Rugby Test Match: Moldova and Belgium Clash

31.10.2009
Moldova v Belgium in Brussels (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)

Venue: Stade Roi Baudouin-A2

Referee: Mourihna (Portugal)

Preview
Belgium and Moldova clash in Brussels. For both teams the chance to play for a place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup is virtually over. Both teams are in danger of relegation to ENC 2B so the outcome is important for that reason.

Belgium's slump in form is difficult to fathom. They have gone from Division favourites at the start of 2008 to being in some danger of relegation. Their last outing was a narrow loss to division favourites Ukraine 11-13 away, earlier this month. The result suggest there is little difference between the teams in ENC 2A. Key player Alan Williams is available following his dispute with the team management.

Moldova won 20-8 at home during the first round. Their forward pack will almost certainly be foreign-based players, the bulk coming fresh from the Russian Super League or the Romanian League. Players are also based in Portugal and one from Spain. They could well be a handful for the Belgian side.

Previous Encounters
16.11.2008 Moldova 20-8 in Chisinau (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
12.04.2008 Belgium 22-19 in Chisnau (ENC 2A)
21.04.2007 Moldova 29-27 in Brussels (ENC 2A)
07.04.2001 Belgium 26-10 in Brussels (FIRA Pool 1; WCQ Europe R1)

Moldova last played in Brussels in 2007. They won narrowly 29-27. Image thanks to www.sportkipik.be

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Belgium 16th, Moldova 17th

Prediction: Moldova by 6 points.

Teams

Belgium
15.Sébastien Guns (Boitsfort)
14.Jérôme Cauwe (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)
13.Aurélien Batardy (Soignies)
12.Dirk Haghedooren (Cap d’Agde, France)
11.Thibaut André (Soignies)
10.Peter Duchau (Dendermonde)
9.Julien Berger (La Rochelle, France)
8.Charles Fourneau (Lille, France)
7.Bertrand Billi (Soignies)
6.Michael Demolder (Boitsfort)
5.Damien Godefroy (Lille, France)
4.Mathieu Verschelden (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)
3.Jérôme Wey (Saint-Nazaire, France)
2.Thomas Dienst (Lille, France)
1.Jimmy Mulumba (Domont, France)
Replacements (From)
16.Julien Massimi (Saint-Etienne, France)
17.Norman Wende (Saint-Etienne, France)
18.Alain Miriallakis (Saint-Etienne, France)
19.Pierre Hendrikx (Boitsfort)
20.Dries Bovijn (Boitsfort)
21.Alan Williams (Castres, France)
22.Fred Rongé (Kituro)
23.Carlos Fierro (Marcq en Baroeuil)
Head Coach: Richard McClintock

http://www.sportkipik.be/articles.php?id_article=6933

Moldova Squad of 32 (? Not sure of all club affiliations)-Will be whittled down to 22 or 23 come match day.

Props
Vadim Cobîlaş (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)
Maxim Cobîlaş (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)
Veaceslav Titica (Slava Moscow, Russia)
Dumitru Arhip (Dinamo Bucarest, Romania)

Hookers
Dumitru Vasilachi (RC Kredo 63, Ukraine)
Ion Dascal (USEFS Blumarine)

2nd row
Andrei Romanov (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)
Maxim Gargalîc (Farul Constanţa, Romania)
Vitalie Gîra (UTM Chişinău)

3rd row
Alexandru Şîşcanu (Slava Moscow, Russia)
Sergiu Castraveţ (Novocuznetc, Russia)?
Victor Arhip (Dinamo Bucarest, Romania)
Dumitru Enache Spain?
Oleg Prepeliţa (SL Benefica, Portugal)

Scrum-halves
Nicolae Chirilă (Krasniy Yar-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)?
Nicolae Caburgan (USEFS Blumarine)

No 10s
Octavian Manoli (UTM Chişinău)
Alexandru Breazu ?

Centres
Adrian Baltag Portugal?
Gheorghe Voloşciuc (USEFS Blumarine)
Alexandru Bulgac (USEFS Blumarine)
Alexei Cotruţa (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)

Wings
Ghenady Evteev?
Eduard Toderica (Olimp Electromaş Tiraspol)
Ion Buşila (USEFS Blumarine)
Veaceslav Lozinschi (USEFS Blumarine)
Ştefan Leca (USEFS Blumarine)

Full backs
Alexandru Matveev (USEFS Blumarine)*
Vasile Leu (UTM Chişinău)

http://www.rugby.md/index.php?pagina=7&articol=114