# 2012 IRB Nations Cup

The 2012 IRB Nations Cup was the seventh edition of the international rugby union tournament, a competition created by the International Rugby Board. It pitted the "A" Teams of the stronger rugby nations (Tier 1, Argentina Jaguars and Italy A) against the Tier 2 (Romania) and Tier 3 (Portugal and Russia) nations. And Uruguay played against Romania, Russia and Portugal.
For the sixth consecutive year the event was held in Bucharest, Romania. South African Kings did not return to defend their title. For the first time in the competition's history, host nation Romania won.
The competition format was a modified round-robin whereby there three ENC teams (Romania, Russia and Portugal) played the other three teams (Argentina XV, Italy A and Uruguay). The competition was played over three match days, with three matches played consecutively on each day.

## Standings

2012 IRB Nations Cup :
| | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Romania | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 43 | +26 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | Argentina XV | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 95 | 41 | +54 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Italy A | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 55 | +19 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Russia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 79 | -34 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Portugal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 104 | -67 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Source : irb.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match ||||||||||||||

## Fixtures
### Matchday 1

IRB Reports
* 8 June 2012 16:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Romania | 29 – 9 | Uruguay |
| Try: Lemnaru 70' c Fercu 79' c Con: Manole (2/2) Pen: Calafeteanu (4/4) 8', 20', 27', 52' Manole (1/1) 62' | Stats | Pen: Ormaechea (2/2) 34', 60' Drop: Berchesi (1/1) 57' |
* Referee: Andrew Small (England)
* 8 June 2012 18:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Russia | 17 – 33 | Italy A |
| Try: Otrokov 10' c Babaev 19' m Selskiy 31' m Con: Sugrobov (1/3) | Stats | Try: Chiesa (2) 6' m, 75' c Bacchetti (2) 35' c, 39' c Morelli 53' c Con: Buso (2/3) Chillon (2/2) Pen: Buso (0/1) Chillon (0/1) |
* Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
* 8 June 2012 20:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Portugal | 9 – 41 | Argentina XV |
| Pen: Leal (3/4) 9', 35', 41' | Stats | Try: Cortes 24' c De La Fuente 25' c López 54' c Ahaulli 71' c Masera 75' c Con: Iglesias (3/3) Madero (2/2) Pen: Iglesias (2/3) 6', 60' |
* Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

### Matchday 2

IRB Reports
* 12 June 2012 16:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Portugal | 21 – 28 | Italy A |
| Try: Aguilar 29' m Uva 50' c Con: Leal (1/2) Pen: Leal (3/3) 6', 33', 64' | Stats | Try: Bacchetti 40' m Chillon 55' c Barbini 60' c Con: Chillon (2/3) Pen: Chillon (3/4) 15', 20', 43' |
* 12 June 2012 18:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Romania | 23 – 21 | Argentina XV |
| Try: Adascalitei 35' c Fercu 48' c Con: Manole (2/2) Pen: Manole (3/3) 3', 14', 44' Calafeteanu (0/1) | Stats | Try: Masera 62' m Madero 71' c Con: Madero (1/2) Pen: Madero (3/4) 8', 16', 27' |
* Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
* 12 June 2012 20:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Russia | 19 – 13 | Uruguay |
| Try: Zykov 31' c Kotov 39' m Shakirov 49' c Con: Sugrobov (2/3) | Stats | Try: Arocena 6' c Con: Durán (1/1) Pen: Durán (1/3) 16' Berchesi (1/2) 54' |
* Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest

### Matchday 3

IRB Reports
* 17 June 2012 16:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Russia | 9 – 33 | Argentina XV |
| Pen: Sugrobov (3/3) 9', 13', 30' | Stats | Try: Basile 70' c Bollini 74' c Ponce 79' c Con: Madero (3/3) Pen: Iglesias (4/4) 27', 32', 35', 49' Madero (0/1) 67' |
* Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest Referee: Andrew Small (England)
* 17 June 2012 18:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Portugal | 7 – 35 | Uruguay |
| Try: Uva 57' c Con: Leal (1/1) Pen: Leal (0/2) 32', 39' | Stats | Try: Sagario 29' c Ormaechea 35' m Soares 42' c Mieres 78' c Con: Ormaechea (2/3) Berchesi (1/1) Pen: Ormaechea (2/5) 13', 51' Etcheverry (1/1) 19' Drop: Berchesi (0/1) |
* Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
* 17 June 2012 20:00 EET (UTC+02)
| Romania | 17 – 13 | Italy A |
| Try: Manole 15' c Penalty Try 70' c Con: Manole (1/1) Calafeteanu (1/1) Pen: Manole (1/4) 6' Calafeteanu (0/1) | Stats | Try: Chiesa 75' c Con: Chillon (1/1) Pen: Buso (2/2) 3', 47' |
* Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)