Barbarians crush Czech Republic

The Barbarians ran in 11 tries for a 71-0 victory as they entertained fans in Prague in the biggest fixture in the Czech Republic's rugby history.

The famous invitation club came to celebrate the host union's 90th anniversary at the Marketa Stadium, the first game televised by state TV in the country.

Broadcast highlights included elusive running that brought two tries apiece for the Budvar man of the match Melani Nanai (Blues), centre Matt Faddes (Highlanders), fly-half Richard Mo'unga (Crusaders) and Kwagga Smith (Lions).

The other scores came from Toby Smith, Sam Carter and Schalk van der Merwe.  Robert du Preez (Stormers) added six conversions and Mo'unga two.

The scorers:

For Barbarians:
Tries:  K Smith 2, Faddes 2, Mo'unga 2, Nanai 2, T Smith, Van der Merwe, Carter
Cons:  Du Preez 6, Mo'unga 2

Czech Republic:  15 Michal Schlanger, 14 Jakub Zalud, 13 Jan Rohlik, 12 Jiri Pantucek, 11 Karen Berounsky, 10 Vaclav Jursik, 9 Marek Simak, 8 Lukas Rapant, 7 Ondrej Kutil, 6 Martin Havlicek, 5 Miroslav Nemecek, 4 Robert Voves, 3 Vojtech Hruska, 2 Vojtech Mara, 1 Vojtech Havel
Replacements:  16 Hubert Drímal, 17 Emilio Calderoni, 18 Jan Olbrich, 19 Martin Charvát, 20 Petr Cí%u017Eek, 21 Martin Kovár, 22 Vachtang Pailodze, 23 Pavel Elis

Barbarians:  15 Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs), 14 Luke Morahan (Force & Australia), 13 Matt Faddes (Highlanders), 12 Robert du Preez (Stormers), 11 Melani Nanai (Blues), 10 Richard Mo'unga (Crusaders), 9 Nic Stirzaker (Rebels), 8 Ruan Ackermann (Lions), 7 Kwagga Smith (Lions), 6 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia), 5 Martin Muller (Lions), 4 Dan Tuohy (Ulster & Ireland, captain), 3 Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand) 63), 2 Toby Smith (Rebels & Australia, Andrew Ready (Reds), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Montpellier)
Replacements:  Akker van der Merwe (Lions), Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes), Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand), Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes), Brad Shields (Hurricanes), Andy Ellis (Crusaders/Kobelco & New Zealand), Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), Richard Buckman (Highlanders & Panasonic)

Spain too good for Czechs

Spain beat the Czech Republic 42-15 in Prague on Saturday.  The result may well mean that the Czechs, beaten in all their matches so far, are in danger of relegation from the European Nations Cup Division 1 when the competition ends next season.

Spain on the other hand, promoted at the start of the season from Division 2A, have now won two matches in the first round which may well secure their place.  Their other victory was over high-riding Georgia.

By half-time Spain led 24-10, thanks to two tries each by fullback César Sempere and scrumhalf Pablo Feijóo to which flyhalf Esteban Roqué added two conversions.

The Czechs fought back in the second half but the Spanish defence withstood the initial onslaught, except for a try by scrumhalf Pavel Syrový, and then set their backs on the attack for two more tries, one by Roqué, the other just before the final whistle by replacement forward David Hernández.

Scorers:

For Spain:
Tries:  Sempere 2, Feijóo 2, Roqué, Hernández
Cons:  Roqué 3
Pen:  Roqué

For Czech Republic:
Tries:  Krejcí, Syrový
Pen:  Vokrouhlik

Teams:

Czech Republic:  15 Tomas Nevický, 14 Václav Jursík, 13 Jan Rohlík, 12 Pavel Vokrouhlík, 11 Michal Schlanger, 10 Tomás Krejcí, 9 Pavel Syrový, 8 Jan Zíla, 7 Ladislav Vondrásek, 6 Karel Kucera, 5 Jan Machácek, 4 Robert Voves, 3 Pavel Indrák, 2 Jan Oswald, 1 Roman Suster.
Replacements:  16 Patrik Leroch, 17 Jirí Skal, 18 Jan Benda, 19 Jirí Buryánek, 20 Vítezslav Dosedla, 21 Jaroslav Tomcík, 22 Antonín Brabec

