Rugby Test: Spain v Russia

08.11.2008
Spain v Russia in Moscow (ENC 1)

Previews
Spain warmed up for this game with a 27-20 win over Cambridge University last weekend. Russia, on the other hand, has probably cooled down somewhat since their last test match, a 28-29 loss to a strong French Amateur side in early September.

The Spanish team of last season developed into a useful combination, losing by only 2 points to eventual Cup winners Georgia in Georgia, and then ended the season with a 21-17 win over World Cup attendants Portugal. They were defeated 42-16 by Russia in Russia in April. They could well find the Russians just as formidible in early November.

The Russians have played more test matches than the Spanish since they last met in April. A young Russian side found the going tough at the IRB Nations Cup tournament held in Bucharest in June, losing all their games. Still, it meant a number of younger players were blooded into international rugby and I suspect the Russians will be more than ready for the Spaniards.
Last Five Encounters
08.03.2008 Russia 42-16 in Krasnodar (ENC 1)
10.02.2007 Russia 39-14 in Madrid (ENC 1)
14.02.2004 Russia 36-6 in Krasnodar (ENC 1)
15.02.2003 Russia 52-19 in Madrid (ENC 1)
24.11.2002 Spain 38-22 in Krasnodar (WCQ Europe R5)

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Spain 19th, Russia 28th
Europe Table-Russia 9th, Spain 10th

Prediction: Russia by 21 points

Teams

Russia Squad
Michael Babaev (VVA-Podmoskovje) Age 22, 10 tests
Sergey Bazhenov (Enisey STM-Krasnoyarsk) 23, 1
Vladimir Botvinnikov (Enisey STM-Krasnoyarsk) 24, 7
Dmitry Gerasimov (Enisey STM-Krasnoyarsk) , New Cap
Victor Gresev (VVA-Podmoskovje) 22, 8
Alexander Gvozdovskiy (Krasniy Yar-Krasnoyarsk) 27, 5
Alexander Khrokin (VVA-Podmoskovje) 32, 31
Igor Kluchnikov (VVA-Podmoskovje) 27, 20
Oleg Kobzev (VVA-Podmoskovje) 27, 8
Vladislav Korshunov (VVA-Podmoskovje) 25, 19
Kirill Kulemin (Castres Olympique, France) 27, 2
Yuriy Kushanrev (VVA-Podmoskovje) 23, 16
Andrey Kuzin (VVA-Podmoskovje) 29, 17
Andrey Lugin (Slava Moscow) 28, 5
Evgeniy Matveev (VVA-Podmoskovje) 24, 5
Victor Motorin (VVA-Podmoskovje) 32, 16
Alexey Panasenko (VVA-Podmoskovje) 25, 3
Evgeniy Pronenko (Enisey STM-Krasnoyarsk) New Cap
Alexander Shakirov (VVA-Podmoskovje) 27, 11
Oleg Shukaylov (Krasniy Yar-Krasnoyarsk) ?, 3
Alexey Travkin (VVA-Podmoskovje) 31, 19
Sergey Trishin (VVA-Podmoskovje) 23, 8
Alexander Voytov (VVA-Podmoskovje) 26, 11
Head Coach Nikolay Nerush

Shukaylov last played for Russia v Portugal in Lisbon, October 2006.
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2896

Spain Squad

César Bernasconi (CRC Madrid) Age 32, 15 tests
José Mª Bohorquez (CR Ciencias) 32, 21
Rafael Camacho (CR Ciencias) 30, 25
Juan Cano (CRC Madrid) 23, 16
Javier Canosa (CRC Madrid) 25, 27
Iván Criado (Cetransa El Salvador) 28, 49
Damien Elgoyhen (Avirón Bayonnais, France) 22, New Cap
Pablo Feijoo (CRC Madrid) 26, 42
Leandro Fernández-Aramburu (CR Ciencias) 28, 6
Juan González (CRC Madrid) 26, 23
Mathieu Gratton (Graulhet RC, France) 26, 6
Ion Insausti (Cetransa El Salvador) 24, 20
Juan Gónzalez Marruecos (CR Ciencias) 22, 1
Hernán Quirelli (La Vila RC) 34, New Cap
Sebastián Hattori (CR Ciencias) 26, New Cap
Ignacio Martín (Gran Parma RC, Italy) 24, 22
Manuel Mazo (CR Ciencias) 23, 10
Marco Pinto (Clermont Auvergne, France) 20, New Cap
Javier Salazar (CRC Madrid) 31, 53
César Sempere (CRC Madrid) 23, 30
Sergio Souto (Cetransa El Salvador) 31, 42
Julien Tortoulou (Colomiers RC, France) 24, 5
Matías Tudela (CRC Madrid) 24, 1
Head Coach: Ged Glynn

Adapted from http://www.ferugby.com/documento_index.php?volver=si&titulo=null&fichero=/noticias/2008-2009/11-noviembre/CONVOCATORIA%20Rusia%208%20nov-2008.pdf
Stats from http://www.rugbyinternational.net/
Extra data from Andrés Domínguez, Gabinete de Prensa, Federación Española de Rugby

For a full list of all Spain's and Russia's rugby test results go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/