EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP: Russia and Spain Clash

19.05.2012
Spain v Russia in Moscow (ENC 1A)

2010-2012 CHAMPIONSHIP
	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
GEORGIA	9	8	0	1	283	80	203	4	1	37
ROMANIA	10	6	0	4	302	108	194	4	4	32
SPAIN	9	4	0	4	188	234	-46	2	2	24
PORTUGAL	10	4	0	6	215	230	-15	2	3	21
RUSSIA	9	4	0	5	171	220	-49	2	2	20
UKRAINE	9	1	0	8	121	408	-287	1	0	5

                       2012 CHAMPIONSHIP

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
ROMANIA	5	3	0	2	136	39	97	2	2	16
GEORGIA	4	3	0	1	115	45	70	2	1	15
SPAIN	4	3	0	1	96	59	37	1	1	14
RUSSIA	4	2	0	2	71	122	-51	1	0	9
PORTUGAL	5	1	0	4	102	132	-31	0	3	7
UKRAINE	4	1	0	3	60	190	-123	1	0	5

Venue: Slava Stadium

Referee: Timothy Wigglesworth (England)

Preview
The 2010-12 ENC 1A competition is virtually a dead rubber with Ukraine being the relegated side.However the European Nations cup is contested annually and this competition will add some spice to this game.

Spain has a very real chance of winning this competition. They will need to win with a bonus point and hope that Ukraine can hold Georgia to a 4 point win when those two sides meet on 9 June. If Spain and Georgia have equal points at that stage Spain will take the cup as they defeated Georgia 25-18 back in February.

Spain defeated Georgia earlier in the season.

Russia has reintroduced some World Cup veterans to bolster the side following their 0-46 thrashing by Georgia in March.

Spain are without a few crucial France-based players; Moreno, Belzunce, Aubenell and Recuerda. Despite that Spain looks to be a strong side. They will find this Russian side a tough assignment in Moscow.

Following a dispute with the Spanish rugby federation, this will be Sonnes final game as coach for Spain.

Last Five Encounters
05.02.2011 Russia 28-24 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
13.02.2010 Russia 38-20 in Madrid (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
08.11.2008 Russia 42-15 in Moscow (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
08.03.2008 Russia 42-16 in Krasnodar (ENC 1)
10.02.2007 Russia 39-14 in Madrid (ENC 1)

Spain last defeated Russia in 2002, winning 38-22 in Krasnodar.

Russia Last Five
10.03.2012 v Ukraine W 38-19 in Sotchi (ENC 1A)
17.03.2012 v Georgia L 0-46 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 v Romania L 0-25 in Sochi (ENC 1A)
11.02.2012 v Portugal W 33-32 in Lisbon (ENC 1A)
01.10.2011 v Australia L 22-68 in Nelson (World Cup, Pool C)

Spain Last Five
17.03.2012 v Romania W 13-12 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
10.03.2012 v Portugal L 17-23 in Coimbra (ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 v Ukraine W 41-6 in Alushta (ENC 1A)
11.02.2012 v Georgia W 25-18 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
19.11.2011 v Uruguay W 16-13 in Madrid

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Spain 17th, Russia 22nd
Europe Table-Spain 11th, Russia 12th

IRB Ranking Points
Spain 62.57, Russia 60.12

Prediction: Spain to hold out against a determined Russian side, and win by 9 points.

Teams

SPAIN

15		Mathieu Peluchon	Auch, France
14		Sebastien Ascarat	Auch, France
13		Pierre Emmanuel García	Castres Olympique, France
12		Carlos Blanco	Vigo RC
11		Brice Labadie	Perigueux, France
10		Charles Malie	Beziers, France
9		Adrien Ayestaran	Perigueux, France
8		Mathieu Roca	Stade Aurillacois , France
7		David Barrera	Stade Montois , France
6		Sergio Guerrero	UE Santboiana
5		Thomas Parker (Capt.)	Ampo Ordizia
4		Craig Lyons	UE Santboiana
3		David Gurgenadze	US Carcassone, France
2		Fabien Rofes	Bordeaux Begles, France
1		Franck Labbe	Bordeaux Begles , France
16		Jonathan Phipps	CR La Vila
17		Jon Insausti	St Jean de Luz, France, France
18		Joseph Hutchinson	CR La Vila
19		Victor Sanchez	El Salvador
20		Anibal Bonán	VRAC
21		Jamie Nava	Saint Etienne, France
22		Ángel López	Cisneros
		COACH: Reggis Sonnes

http://www.marca.com/2012/05/10/mas_deportes/rugby/1336655513.html

RUSSIA

15		Igor Klyuchnikov	VVA-Podmoskovye
14		Vasily Artemyev	VVA-Podmoskovye
13		Sergey Trishin	VVA-Podmoskovye
12		Alexander Makovetsky	Krasny Yar
11		Vladimir Ostroushko	Yug-Krasnodar
10		Yuri Kushnarev	VVA-Podmoskovye
9		Alexander Shakirov	VVA-Podmoskovye
8		Victor Gresev	London Wasps, England
7		Artem Fatahkov	VVA-Podmoskovye
6		Artem Fatahkov	VVA-Podmoskovye
5		Kirill Kulemin	Castres, France
4		Denis Antonov	Slava Moscow
3		Andrey Igretsov	Slava Moscow
2		Vladislav Korshunov (Capt.)	VVA-Podmoskovye
1		Alexey Volkov	VVA-Podmoskovye
16		Valeriy Tsnobiladze	Novokuznetsk
17		Sergey Popov	Slava Moscow
18		Innokenty Zykov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
19		Alexander Voytov	VVA-Podmoskovye
20		Anton Ryabov	Krasny Yar
21		Denis Simplikevich	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
22		Andrew Garbuzov	Krasny Yar
		HEAD COACH: Kingsley Jones

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4083