Friday, June 8, 2012

IRB NATIONS CUP TEST RUGBY: Russia face Italy ‘A’

08.06.2012
Russia v Italy ‘A’ in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

Venue: Arch of Triumph Stadium

Referee:

Preview
Italy has sent a very inexperienced side to Bucharest. Only two players have experienced test rugby.

Russia are missing a few key players which is normal for this tournament. Russia usually struggles at this level. Their form since attending the 2011 Rugby World Cup has been less than impressive. With an experimental selection policy they have struggled, including a 0-46 hammering from Georgia. An interesting selection is Adam Byrnes from the Melbourne Rebels. Burns first played for Russia at the World Cup.

Previous Encounters
12.06.2012 Italy ‘A’ 24-19 in Worcester (Churchill Cup)
16.06.2009 Italy ‘A’ 35-3 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
11.06.2008 Italy ‘A’ 38-15 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
24.06.2006 Italy ‘A’ 32-29 in Lisbon (IRB Nations Cup)
18.11.1984 Italy XV 13-12 in L’Aquilla (FIRA A)

Russia Last Five

19.05.2012 v Spain W 41-37 in Moscow (ENC 1A)
17.03.2012 v Georgia L 0-46 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
10.03.2012 v Ukraine W 38-19 in Sotchi (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)

GWC Rugby Rankings and IRB points do not apply.

Prediction: Italy ‘A’ by 10 points

Teams

rugby_russia_en_150[1]

RUSSIA

15   Andrey Otrokov  Krasny Yar
14   Ivan Kotov   
13   Dmitry Gerasimov  Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
12   Alexander Makovetsky  Krasny Yar
11   Mikhail Babaev  VVA-Podmoskovye
10   Sergey Sugrobov   
9   Alexey Scherban   
8   Victor Gresev  London Wasps, England
7   Pavel Butenko Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
6   Andrey Temnov  Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
5   Adam Byrnes  
4   Alexander Voytov (Capt.) VVA-Podmoskovye
3   Evgeny Pronenko  Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
2   Stanislav Selsky   
1   Vladimir Botvinnikov  Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
       
16   Sergey Popov  Slava Moscow
17   Alexey Volkov  VVA-Podmoskovye
18   Innokenty Zykov  Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
19   Paul Kvernadze  Spartak GM
20   Alexander Shakirov  VVA-Podmoskovye
21   Artem Fatahkov  VVA-Podmoskovye
22   Anton Ryabov  Krasny Yar
       
    HEAD COACH: Kingsley Jones


6[1]

ITALY ‘A’
Team yet to be announced

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