TEST RUGBY: Russia Meets Ukraine

12.03.2011
Russia v Ukraine in Odessa (ENC 1A)

Venue: Spartak Stadium

Referee: E.Gauzins (France)

Preview
The temperature in Odessa has struggled to reach zero this week and the stadium has been covered to protect the surface. These two nations find themselves holding up the competition ladder at the rear. The Ukraine has a game in hand but has lost both whilst Russia has a win and two losses. For the Ukraine promotion back into ENC 1A has brought the same difficulties and disappointments that caused its relegation. To add to their woes their rugby union president resigned in January.

Russia’s form has been of some concern. With an appearance at the 2011 Rugby World Cup (a first finals tournament for the Russians) only some months away, their form does not gender much confidence. The standard of their play is poor, which contrasts to that of 2009. They started the competition with a narrow win over Spain but since has lost narrowly to Portugal and heavily to Romania. Coach Nerush has taken the opportunity to rest players and try some new combinations. A good win here in Odessa is crucial to regaining some confidence and to start a proper build up to the finals.

For the Ukraine this match at home is an opportunity to gain some confidence and give a much-changed and below-strength Russia side a fright. A win to Ukraine would be a huge upset but cannot be ruled out. They have nothing to lose!

Ukraine face an uphill struggle against the Russians.

Last Five Encounters
30.09.2006 Russia 37-17 in Moscow (WCQ Europe R4, Playoff 2nd leg)
23.09.2006 Russia 25-11 in Odessa (WCQ Europe R4, Playoff 1st Leg)
27.05.2006 Russia 55-12 in Kiev (ENC 1)
11.06.2005 Russia 72-0 in Moscow (ENC 1)
18.09.1999 Russia 71-5 in Krasnoyarsk (FIRA B)

Russia Last Five
26.02.2011 v Romania L 3-33 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
12.02.2011 v Portugal L 19-21 in Sotchi (ENC 1A)
05.02.2011 v Spain W 28-24 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
06.11.2010 v Japan L 3-75 in Tokyo (Friendly)
19.06.2010 v Uruguay W 38-19 in Harrison (Churchill Cup, Playoff 5th-6th)

Ukraine Last Five
26.02.2011 v Spain L 13-35 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
05.02.2011 v Georgia L 3-62 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
05.06.2010 v Romania L 7-61 in Bucharest (WCQ Europe R5, semi-final 2nd leg)
22.05.2010 v Romania L 3-33 in Kiev (WCQ Europe R5, Semi-final 1st leg)
08.05.2010 v Lithuania W 27-16 in Sialuiaia (WCQ Europe R4, Final)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Russia 10th, Ukraine 17th

IRB Ranking Points
Russia 63.40, Ukraine 53.86

Prediction: Russia by 15 points

Teams

Ukraine Squad
Ievgen Chaika (RC Kredo 63)
Sergii Garkavyi (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
George Gegidze (RC Kredo 63)
Andriy Golishchyev (RC Imperia Penza, Russia)
Sergii Ianchyi (RC Aviator)
Zurab Kikacheishvili (RC Kredo 63)
Mykola Kirsanov, Capt. (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Oleg Kosariev (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Vitaliy Krasnodemskyi (RC Aviator)
Maksim Kravchenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Viacheslav Krasylnyk (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Roman Kulakivskyi (RC Kredo 63)
Oleksandr Lomakin (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Jaba Malaguradze (RC Kredo 63)
Sergiy Manzhos (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Denys Masiukov (RC Kredo 63)
Pavlo Masiukov (RC Kredo 63)
Oleksandr Mishynov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Sergiy Monastyrov (RC Kredo 63)
Oleksii Novokreshchenov (RC Kredo 63)
Vitaliy Orlov (RC Enisey-Stm, Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Oleksandr Polianskyi (RC Kredo 63)
Vyacheslav Ponomarenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Ruslan Radchuk (RC Kredo 63)
Igor Snisarenko RC Olimp-Electromash, Tiraspol)
Sergii Sukhikh (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Oleksandr Tsapenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Sergiy Tserkovniy (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Eduard Vertiletskyi (RC Kredo 63)
Ivan Zaliznyak (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)

Russia
15. Igor Klyuchnikov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
14. Vasily Artemiev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
13. Andrey Kuzin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
12. Alex Makovetsky (Krasny Yar)
11. Vladimir Ostroushko (Yug Krasnodar)
10. Konstantin Rachkov (Mountauban, France)
9. Alexander Shakirov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
8. Vyacheslav Grachev
7. Artem Fatakhov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
6. Andrew Temnov (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
5. Andrew Garbuzov (Krasny Yar)
4. Alexander Voytov (VVA-Podmoskovje)
3. Ivan Prischepenko (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk)
2. Vladislav Korshunov, Capt. (VVA-Podmoskovje)
1. Sergei Popov (Slava Moskow)
Replacements
16. Alexander Khrokin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
17. Alex Travkin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
18. Yevgeny Matveyev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
19. Alex Panasenko (VVA-Podmoskovje)
20. Alexander Yanyushkin (VVA-Podmoskovje)
21. Yuri Kushnarev (VVA-Podmoskovje)
22. Igor Galinovsky (Krasny Yar)
Head Coach: Nikolay Nerush

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3719&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0