Dumitru and Macovei.


Russia:
1 Grigory Tsnobiladze
2 Valery Tsnobiladze
3 Andrey Igretsov
4 Alexander Voytov (C)
5 Artem Fatakhov
6 Pavel Butenko
7 Andrey Temnov
8 Victor Gresev
9 Alexander Ianiushkin
10 Ramil Gaysin
11 Vladimir Ostroushko
12 Alexey Makovetskiy
13 Dmitry Gerasimov
14 Mikhail Babaev
15 Igor Klyuchnikov

16 Stanislav Selskiy
17 Alexander Bezverkhov
18 Denis Antonov
19 Evgeny Matveev
20 Igor Galinovskiy
21 Alexey Shcherban
22 Sergey Ianiushkin

Referees: Chris Assmus (Canada), assisted by Cristian Serban and Bigdan Gordin, TMO Razvan Iordachescu

Two of the Romanian starters will earn their first cap: prop Ionel Badiu and lock Marian Drenceanu. Centre Andrei Ilie might join them from the bench. Russia lineup is their first XV without 2-3 players (only Kushnarev, fly-half, Kulemin, lock and Artemyev, wing - the former being more present with Russia Sevens than with XV squad)

When are these games played?

Today at 16:00 Uruguay - Emerging Ireland and at 19:00 Romania - Russia. Steams are mentioned in the fist post; for rugbytv.ro just wait few moments before kick off and a link will appear.

Romania 20 - 18 Russia

Lynn Howells about the match:
“I didn’t expect Romania to play as badly as that,” Howells said. “I was very disappointed with the way we played.

“There was no structure to the game, to be perfectly honest. The people saying that it was the worst match Romania have played in the last few years are probably correct. We were void of ideas. We dominated the scrum, we dominated the lineouts, and to play rugby like that it’s not acceptable.

“But I look forward to Sunday’s game, where there are no ranking points at stake. That takes all the pressure away and it will be a good game of rugby between sides with two different styles."

Very few positives: a 24 yo prop from ProD2 made his debut (Badiu) and he played well, could be an option and the fact we won against first Russian squad (minus 2-3 players from abroad) even playing awful.

Romania - Emerging Ireland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERpUSph1_Og
line-ups:
http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/220531.html