The curtain has come down on the pool stage of the 2024 European Men’s Rugby Championship, with the championship semi-finals and ranking semi-finals decided.
Portugal achieved a memorable victory in Bucharest, setting up a home semi-final against Spain. Georgia will host long-time rivals Romania in Tbilisi. As the relegation battle intensifies, the Netherlands and Belgium will also host ranked semi-finals against Poland and Germany respectively.
Clean break: 7
The Lobos needed a victory at a stadium they had only won once in the past 30 years, and Joao Mila’s side did just that, delivering a result that will be remembered forever.
The Portuguese’s attacking sense is extremely precise and eloquent, whether it’s from the magical side steps of Manuel Cardoso Pinto and Lucas Martins or the quick running skills of Hugo’s Aubrey and Camacho. threaded through and stole the show.
The Portuguese finished the match with seven clean breaks and returned to the attacking axis that brought him joy in 2023. Young winger Lucas Martins finished with two clean breaks, closely followed by Manuel Cardoso Pinto and Hugo Aubrey.
Number of successful mold drives: 4
The Lynn Jones Rugby Laboratory continues to deliver delicious new work and the 10-man Mold Drive was sensational. Not only because fans were happy to see the wings and centers involved, but also because it was an effective method of attack that led to three-and-outs. Out of 5 tries for the home team.
Yes, it was ultimately the forward who drove the oval ball into the whitewash, but the sheer power and speed of that maul shook Amsterdam’s National Rugby Center. The maul became one of the Dutch team’s most effective weapons and was the cornerstone of another memorable victory over long-time rival Germany.
Turnover: 6
Leros delivered the win in the A match against Spain, showing great physicality and power in the second half, causing havoc and forcing six breakdown turnovers.
The efforts of Giorgi Tutsukiridze, Tornike Haragonia and Ilya Spanderashvili to plunder Spain’s rucks were crucial to breaking Leone’s spirit and giving Georgia’s final line the opportunity it needed to extend its lead.
Especially in the second half, the visitors were worried about getting the ball out of the ruck quickly as the Georgian team committed a lot of turnovers. The European Men’s Rugby Championship title holders are back to their best and their breakdown skills will be essential in the next semi-final.
Defenders killed: 29
Against Poland, the Black Devils had Florian Lemieux (8 innings), Hugo de Frank (7 innings), and Jordan Gott (6 innings) shine on every carry, creating a free flow for the Polish opponent. , beat 29 next tacklers. Belgium’s aggressive game plan paid off at this edition of the European Men’s Rugby Championship, with super-fine side steps and footwork being one of their main highlights.
Belgium may not have qualified for the Rugby Europe Championship semi-finals, but their development over the past 12 months has been nothing short of frightening, making them a powerful and deadly side, primarily in possession. Ta.
The team will now have a week’s rest before returning to the pitch for the competition’s semi-finals on the weekend of March 2nd and 3rd.
Written by Francisco Isaac