International Rugby: Belgium and Poland in Final ENC Match

30.05.2009
Belgium v Poland in Gdansk (WCQ Euro.R4; ENC 2A)


Preview
This test match is the last to be played in European Nations Cup Division 2A before the halfway mark is reached. The next round, beginning in September 2009, will be crucial in determining which team qualifies for a World Cup 2011 playoff position and which teams are promoted to ENC 1 or relegated to ENC 2B.

This is an important rugby test match for both teams. Poland, poised near the top of the table just beneath Ukraine, were promoted from ENC 2B at the beginning of the season. They have taken this division by storm with wins over Czech Republic and, just recently, a 30-28 upset over Moldova. A win today will place Poland on ten points, the same as the Ukraine but they will remain in second place due to their one point loss to the Ukraine earlier in the season.

Belgium has been disappointing this season. Unlucky to miss promotion last season, they have struggled to dominate a very even field. A win to Belgium will steer it clear of the relegation zone.

Belgium will be without several regulars. Mathieu Verschelden, Bertrand Billi and Fred Rongé are sitting exams whilst Simon Marote, Romain Orban and Pierre Plasman are injured. Amid some controversy Alan Williams has made himself unavailable for the national team. Daniel Janssens, Victor Wartique, Aurélien Batardy, Stefan Zinzen, Bram Coupe and Mathias Rondou will be making their test debuts. Selector Richard McClintock has had to announced a rearranged team.

Last Five Encounters
16.10.1999 Poland 43-14 in Brussels (FIRA C)
28.03.1998 Poland 30-10 in Gdynia (WCQ Euro. Pool 2, Rd B)
28.10.1995 Poland 30-10 in Lodz (FIRA A2)
15.10.1994 Poland 50-13 in Siedlce (FIRA A1)
12.10.1991 Drawn 16-16 in Lublin (FIRA B1)

These two teams have not played each other for ten years so the results above count for little.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Poland 13th, Belgium 16th

Prediction: Poland gaining in strength with their now strong France-based contingent, whilst Belgium is missing leading players. Poland by 28 points.

Teams

Belgium
15 Thibaut André (Soignies)
14 Aurélien Batardy (Soignies),
13 Jérôme Cauwe (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)
12 Daniel Janssens (Arras, France)
11 David Nemsadze (Domont, France)
10 Peter Duchau (Boitsfort)
9 Julien Berger (La Rochelle, France)
8 Charlie Fourneau (Lille, France)
7 Michaël Demolder (Boitsfort),
6 Denis Eppe (ROC Ottignies)
5 Damien Godefroy (Lille, France)
4 Cyril Nana (Lille, France)
3 Alain Miriallakis (Orléans, France)
2 Norman Wende (Rouen, France)
1 Julien Massimi (Arras, France)
Replacements
16 Jimmy Mulumba (Domont, France)
17 Thomas Dienst (Le LOU, France)
18 Jérôme Wey (St Nazaire, France)
19 Dries Bovijn (Boitsfort)
20 Victor Wartique (Frameries)
21 Stefan Zinzen (Bédarieux, France)
22 Bram Coupé (Dendermonde)

Head Coach: Richard McClintock

http://www.sportkipik.be/articles.php?id_article=6771

Poland

15 David Chartier (?)
14 Donald Gargasson (Toulon, France)
13 Krzysztof Hotowski (Beaurepaire, France)
12 Romuald Berthe (RC Rouen, France)
11 Tomasz Rokicki (Lechia Gdańsk)
10 Dawid Banaszek (Bourgoin, France)
9 Łukasz Szostek (Arka Gdynia)
8 Stanislas Krzesinski (Albi, France)
7 Kacper Ławski (Budowlani Łódź)
6 Ciril Monarcha (C.A. Riberacois, France)
5 Michał Krużycki (Bourgoin, France)
4 Grzegorz Falk (Juvenia Kraków)
3 Marcin Wilczuk (Old Belvedere, Ireland)
2 Yaan Levandowski (Cahors, France)
1 Fabien Kwarta (U.S. Morlaas Rugby, France)
Replacements
16 Kamil Bobryk (St Etienne, France)
17 Eric Piorkowski (?)
18 Aleksander Bartoszewicz
19 Kazimierz Raszpunda (Pogoń Siedlce)
20 Paweł Nowak (Arka Gdynia)
21 Dawid Popławski (Lechia Gdańsk)
22 Jurij Buhało (Posnania Poznan)
Head Coach: Tomasz Putra

http://www.pzrugby.pl/seniorzy.reprezentacja.html