Little more than a month after their IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 campaign ended, Romania are back in action again on Sunday against Russia at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest.
Romania currently lie fourth in the top division of the European Nations Cup 2008 with seven points from three matches, two points fewer than Russia and Georgia – the latter occupying top spot by virtue of their better points differential.
Both nations have beaten Spain and the Czech Republic and lost to Georgia, Russia also having beaten RWC 2007 debutants Portugal in Lisbon as the competition nears the halfway stage.
Romania will run out for the first time without Romeo Gontineac and Razvan Mavrodin in their ranks, the experienced pair having retired after the World Cup. However, they also have an eye on the future with six uncapped players named on the bench.
The home side go into the match as the higher ranked nation at 14th in the IRB World Rankings, four places above their visitors, who are now coached by Frenchman Claude Saurel, with 3.24 rating points separating the two.
First win for Czech Republic?
However an away victory for Russia, regardless of whether it was by a solitary point or by more than 15, could see them move above Romania in the new rankings on Monday, while a win for Romania would not change their position.
The only other match in the top division this weekend is the Czech Republic’s visit to Madrid to take on a Spanish side that beat them 42-15 in Prague back in May, not to mention trying to record their first European Nations Cup 2008 victory.
Spain are the higher ranked at 21st, 12 places and 10.35 rating points higher than their visitors. This means that a home victory would have no impact on the rankings, although Spain would drop one place – below Portugal – were they to suffer defeat.
The Czech Republic’s climb would vary depending on the margin of victory, a 15+ point difference could see them return to the top 30 for the first time since May, not to mention lift them off the bottom of the table with a first win in six ENC matches.
Much to gain for Denmark
Another European Nations Cup 2008 match that could impact the rankings this weekend is an all-Scandinavian affair between Sweden and Denmark in Helsingborg on Saturday. Sweden currently top Division 3A with 13 points from five matches, while Denmark are fourth with eight.
Sweden scored four tries in beating Denmark 23-15 in Odense back in October 2006 and are the higher ranked at 39th, 19 places and 5.93 rating points above their visitors, and a home victory would not improve that position.
By contrast were Denmark to win, even by just a point, then the gap between the two would narrow significantly and a victory by 15 points or more could see them separated by just one place in the new rankings.
There are two other European Nations Cup matches on Saturday, both of them in Division 3D, with host nation Cyprus facing Slovakia and Monaco meeting Azerbaijan in Paphos.
Cyprus have made the most of their home advantage for this tournament to beat Azerbaijan 29-0 and Monaco 19-10 in the last seven days, while Slovakia ran out 33-18 winners against Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
