International round-up

Spain beat Germany 22-11 in Madrid on Saturday, ensuring that their course towards Rugby World Cup 2011 remains steady after they had lost their first European Nations Cup Division One match 42-15 to Russia a fortnight ago.

Spain beat Germany 22-11 in Madrid on Saturday, ensuring that their course towards Rugby World Cup 2011 remains steady after they had lost their first European Nations Cup Division One match 42-15 to Russia a fortnight ago.

Fly-half Camille Riu kicked 17 of his side's points – four penalties, a drop goal and a conversion of wing Ignacio Martin's late try – in a tight game that Germany threw away by running the ball into defensive traffic far too often.

Spain are now top of the division but have played two matches. Russia are in second, courtesy of their win over the Spanish. Competition in the tournament gets underway in earnest next year when Germany host Georgia, Spain host Romania, and Portugal host Russia, all on February 7.

In Division 2A, Poland surprised the Czech Republic 13-7 in Ostrava, while Moldova cruised to a far easier win than had been anticipated over Belgium, winning 20-8 in Chisinau.

The Czechs now face a crucial game at home to Moldova in early December, where a defeat for the home side will all but end their World Cup qualification aspirations. A win for the Czechs would see all five sides tied on four points after two matches, with one win and one defeat each!*

Lithuania and Armenia will be the showdown match in Division 3A, after the Lithuanians disposed of Switzerland 33-0 in Vilnius.

Lithuania have not lost a game for two years now – their last defeat was 18-3 to Armenia in October 2006. The two meet again in Abovian next May, the final match of the division, where the winner will progress to the next stage of World Cup qualification: a play-off against either the winner of 3B or 3C.

In Division 3C, Israel kicked off a two-match tour by beating Bulgaria 11-8 in Sofia. They now head to Greece for their second match next week, where a win for either side would put them top of the table for at least a week.

Division 3D saw a spectacular 11-try game finish 46-32 in favour of Bosnia-Herzegovine against Slovakia in Bratislava. It was the Bosnians' second win on the road, following their 50-5 win in Monaco in October.

In the Asia region, Chinese Taipei's 35-23 defeat of Sri Lanka meant Singapore progress to the Asian Five Nations to be played over next April and May, along with Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Kazakhstan.

*In European Nations Cup matches, all wins are worth three points, a draw two points, and a defeat one point. there are no bonnus points.