INTERNATIONAL RUGBY: Poles To Face Moldovans

13.11.2010
Moldova v Poland in Gdansk (ENC 1B)

Venue: Narodowy Rugby Stadion.

Referee: Vadim Pikhovkin (Russia)

Preview
Moldova's rugby test last season against Poland in the same city was firstly postponed and then cancelled, following the death of the Polish president in a plane crash, which also killed the national head coach's brother. The Moldovan's return to do battle with the Poles in a competition with a new name-1B instead of 2A.

Poland will be without a few France-based players, whilst Modova will be without Alexei Cotruţă, one of their greatest players.

Poland lost its first game of the new season, 15-20 to Czech Republic away. This will be Moldova's first test match of the season.

Previous Encounters
16.05.2009 Poland 30-28 in Chisnau (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
08.04.2006 Moldova 27-13 in Sochaczew (WCQ Europe R3A, Pool A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Moldova 14th, Poland 17th

IRB Ranking Points
Moldova 51.60, Poland 50.90

Prediction: Moldova by 11 points

Teams

Poland squad
(to be reduced to 22)-Updated Saturday 13.11

Forwards
Fabien Kwarta (Morlass, France)
Sławomir Kaszuba (Lechia Gdansk)
Bastien Siepielski (Marmande, France)
Kamil Bobryk (Eperney, France)
Paweł Grabski (Budowlani Łódź)
Grzegorz Janiec (Lechia Gdańsk)
Michael Krużycki (Lyon, France)
Mateusz Bartoszek (Albi, France)
Kacper Ławski (Budowlani Łódź)
Michał Mirosz (Budowlani Łódź)
Paweł Dąbrowski (Arka Gdynia)
Paweł Nowak (Arka Gdynia)
Maciej Brażuk (Orkan Sochaczew)
Karol Hedesz (Lechia Gdansk)
Tomasz Gołąb (AZS AWF Warszawa)
Tom Jankowski (Ampthill RFC, England)

Backs:
Łukasz Szostek (Arka Gdynia)
Wojciech Łukasiewicz (Orkan Sochaczew)
Tomasz Stepień (Budowlani Łódź)
Dawid Banaszek (Villeurbanne, France)
Cedric Vaissiere (Albi, France)
Mariusz Wilczuk (Lechia Gdańsk)
Krzysztof Hotowski (Nevers, France)
Robert Kwiatkowski (Lechia Gdańsk)
Sergo Kvernadze (Arka Gydnia)

Added to squad mid week
Alexandre Beccuau, 20-year-old French player (RC Orleans)

Head Coach: Tomas Putra

Out with injury after selection to the squad
Piotr Jurkowski, Romuald Berthe

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3620

Moldova Squad
Dmitrii Arhip (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Victor Arhip (Farul Constanta, România)
Vitalie Baleca (USEFS Blumarine)
Andrian Baltag (Spartak, Russia)
Alexandru Breazu (R.C Ciorescu)
Alexandru Bulgac (Farul Constanta, România)
Nicolae Caburgan (USEFS Blumarine)
Sergiu Castraveţ (Spartak, Russia)
Nicolae Chirilă (Imperia Penza, Russia)
Vadim Cobîlaş (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)
Maxim Cobîlaş (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)
Ion Dascăl (USEFS Blumarine)
Alexandru Găgăuz (Spartak, Russia)
Roman Gobjîlă (CSU Arad, România)
Daniel Hîncu (Bârlad, România)
Veaceslav Lozinschi (USEFS Blumarine)
Alexandru Matveev (Farul Constanta, România)
Igor Orghianu (ASEM)
Oleg Prepeliţă (Spartak, Russia)
Andrei Romanov (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)
Veaceslav Titica (Krasny Yar, Russia)
Eduard Toderică (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Dumitru Vasilachi (RC Kredo 63, Ukraine)
Gheorghe Voloşciuc (USEFS Blumarine)
Head Coach:

http://rugby.md/index.php?pagina=7&articol=256

Alexei Cotruţă (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia) one of Moldova’s great players, is missing.