Spain:  15 César Sempere, 14 Víctor Marlet, 13 David Mota, 12 Javier Canosa, 11 Rafael Álvarez, 10 Esteban Roque, 9 Pablo Feijoo, 8 Iván Criado, 7 Juan González, 6 Alfonso Mata, 5 Sergio Souto, 4 Guillermo Bárcena, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 José Maria Bohórquez, 1 Ion Insausti.
Replacements:  16 Óscar Ferreras, 17 Diego Zarzosa, 18 Martin Aceña, 19 David Hernández, 20 Carlos Arenas, 21 Manuel Olivares, 22 Juan Cano

Referee:  Neil Patersen (Scotland)
Touch judges:  John Steele (Scotland), Peter Carruthers (Scotland)

Lelos smash Czechs in Tblissi

Georgia beat the Czech Republic 98-3 in the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tblissi on a sunny Easter Saturday with a temperature of 18° and 10 000 people to watch.

The Lelos had been expected to win but the size of the victory is staggering as professionals crushed amateurs.  By half-time they already led 57-0.

Scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries:  Mchedlishvili, Dadunashvili 3, Maisuradze, Urjukashvili, Shkinin, Giorgadze, Urjukashvili 2, Jimsheladze, Eloshvili, Kacharava, Khamashuridze, penalty try
Cons:  Kvirikashvili 9

For Czech Republic:
Drop:  Krejci

Teams:

Gorgia:  15 Pavie Jimsheladze, 14 George Shkinin, 13 Malkhaz Urjukasvhvili, 12 Irakli Giogarze, 11 Besik Khamashuridze, 10 Merab Kvirikashvili, 9 Irakli Abuseriidze, 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 6 Ilia Maisuradze, 5 Zurab Mchedlishvili, 4 Viktor Didebulidze, 3 Avtandil Kopaliani, 2 David Dadunashvili, 1 David Gasviani.
Replacements:  16 George Jgenti, 17 Mamuka Magrakvelidze, 18 Shalva Sutiashvili, 19 Vakhtang Akhvlediani, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 David Kachrava, 22 Otar Eloshvili

Czech Republic:  15 Jan Rudolf, 14 Tomas Nevicky, 13 Pavel Vokrouhlik, 12 Jaroslav Tomcik, 11 Michal Schlanger, 10 Tomas Krejci, 9 Viteslav Doselda, 8 Karel Kucera, 7 Vlastimil Madry, 6 Tomas Veniger, 5 Miroslav Nemecek, 4 Martin Dlouhy, 3 Pavel Indrak, 2 Jan Oswald, 1 Roman Suster.
Replacements:  16 Jan Zacharias, 17 Jiri Skall, 18 Jan Benda, 19 Martin Mensik, 20 Pavel Syrovy, 21 Michal Jirman, 22 Lukas Howner

Referee:  Jean Cristophe Gastou (France)
Touch judges:  Jean-Michel Schutz (France), Jean-Luc Gonzales (France)
Match commissionner:  Gilbert Juillet (France)

Romania win well in Ricany

Romania went east to Ricany and beat the Czech Republic 46-13.

The Romanians led 29-7 at half-time.

It did not take Romania to get onto the scoreboard for they were simply too strong for the Czechs.  Big Ovidiu Tonita was the first to score and Dumbrava added a penalty.  Inside ten minutes the Romanians led 8-0.  It was 22-0 after tries by scrumhalf Vali Calafeteanu and wing Gabriel Brezoianu before Martin Hudák intercepted and scored the home side's only try.

After half-time Cosmin Ratiu, hooker Marius Tincu and captain Sorin Socol scored tries -- all forwards, which tells the tale of Romanian superiority up front.

