TEST RUGBY: Germans Need To Lift

02.04.2011
Germany v Moldova in Chisnau (ENC 1B)

Venue: Dinamo Stadium

Referee: R.Petrescu (Romania)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
BELGIUM	4	3	0	1	93	70	23	0	1	13
CZECH R.	5	3	0	2	102	99	3	0	1	13
MOLDOVA	3	2	0	1	65	61	4	1	0	9
POLAND	4	2	0	2	90	94	-4	0	1	9
GERMANY	5	1	0	4	115	117	-2	0	4	8
NETH.	2	0	0	2	23	54	-31	0	0	0

Table from www.rugbyinternational.net

Preview
This middle of the table clash between Germany and Moldova is crucial for both teams. Moldova has matches in hand, having only lost a game, but needs a win to stay within reach of Belgium and Czech Republic, the competition leaders. Germany has disappointed since its relegation from the top division and needs a win to stay away from the bottom of the table.

Germany arrived in Chisinau without a few of its top players. Playing away is a struggle anyway without the loss of key players. They will struggle.

Moldova is shaping to be a major threat again in this competition. They failed after a promising start in the previous ENC 2A but eventually struggled. They defeated Ukraine last season who were promoted so, at their best, and especially at home, they are a formidable unit.

Previous Encounters
24.11.2007 Germany 34-5 in Heidelberg (ENC 2A)
11.11.2006 Moldova 26-24 in Chisinau (ENC 2A)
13.11.2004 Germany 27-18 in Chisinau (WCQ Europe R2; Pool B)

Germany Last Five
19.03.2011 v Belgium L 25-28 in Brussels (ENC 1B)
12.03.2011 v Czech Republic L 23-29 in Heidelberg (ENC 1B)
11.12.2010 v Hong Kong W 34-13 in Heidelberg (Friendly)
27.11.2010 v Netherlands W 29-10 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
20.11.2010 v Poland L 17-22 in Frankfurt (ENC 1B)

Last Five Moldova
19.03.2011 v Czech Republic W 24-16 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
12.02.2011 v Belgium L 5-20 in Brussels (ENC 1B)
13.11.2010 v Poland W 36-25 in Gdansk (ENC 1B)
24.04.2010 v Ukraine W 28-19 in Anenii-Na (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
14.11.2009 v Czech Republic W 45-30 in Chisinau (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Germany 14th, Moldova 15th

IRB Ranking Ranking Points
Moldova 53.42, Germany 52.43

Prediction: Moldova by 10 points

Teams

Germany Squad
Daniel Armitage (Heidelberger RK)
Felix Bayer (TSV Handschuhsheim)*
Kehoma Brenner (Heidelberger RK)
Anjo Buckman (Heidelberger RK)*
Guillaume Franke (RC Orleans, France)
Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg)
Alexander Hauck (SC Frankfurt 1880)
Fabian Heimpel (RG Heidelberg)
Bastian Himmer ((RG Heidelberg)#
Lukas Hinds-Johnson (RK Berlin 03)*
Alexander Hug (TSV Handschuhsheim)
Pieter Jordaan (Heidelberger RK)
Timothy Kasten (Heidelberger RK)
Jannis Läpple (SC Frankfurt 1880)
Steffen Liebig (Heidelberger RK)
Tim Menzel (US Colomiers, France)
Gilles Pagnon (RC Draguignan, France)
Rafael Pyrasch (Heidelberger RK)#
Gilles Valette (Cahors, France) *
Sven-Uwe Wetzel (TSV Handschuhsheim)
Alexander Widiker, Capt. (Heidelberger RK)
Arthur Zeiler (Heidelberger RK)
Head Coach: Torsten Schippe
* Added to squad
# Added late to replace those withdrawn

Not selected from v Belgium
Benjamin Krause (DSV Hannover 78)
Robert Mohr (La Rochelle, France)
Patrick Schliwa (Heidelberger RK)
Marten Strauch (SC Neuenheim)

Late withdrawls
Mathieu Franke (RC Orleans, France)-work
Benjamin Simm (DSV Hannover 78)-injury

Adapted from http://www.totalrugby.de/content/view/3680/37/

Moldova Squad

Fullbacks:

Eugen Ghicu (USEFS Blumarine)

Alexandru Matveev (USEFS Blumarine)

 

Wings:

Mihai Gheorghieş (UTM Chişinău)

Veaceslav Lozinschi (USEFS Blumarine)

 

Centre:

Andrian Baltag (RC Lokomotiv “Spartak’’ Russia)

Vitalie Baleca (USEFS Blumarine)

Alexandru Bulgac (USEFS Blumarine)

Roman Cobjîlă (CSM Arad, Romania)

 

Fly-halves:

Octavian Manoli (UTM Chişinău)

Alexandru Gagăuz (RC Lokomotiv “Spartak’’ Russia)

Alexandru Breazu (R.C.Ciorescu)

 

Scrum-Half:

Nicolae Chirilă (Imperia Penza, Russia)

Nicolae Caburgan (USEFS Blumarine)

Eduard Toderică (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)

 

3rd Row:

Victor Arhip ((Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)

Oleg Prepeliţă (RC Lokomotiv “Spartak’’ Russia)

Sergiu Castraveţ (RC Lokomotiv “Spartak’’ Russia)

Alexandru Colţ (Olimp-Electromaş,Tiraspol)

 

2nd Row:

Andrei Romanov (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)

Veaceslav Titica (Krasny Yar, Russia)

Maxim Gargalîc (ASEM Chişinău)

Andrei Mahu (ASEM Chişinău)

 

Props:

Vadim Cobîlaş (Sale Sharks, England)

Maxim Cobîlaş  (VVA-Podmoskovje, Russia)

Gheorghe Gajion (UTM Chişinău)

Igor Orghianu (ASEM Chişinău )

Anaton Bajutin (Olimp-Electromaş,Tiraspol)

 

Hookers:

Dumitru Vasilachi (RC Kredo 63, Ukraine)

Dumitru Arhip (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)

Ion Dascal (USEFS Blumarine)

Head Coach:

Adapted from http://www.rugby.md/index.php?pagina=7&articol=328