In the growing number articles on the argument for some version of 6 Nations expansion that have woken up over the past 2 years, invariably what is said is the 'likes of Georgia and Romania'. Lumping the nations together and implying they are one homogeneous entity in similar situations. However that is a misrepresentation of the reality. These are two sides on very different trajectories, and one of whom has clearly gained some ascendancy in this rivalry.
(Note: This is just to serve as a comparison and recap on what was already looked at more specifically on Georgia here, and on Romania here.)
At senior level, this has not been so much of a 50/50 rivalry any more ...
Since 2011, the score in this fixture is 6-0-1 in favour of Georgia. In terms of ENC trophies the score is 6-0 in favour of Georgia, 4 of which were clean sweeps. The last time Romania won the trophy was in 2010, the last clean sweep was back in 2002.
To add to that, the Romanians are also suffering an ongoing try drought in this fixture that has now run a total of 6 hours and 33 minutes of rugby. Georgia just scored 6 in the last match.
At junior level, a huge chasm between these sides has opened up over the past few years ...
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| An RFU report stated Georgia & Romania were being considered as additions to the U20 Six Nations. |
At U20 level, Georgia are one of the top 12 sides in the world, having reached the Junior World Cup in dominant fashion last year. Romania have not reached the Junior World Trophy since 2010, nor even come particularly close, bordering on the edge of being a top 12 side just in the continent let alone the world, ranking 12th, 12th, 13th and 9th amongst European nations over the past 4 years.
At U18 level over the past 4 years Georgia have ranked 6th, 6th, 7th and 2nd in the European Championship. Romania on the otherhand, have performed like ENC relegation candidates, ranking 12th, 13th, 11th and 12th. One side has taken major scalps from the 6 Nations, the other has lost to all of Belgium, Spain, Russia, Portugal and Germany.
Incidentally the two nations U18 sides also met at age grade level for the first time in 4 years this month. Result: Georgia 49-10 Romania in a match played in soaking, wet conditions.
Georgia are full of young talent, Romania are not ...
The disparity here was well displayed at the RWC. 11 of the Georgian 23 that beat Tonga were younger than the youngest player in the Romania 23 that beat Canada.
It was also shown in the recent ENC match as well. Georgia picked their strongest available team, Romania were the ones fielding an experimental side with a coach talking about giving youth an opportunity. Yet still it was the Georgians who had the younger side, and swept past the less experienced Oaks side by a record margin.
Half of what is a first choice Georgian XV were born in the 1990's, including several core members of the side (Nariashvili, Chilachava, Mikautadze, Sharikadze etc). Romania still have barely produced a single established first choice starter born after the death of Ceausescu (apart from perhaps Adrian Apostol, in possibly the weakest position in their side).
This may come as no surprise whatsoever given junior results, but the younger players in the Georgian team are just so far advanced on their Romanian counterparts. It's not even remotely close.
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| Comparison of birth dates from Georgia and Romania's 23 for their first match of the 2015 RWC. Note how much youth the Lelos had, and how the Oaks had a disproportionate amount of players of similar ages. |
52,342 fans packed out Dinamo Arena to watch Georgia play Romania this month. The previous encounter in Tbilisi two years earlier saw 27,517 completely sell out the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. In the corresponding fixtures in Bucharest, there were 4,500 and 4,000 at the little Arcul de Triumf.
Georgia's biggest crowd over the past 4 years was 54,827 at a sold out Dinamo Arena, Romania's was 6,000 at a stadium with empty stands.
On Georgian sports sites, rugby is listed as one of the main sports. On Romanian sites it's listed under the 'other sports' bracket. Mamuka Gorgodze is a beloved sports icon in Georgia, there is no rugby equivalent in Romania. The interest is just on different levels.
A glance at those crowds also shows visibly a very different demographic there as well. The fans at Lelos games look much more youthful and energetic, and when they've packed out stadiums create a boisterous bear pit of an atmosphere. In Romania, as well as simply fewer fans, they also appear to be older, more likely to tut tut at booing for instance, and generally bring a quieter calmer atmosphere.
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| Romania's highest attendance over the past couple years is c. 6,000 (pictured left). Georgia's is over 50,000 (pictured right). |
As former team spokesman Radu Constantin said in 2007, post communism 'sport, and rugby especially, became less popular as an activity'. Indeed Romania, who previously finished 2nd on the medal table of 1984 Olympics, have seen sport generally decline post communism. With some factors including a reduction in government support, one of the lowest birth rates in the EU, and according to a 2010 report also one of the lowest participation levels in sport in the continent.
That naturally means Romanian rugby has had a decreasing pool of talent to work with, and are less likely to be able to attract the country's elite athletes with the sport's profile and prominence having dropped from what previous generations knew.
Which is in contrast to the growth Georgian rugby, which from a very low base, has grown dramatically. Now receiving increased government support and investment, increased registered playing numbers to now nearly equal Romania, and are continuing to grow with reportedly a 37% increase in new registrations at rugby clubs following the RWC.
And also notably having risen far higher up the pecking order in Georgian sport, now have far better chances of attracting some of the country's best athletes and from a younger age, something that was not the case up until these last few years, and a factor of vital importance for a nation with still a relatively small playing base next to most major nations.
Future prospects ...
This may be difficult to swallow for Romanian fans, but as the FRR president Hari Dumitras stated this week 'we have to admit Georgia is stronger than Romania'. Only the most severely jaundiced could argue otherwise.
These two nations long term potential are not in the same ball park. And increasingly, the Oaks are beginning to hang onto their old rivals coat tails, hoping to be dragged along with them.
Case in point being the recent RFU report that stated 'consideration is being given' to Georgia and Romania competing in the U20 6 Nations. If that were to happen, it would be major news for both sides, but if we're being honest it would also be something achieved almost entirely off the back of Georgia's recent achievements at junior level.
Likewise, in regards to the 6 Nations. It should be remembered who are the ones winning the ENC every year, attracting over 50,000 to watch them do it, and who have strong government and sponsorship backing. Make no mistake, it's Georgia who are very much the ones leading this campaign, and will continue to do so.
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| The recent encounter in Tbilisi was a warning for the Oaks of what could occur more often unless something dramatic changes in Romanian rugby. |
Year on year, Georgia are gradually distancing themselves from the ENC and looking towards bigger and better ambitions. For how much longer the Romanians can keep up and remain mentioned at all in the same bracket as them remains in question though.
A freak year group of 1986 born players, which included some of their very best talent of the professional era, have for the past 4 years led a mini fightback against rugby's decline in the country. However that may prove to be a dead cat bounce.
We've seen their utterly atrocious junior results over the past few years, and the match at the Dinamo Arena was possibly a glimpse of the future in another 5-6 years time, after the core of their current side will have either likely declined or retired within a short space of time.
Remove the likes of Fercu, Macovei, Lazar and Ursache (as another 5-6 years will do) for the 90's born generation that simply has not appeared, twin it with their rivals' continuing rise, and 38-9 is what you get. In the 2013 drawn match, Romania were the better side that day and should have won. The clock though may be ticking on how many more future opportunities like that the Oaks get to lift the Antim Cup.
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