Spain, Romania and Georgia are together in a group. The winner of the group will go directly to France. The runner-up will play against the runner up of the group made up of Italy, Russia and Portugal for the chance to battle on in répechage.

Romania are the champions of the European Nations Cup while Spain have been playing a division below them.

Spain have beaten Madrid only once - in Madrid in 1992 when Spain won 6-0. Against that Roamnia have beaten Spain 21 times. The last time the two teams met in 2004 Romania won 50 - 10.

A glance at the clubs the Oaks play for tells you that their players are used to rugby at a higher level than their Spanish counterparts are. 13 of the Romanian squad play professional rugby in France's tough competition, 12 in the Top 14. Spain have just one player with a top French club - Cyril Hijar of Albi.

Romania must be favorites to win. They have already beaten Georgia, 20-8. Beat Spain and they go to France and the final World Cup tournament. But then they have been to all five World Cup tournaments before this.

Neither side is as yet finalised. Ged Glynn, Spain's English coach, still has a squad of 26 players and the Romanians' coach Daniel Santamans has brought 24 players to Madrid, needing to discard two.

Span has one uncapped player - scrumhalf Carles Badía who is a late inclusion. He is 28. Romania also have an uncapped player - wing Nicolae Catalin who is 26.

After this match, Spain will go off to Tblissi to play Georgia for a chance to get into the répechage net.

Squads:

Spain:

Forwards: Miguel Burgaleta (Liceo Francés), César Caballero (El Salvador), Ion Insausti  (El Salvador), Javier Salazar (Madrid), Mathieu Cidre (Graulhet, France), Diego Zarzosa (Madrid), César Bernasconi (Barcelona), Andrew Ebbet (Alcobendas), Sergio Souto (El Salvador), Oscar Astarloa (Ordizia), Rafael Camacho (Inés Rosales), Juan González (Madrid), Cyril Hijar  (Sporting Club Albiegeois, France), Alfonso Mata (El Salvador), Carlos Souto (El Salvador)

Backs: Pablo Feijóo (Bera Bera), Carles Badía (U.E. Santboiana), Andrei Kovalenco  (Barcelona), Esteban Roqué (El Salvador), Alvar Enciso (El Salvador), Javier Canosa (Madrid), David Mota (Madrid), Víctor Marlet (U.E. Santboiana), Rafael Álvarez (Stade Domontois, France), Juan Cano (Cisneros), César Sempere (Madrid)

Romania: 

Forwards: Petru Balan (Biarritz, France), Bogdan Balan (Montauban, France), Cezar Popescu (Agen, France), Petrisor Toderasc (Brive, France), Razvan Mavrodin (Pau, France), Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucarest), Sorin Socol (Agen, France), Petre Cristian (Brive, France), Valentin Ursache (Arad), Cosmin Ratiu (Dinamo Bucarest), Florin Corodeanu (Grenoble, France), Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan, France), Costica Mersoiu (Dinamo Bucarest)

Backs: Lucian Sirbu (Metro Racing, France), Vali Calafeteanu (Dinamo Bucarest), Ionut Dimofte (Arad), Ionut Tofan (Limoges, France), Catalin Dascalu (Steaua Bucarest), Romeo Gontineac (Aurillac, France), Gabriel Brezoianu (Metro Racing, France), Ioan Teodorescu (Arad), Catalin Fercu (Arad), Catalin Nicolae (Steaua Bucarest), Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucarest)

Date: Saturday, 14 October 2006
Kick-off: 16.30 (local time)
Venue: Campo Central, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid
Expected weather conditions: Clear becoming partially cloudy with a high of 23°C, dropping to 10°C and a light wind
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Touch judges: Rob Dickson, Ronnie Dumma (both Scotland)