Scorers:

For Romania:
Tries:  Tonita, Calafeteanu 2, Brezoianu, Ratiu, Tincu, Socol
Cons:  Dumbrava 3, Calafateanu
Pen:  Dumbrava

For Czech Republic:
Try:  Hudák
Con:  Tomcik
Pens:  Tomcik

Teams:

Czech Republic:  15 Martin Snídal, 14 Petr Okle¿tek, 13 Pavel Vokrouhlík, 12 Jaroslav Tomcík, 11 Roman Kodera, 10 Antonín Brabec, 9 Pavel Syrový, 8 Patrik Leroch, 7 Martin Hudák, 6 Vlastimil Madry, 5 Miroslav Nemecek, 4 Robert Voves, 3 Pavel Indrák, 2 Jan Oswald, 1 Jirí Skall
Replacements:  16 Jan Zacharias, 17 Roman Suster, 18 Jan Benda, 19 Martin Duda, 20 Martin Mensik, 21 Vitezslav Dosedla, 22 Tomas Krejci

Romania:  15 Iulian Dumitras, 14 Catalin Fercu, 13 Catalin Dascalu, 12 Dan Vlad, 11 Gabriel Brezoianu, 10 Danut Dumbrava, 9 Vali Calafateanu, 7 Cosmin Ratiu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Costica Mersoiu, 5 Petre Cristian, 4 Sorin Socol, (captain) 3.  Silviu Florea, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Cezar Popescu.
Replacements:  16 Ion Paulica, 17 Nicolae Nere, 18 Valentin Ursache, 19 Alex Tudori, 20 Ciprian Caplescu, 21 Csaba Gal, 22 Florin Vlaicu

Referee:  James Jones (Wales)
Touch judges:  Lynn Davies (Wales), Gregg Morgan (Wales)

Spain win vital Czech encounter

RWC qualifier

On Saturday afternoon at the Josef Kohout Rugby Stadium in Ricany Spain beat the Czech Republic 33-12, an important win, especially away from home.

The second leg is in Madrid at the end of September.

The winner of this Europe Round 4 qualifier will go into Round 5 with Romania and Georgia.  The winner of that will go to the 2007 World Cup in France.  The runner-up will go into répechage.

On a pleasant if windy afternoon, Spain were always ahead, leading 13-0 at half-time thanks to two penalty goals by Esteban Roqué who also converted the try by Alfonso Mata five minutes before half-time.  Mata's try came from a maul started by prop Javier Salazar.

Early in the second half the Spanish Lions increased their lead to 20-0 with a try by scrumhalf Pablo Feijoo.  No.8 Óscar Astarloa tapped a penalty and sent Feijoo on a 60-metre run for the corner.

After the Czech coach had made several changes a try by Jiri Skall got the Czechs on the scoreboard.  Martin Kafka converted.

Esteban Roqué kicked two more penalties before Vaclav Jursik scored the Czechs' second try.  26-12.

Rafael Álvarez chipped, chased, gathered, beat two defenders and scored Spain's third try.

Scorers:

For Spain:

Tries:  Mata, Feijoo, Álvarez
Cons:  Roqué 3
Pens:  Roqué 4

For Czech Republic:
Tries:  Skall, Jursik
Con:  Kafka

Teams:

Spain:  15 César Sempere, 14 Juan Cano,, 13 Javier Canosa, 12 Alvar Enciso, 11 Rafael Alvarez, 10 Esteban Roque, 9 Pablo Feijoo, 8 Óscar Astarloa, 7 Alfonso Mata, 6 Rafael Camacho, 5 César Bernasconi, 4 Andrew Ebbet, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 Mathieu Cidre, 1 César Caballero.
Replacements:  16 Diego Zarzosa, 17 Ion Insausti, 18 Sergio Souto, 19 Cyril Hijar, 20 Igor Mirones, 21 Andrei Kovalenko, 22 Victor Marlet

Czech Republic:  15 Krejcí Tomáš, 14 Jursík Václav, 13 Rohlík Jan, 12 Kafka Martin, 11 Cí?ek Martin, 10 Snídal Martin, 9 Vítezslav Dosedla, 8 Miroslav Nemecek, 7 Ladislav Vondrášek, 6 Jirí Buryánek, 5 Jan Machácek, 4 Robert Voves, 3 Pavel Indrák, 2 Jan Oswald, 1 Lukáš Rapant
Replacements:  16 Jirí Skall, 17 Patrik Leroch, 18 Karel Kucera, 19 Martin Hudák, 20 Pavel Vokrouhlík, 21 Jaroslav Tomcík, 22 Martin Pachman

Referee:  Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges:  Rowan Kitt, Andrew Pearce (both England)
Match commissioner:  Klaus Blank (Germany)