REC 2A: CZECH REPUBLIC v ISRAEL

25.04.2015

Image thanks to http://www.rugbyunion.cz/cs/article/300

Venue: RC Sparta Praha, Prague

Referee: Alexei Bryzgalin (Russia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
CZECH REP	3	3	0	0	66	36	30	2	14
SWITZ.	3	2	0	1	83	65	18	2	10
MALTA	3	2	0	1	60	66	-6	0	8
CROATIA	4	1	0	3	86	103	-17	4	8
ISRAEL	3	0	0	3	51	76	-25	1	1

Preview
Israel has found the step to Division 2A a tough assignment. They have won their way up two divisions since being in ENC 2C in 2010, a fantastic effort. The support the team had in that time was also fantastic.

Israel has remained a tough opponent in spit of its three losses so far. At no time have they been outplayed. With the continued development in their game they would be aiming just to remain at this level for the 2016-18 competition.

The Czech Republic remains on top of the table. They were relegated from Division 1B in 2014. They remain undefeated but they have not dominated the competition opposition as some thought. This is a far cry from the 2003-2008 season when they played at the top level of the FIRA-AER competitions.

The Czechs should win this game but if they play as indifferently as they did against Croatia they might find Israel a tougher opponent than they expected. If the Czech Republic respect their opposition and play as well as they can then Israel could be in for a tough time.

These two teams have met only once before, in 1993. Czech Republic won 28-0 in Amsterdam in a World Cup qualifying tournament.

Czech Republic Last Five P 5, W4, L 1
11.04.2015 v Croatia W 12-9 in Zagreb (REC 2A)
08.11.2014 v Malta W 27-13 in Prague (REC 2A)
01.11.2014 v Switzerland W 27-14 in Nyon (REC 2A)
26.04.2014 v Moldova W 37-19 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
05.04.2014 v Germany L 12-76 in Heidelberg (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)

Israel Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
18.04.2015 v Malta L 13-16 in Netanya (REC 2A)
08.11.2014 v Croatia L 20-31 in Zabreb (REC 2A)
25.10.2014 v Switzerland L 18-29 in Netanya (REC 2A)
26.04.2014 v Latvia L 22-29 in Riga (ENC 2B)
12.04.2014 v Andorra W 20-16 in Netanya (ENC 2B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Czech Republic 13th, Israel 25th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Czech Republic 52.07, Israel 44.60

Prediction: Czech Republic by 18 points. Score 43-18

TEAMS

Czech Republic

1. Lukáš Macháček 2. Vojtěch Mára 3. Lukáš Rapant 4. Radim Backa 5. Robert Voves (c) 6. Jiří Frank 7. Vojtěch Havel 8. Josef Maňák 9.Vachtang Pailodze 10. Pavel Vokrouhlík 11. Martin Sadílek 12. Jiří Lacina 13. Aleš Stejskal 14. Adam Soural 15. Jan Rohlík
lavička: 16. Ondřej Kovář 17. David Jaroš 18. Jakub Doležel 19. Jan Olbrich 20. Jakub Kopřiva 21. Tomáš Forst 22. Petr Čížek 23. David Brtníček

http://www.rugbyunion.cz/cs/article/307

Israel

15. Mordechay Radahkovich-06.09.1984
14. Ori Abutbul-02.05.1994
13. Amit Kakoun-27.12.1988
12. Alexy Veklov-15.06.1991
11. Jonathan Radashkovich-24.06.1988
10. Vitali Pryimak-29.05.1986
9. Shai Hacohen-22.02.1992
8. Michael Eli-21.04.1989
7. Guy Matisis-28.07.1987
6. Jonathan Shaki-10.05.1983, Capt.
5. Thomas Burden-09.08.1995
4. Ushangi Manjavidze-13.04.1986
3. Matan Brosh-12.04.1981
2. Omri Iotan-10.08.1984
1. Nathan Amos-11.08.1978

Replacements
16. Sela Arnsberg-07.04.1994
17. Oren Alt-08.03.1971
18. Jonathan Levy-27.02.1988
19. Itshak Hanania-12.08.1982
20. Dekel Fleisch-22.11.1995
21. Adrian Rainstein-16.06.1989
22. Fabian Maguid-08.02.1986
23. Guy Brengler-03.01.1994

Head Coach: Raanan Penn

Send by iphone thanks to Julian Shapiri, Manager Israeli team.