TEST RUGBY: PORTUGAL TRAVELS TO RUSSIA

06.02.2010
Portugal v Russia in Sochi (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)

Referee: F.Maciello (France)

Venue: Metreveli Stadium

Preview
Portugal and Russia will face each other in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, selected to host this rugby test match due to its warmer than elsewhere in Russia climate. Russia will look to consolidate its position just behind Georgia and above Romania in this competition. Portugal lies behind Romania and above Spain. A win to Portugal will push it closer to the leaders and a vital World Cup qualifying playoff position.

Sochi from the Black Sea. Rugby in Russia in a warmer climate. Image thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org

The Russian squad training and playing in Southern Africa during January including a test against Namibia.
v Blue Bulls Xv Lost 21-36 (The Bulls' team was not their strongest)
23.01 v Namibia in Windhoek, Lost 15-30.

Portugal had two warm up games against English sides in January.
25.01 v Oxford University in Lisbon Won 24-18
31.01 v English Students in Lisbon Won 21-18

Last Five Encounters
07.02.2009 Russia 18-14 in Lisbon (WCQ Euroe R5; ENC 1)
01.02.2008 Russia 41-26 in Krasnodar (ENC 1)
12.05.2007 Russia 21-13 in Lisbon (ENC 1)
28.10.2006 Portugal 26-23 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5, Pool A)
13.06.2006 Russia 37-17 in Lisbon (IRB Nations Cup)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Portugal 19th, Russia 20th
Europe Table-Portugal 8th, Russia 9th

Prediction: Portugal to give the Russian Bears a big surprise, winning by 7 points.

Teams

Russia

15. Igor Kluchnikov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
14. Vasily Artemiev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
13. Mikhail Babaev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
12. Sergey Trishin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
11. Alexander Gvozdovskiy (Krasny Yar)
10. Yuriy Kushnarev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
9. Alexander Yanushkin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
8. Andrey Temnov (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
7. Andrey Ostrikov (Stade Aurillacois, France)
6. Victor Gresev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
5. Kirill Kulemin (Castres, France)
4. Alexander Voytov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
3. Evgeny Pronenko (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
2. Vladislav Korshunov, Capt. (VVA-Podmoskovje)
1. Carlo Maglakelidze (Impera Penza)
Replacements
16. Evgeny Matveev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
17. Alexander Khrokin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
18. Alexey Travkin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
19. Artem Fatakhov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
20. Alexander Shakirov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
21. Alexey Korobeynikov (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
22. Andrey Kuzin (VVA-Podmoskovje)

Head Coach: Nicolay Neyrush

Adapted from http://rugby.ru/news/id_1215/
and thank to ‘nnu’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3342&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30

Portugal
15. Joe Gardener (Agronomia)
14. Frederico Oliveira (CD University Lisboa)
13. Pedro Silva (OS Belenenses)
12. Diogo Mateus (OS Belenenses)
11. António Aguilar (GD Direito)
10. Cardoso Pinto (Agronomia)
9. José Pinto (GD Direito)
8. Juan Severino (Agronomia)
7. Vasco Uva (GD Direito)
6. Tiago Girão (CD University Lisboa)
5. David Penalva (Auch, France)
4. Conrad Stickling (Cascais, France)
3. Juan Murre (Auch, France)
2. João Correia (cap.) (GD Direito)
1. Francisco Fernandes (Tyrosse)
Replacements
16. João Júnior (CD University Lisboa)
17. Thomas da Costa (Lourdes, France)
18. Gonçalo Uva (GD Direito)
19. Salvador Palha (GD Direito)
20. Pedro Leal (GD Direito)
21. Pedro Cabral (CD University Lisboa)
22. Gonçalo Foro (CD University Lisboa)

Head Coach: Tomaz Morais

Adapted from http://www.fpr.pt/noticias/noticia.asp?opm=25&id=7847&id2=25
and thanks to ‘mestre’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3342&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30

For complete lists of all international rugby test matches played by Russia and Portugal go to www.rugbyinternational.net