TEST RUGBY: Czechs Hosts Belgians in Major Rugby Test

13.11.2010
Belgium v Czech Republic in Prague (ENC 1B)

Venue: Stadion Tatra Smíchov

Referee: R.Petrescu (Romania)

Preview
Both the Czech Republic and Belgium are going the way of other top European Continental rugby nations, like Georgia and Romania, in that a growing number of their players are now based in French clubs. The November window of international rugby allows these players to play for their nations. Saturdays game will include a considerable number of French-based players.

In recent years these encounters have been close; a draw in Brussels in 2009 and a close win to Belgium in Prague in April of this year.

Both teams have already had a run a round on the paddock. The Czechs defeated Poland 20-15 earlier in October whilst Belgium lost 12-43 to a young Canadian side last weekend. With a full compliment of players this should be a very even contest between two teams who could, at the end of 2012 find themselves competing for a place in the top division of The European Nations Cup.

This will be one of the most interesting of games in the European Nations Cup tournament for the season.

Belgium defeated The Czech Republic in Prague earlier in the year.

Last Five Encounters
03.04.2010 Belgium 19-16 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
14.03.2009 Drawn 15-15 in Brussels (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
22.09.2001 Czech Republic 46-3 in Prague (WCQ Europe R2, Pool A)
15.04.2000 Czech Republic 28-23 in Prague (FIRA C)
27.05.1995 Belgium 32-13 in Brussels (FIRA Qualifying)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Czech Republic 24th, Belgium 31st*
* Note-Belgium has just entered the world table after their game v Canada last weekend.
Europe Table-Czech Republic 13th, Belgium 16th

IRB Ranking Points
Belgium 55.36, Czech Republic 53.12

Prediction: Czech Republic by 4 points

Teams

Cezch Republic
15 Jan Rohlík (RC Říčany)
14 Martin Jágr (Union Bordeaux-Begles, France)
13 Jan Kolář (RC Slavia Praha)
12 Petr Okleštěk (RK Petrovice)
11 Michal Jirman (RC Slavia Praha)
10 Pavel Vokrouhlík (RC Sparta Praha)
9 Haiden Roche (Civil Service RFC, England)
8 Karel Opravil (RC Říčany)
7 Miroslav Němeček (Oyonnax, France)
6 Martin Wognitsch (Oyonnax, France)
5 Robert Voves (Narbonne, France)
4 Tomáš Holovský (St. Rafael. France)
3 Jan Benda (RC Sparta Praha)
2 Ondřej Kutil (Annecy, France)
1 Roman Šuster, Capt. (Aurillac, France)
Replacements
16 Lukáš Rapant (Oyonnax, France)
17 Michal Průša (RC Tatra Smíchov)
18 Pavel Hocke (RC Tatra Smíchov)
19 Jiří Černý (RC Tatra Smíchov)
20 Vachtang Pailodze (RC Sparta Praha)
21 Petr Čížek (RC Praga)
22 Irakli Sulamanidze (RC Sparta Praha)
Head Coach: Martin Kafka

http://www.ragby.cz/cesky-tym-v-silne-sestave-proti-belgii

Belgium Squad
Aurélien Batardy (Soignies)
Julien Berger (La Rochelle, France)
Jérôme Cauwe (ASUB)
Bram Coupe (Dendermonde)
Christophe Debaty (Limoges, France)
Thomas Dienst (Lille, France)
Noam Dubart (BUC)
Denis Eppe (ROC Ottignies)
Charlie Fourneau (Lille, France)
Denis Franquin (Boitsfort)
Sébastien Guns (Boitsfort)
Dirk Haghedooren (Agde)
Julien Hanchir (Millau, France)
Pierre Hendrikx (Boitsfort)
Maxime Jadot (Pau, France)
Daniel Janssens (Chateaubriant, France)
Julien Massimi (Saint-Etienne, France)
Nicolas Meeus (Kituro)
Cyril Nana (Anderlecht)
Andrew Neal (Tournefeuille, France)
Romain Orban (Kituro)
Pierre Plasman (Dendermonde)
Frédéric Rongé (Kituro)
Bastian Vermeylen (Boitsfort)
Norman Wende (Saint-Etienne, France)
Head Coach: Richard McClintock

http://www.sportkipik.be/rugbynatio.php

Out
Thibaut André (Soignies)
Damien Godefroy (Marcq-en-Baroeul, France)
Damien Veraghen (Coq Mosan, France)
Mathieu Verschelden (ASUB)
Alan Williams (Montluçon, France)-didn’t play v Canada

In
Bram Coupe (Dendermonde)
Noam Dubart (BUC)
Denis Franquin (Boitsfort)
Cyril Nana (Anderlecht)-back after a year off the scene