Test Match: Ukraine v Belgium

01.11.2008
Ukraine v Belgium in Brussels (WCQ Euro.R2, ENC 2A)

Previews
Belgium is one of the rising stars in European rugby. An active rugby union has promoted the Argentine rugby team to play in Brussels just prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup and a star-studded British Barbarians team earlier this year. Hand-in-hand has been the gradual rise of the Belgian National team over the past few seasons. Just pipped last season by the Germans, who were promoted to Division 1, Belgium should be in the running to gain promotion mid-2010 after the two rounds in ENC 2A.

The Ukraine were relegated from Division 1 in 2006. They struggled in this division last season but were well clear of relegation. They lost out twice to Belgium over the two rounds. It remains to be seen if they will threaten the leaders at this level. Saturday should give us a clear indication.

Previous Encounters
24.11.2007 Belgium 18-15 in Feodosia (ENC 2A)
04.11.2006 Belgium 24-11 in Brussels (ENC 2A)
13.10.2001 Ukraine 21-10 in Kiev (FIRA/WCQ Euro. R2, Pool A)
18.10.1997 Ukraine 48-5 in Kiev (WCQ Euro. Pool 2, Rnd B)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Belgium 14th, Ukraine 16th

Prediction: Belgium by 14 points.

Teams

Belgium
15 Alan Williams (Castres, France)
14 David Nemsadze (Domont, France)
13 Dirk Haghedooren (Lille, France)
12 Aurélien Decerf (Arras, France)
11 Thibaut Andre (Soignies)
10 Simon Marote (Arras, France)
9 Julien Berger (Stade Rochelais, France)
8 Mathew Hocken (Brussels Barbarians RFC)
7 Charles Fourneau (Lille, France)
6 Denis Eppe (Rugby Ottignies Club)
5 Mathieu Verschelden (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)
4 Damien Godefroy, Capt. (Lille, France)
3 Alain Miriallakis (St.Nazaire, France)
2 Thomas Dienst (Lyon, France)
1 Julien Massimi (Arras, France)
Replacements
16 Dris Bovijn (?)
17 Norman Wende (Rouen, France)
18 James Mulumba (Domont, France)
19 Cyril Nana (Lille, France)
20 Bertrand Billi (?)
21 Kevin Williams (Arras, France)
22 Jérôme Cauwe (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)

http://www.rugby.be/
http://www.sportkipik.be/articles.php?id_article=6448

For a list of all Belgium's test results go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/

Ukraine
15 Vyacheslav Ponomarenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
14 Maxim Kravchenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
13 Gela Gigidze (RC Kredo 63)
12 Ruslan Tserkovniy (RC Kredo 63)
11 Sergey Garkaviy (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
10 Sergey Tserkovniy (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
9 Sergei Yanchiy (RC Aviator)
8 Vitaly Orlov (RC Aviator)
7 Vitaly Zadvirny (RC Argo-NAU)
6 Jaba Malaguradze (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
5 Alexander Lomakin (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
4 Vyacheslav Krasilnik (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
3 Sergey Bubela (RC Obolon-University)
2 Nikolai Kirsanov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
1 Sergei Sukhikh (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Replacements
16 Litvinenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
17 Oleg Valyus (RC Kredo 63)
18 Alexander Tsapenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
19 Vladimir Kashlyuk (RC Aviator)
20 Sivko (RC Epokha-Polytechnic)
21 Talatov (Sokol)
22 Alexander Kulgan (RC Epokha-Polytechnic) or Maslyannik (Rotherham Titans?,England)
Head Coach: S. Mina

Thanks to Zhulavskyy at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2889

For a list of all Ukraine's rugby tests go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/