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Having had the pleasure of being at this game, it was a true spectacle of what the Rugby Europe Chanmpionship has to offer! Both on and off the pitch!
Penalty Try (13'), Bay (19', 40'), Nieto (23'), Ovejero (32'), Albo (59'), Mateu (68')
Tries
Jong (29'), Fikken (66'), Coetzee (74')
Bontempo (19', 24', 34', 41', 60')
Conversions
Meijer (30', 75'), Weersma (67')
Bontempo (10', 47')
Penalties
Meijer (5')
Having had the pleasure of being at this game, it was a true spectacle of what the Rugby Europe Chanmpionship has to offer! Both on and off the pitch!
From watching the atmosphere build before the game, to the spectacle on the pitch, followed by the pitch invasion at the end. Where kids were able to meet their idols and have whatever they could get their hands on signed. It was everything we love about Rugby in one game.
Speaking with the Nederlands fans beforehand, they had aspirations that they could come to Madrid and cause an upset.
With a early penaly kick was gifted to the Dutch, they took the 3 points and set off to settle down into the game. However, the Spanish Maul had already pushed the Netherlands back on a couple of occassions, and the breakdown speed from Spain was causing mayhem.
After 10 minutes, the pressure paid off and Spain were awarded a breakdown penalty pretty much infront of the posts, which Bontempo dispatched with ease.
The Lineout and Driving maul pressure, soon came to fruition when Spain were awarded a penalty try after Robbbie Coetzee was deemed to have collapsed the maul on the try line. This infringement saw his efforts punished with a yellow card too.
Spain smelt blood and started to turn the screw. Bontempo missed another penalty kick in the 18th minute. But off the 22m return from the Netherlands, landed perfectly for Spain to attack with depth, and after a couple of phases with holes being punched int he Dutch defense. A couple of offloads thrown in, saw Estanislao Bay run clean through under the posts, with Bontempo kicking the 2 points. this took Spain to 17-3.
Another Line out for Spain, ended with that devastating driving maul push over for a Raphael Nieto try, after a bit of confusion from the referees decision, Bontempo slotted the 2 and put Spain firmly in the driving seat at 24-3.
Netherlands didnt drop off though and their attacking play ws very positive through out the game, and after a few phases, they were rewarded with a 5m tap and go penalty, which got stopped a metre out, but with a beautiful fake out play, saw the forwards peel one way, then change back giving Tim De Jong the opportunity to push over for his Try and Meijer obliged with the conversion. was their a glimmer of hope for the Dutch?
Not really, another period of ill discipline by Netherlands saw Spain awarded the chance to kick for the corner. Where the devastating driving maul was able to push Santiago Ovejero over from 8m out in the corner. And the kicking machine of Bontempo, slotted another conversion.
A few phases of attack by netherlands nearly saw another response before half time but the Spanish defence stood strong and the final touch let the Netherlands attack down.
With a 21 point deficit against them, the Netherlands had to really dial in to get themselves back into the game. But sadly, after returning the kick off, Spain kicked back over the top. What ensued was a number of errors and Spain getting the luck of the bounce. Those bouces ended with Estanislao Bay managed to get a try under the posts again. Bontempo did his role and added another important 2. 41 minutes gone and Spain stood awaiting the Kick off again with a healthy 38-10 lead.
On the 47th minute, another easy breakdown penalty was won by Spain. Which Bontempo tucked away for 3 further points. Where can this momentum take Spain?
Luckily for the Netherlands, a 10 minute phase of unloading the benches from both sides, lead to a fairly uneventful period of the game. But that's as far as the ease up went, Spain managed to punish the Netherlands again in the corner, after they failed to clear far enough to limit the Spanish lineout impact, it went through the hands, then a couple of pick and goes later. It was finished by Alvaro Garcia Albo, and surprise surprise Bontempo tucked away the conversion too.
Netherlands weren't backing down though. They managed to make attacking pressure count, when they scored another try after a pick and go try after another 5m tap and go penalty. David Weersma nudged over the conversion putting the scoreline at 48-17.
Spain were clinical again after winning back teh ball from the kick off, then going through the phases to find Inaki Mateu score in teh score. However, Bontempo missed the conversion. Which was a very close call, being stood behind the posts at the time, if looked like it had snuck in.
Netherlands went on another attacking period and making metres, this was once again rewarded with a try for Robbie Coetzee of the final pick and go phase of the attacking set up.
Spain nearly managed a final try in the 80th minute but a fumble ended with the whistle being blown. Causing an eruption of noise and emotion from the Madrid fanbase, realising that Spain had set a huge marker for their Championships ahead. Some will probably be booking their tickets and accomodation for Australia 2027. But as we all know with Spain in recent years, its far too earlier to count your chickens.
The Netherlands will have to go away and understand the defencsive errors that really affected their game play, and make sure they get really tightened up ahead of their visit to Georgia on Saturday.
Spain travel to Switzerland for their game on Sunday. They will be expecting a backlash from the Swiss after the first game demolition by Georgia. however, Spain will be looking to do a similar job and really set a marker for their game against Georgia in the final pool game.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 1 | 05 |
| 2 |  Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 05 |
| 3 |  Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -29 | 0 | 00 |
| 4 |  Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -110 | 0 | 00 |
