RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP
SPAIN overcame Jesus Moreno’s 43rd-minute red card for a stamp to the head to beat Belgium 30-0 in Madrid.
Los Leones protected a 20-point lead with some determined defending and then went on to grab the bonus-point try despite the loss of their tighthead.
Bottom-of-the-table Belgium barely fired a shot in attack and now face a relegation play-off against the European Trophy winners, most probably Portugal, while Spain are almost certain of third place in the Championship.
Brad Linklater kicked Spain into an early lead and went on to land five more kicks at goal.
Lock Ignacio Villanueva cut a great line to score Spain’s first try on 11 minutes and Linklater added the extras.
Swift handling between the backs, started by livewire No.9 Guillaume Rouet, led to the next score for Fabien Perrin which Linklater again converted.
Having had a try disallowed for a forward pass, Linklater supplied the last points of the first half when he kicked a 28thminute penalty.
Once Moreno had received his marching orders Spain comfortably soaked up anything that Belgium could throw at them, to nil the opposition for the first time in a decade. It wasn’t until the 55th minute that the Black Devils entered the opposition 22 with ball in hand.
Spain needed one more try to pick up all five points through the three-try difference ruling and Kalokalo Gavidi came up with the goods when he took a pop pass from fellow benchman Juan Anaya and muscled his way over.
Belgium were penalised for a fracas in the in-goal area and Linklater punished them once play restarted with a penalty from the centre spot. Belgium finally strung some phases together towards the end of the match, but they met a red brick wall.
Germany can pull level with Spain on 13 points if they beat Russia for the first time in their history by over 90 points and get a bonus point in the first of today’s two fixtures.
Top billing goes, of course, goes to the title decider between Romania and defending champions Georgia in Bucharest.
Georgia go into their 200th Test match three points clear of the Oaks, who have rallied well since their shock opening day loss to Germany, as they look to win the title for the seventh year in a row.
The Lelos also know that a win today will see them move above Japan and into 11th place in the World Rugby rankings.
They make two changes to the team that beat Russia 28-14 in Tbilisi last week, with Soso Bekoshvili at tighthead and Merab Sharikadze at centre.
Romania captain Mihai Macovei makes his first start for Romania at No.8 since their famous 2015 World Cup victory over Canada, after switching from openside flanker.
Romania head coach Lynn Howells said: “Our opponents haven’t lost at this level for seven years, it’ll be a great match.”
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