TEST RUGBY: ENC Match for Romania

20.08.2011
Romania v Ukraine in Lvov (ENC 1A)

Venue: Youth Stadium

Referee:

Preview
This rugby test match has been carried over from ENC 1A 2010-11. The test match was not played as scheduled in February due to a frozen pitch. In the Ukraine autumn it is all lovely and green so no weather problems. For Romania it is a timely warm-up match before the travel to New Zealand for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Not considered by Romania for this match from the squad of 31 who have been preparing for the 2011 Rugby World Cup are, Valentin Urasche, Ional Cazan, Csaba Gal and Marius Tincu.

Romania has had a better run up to this game than Ukraine. The Romanians took part in the IRB Nations Cup in June in Bucharest, defeating Namibia 13-11, losing to eventual competition winners South Africa Kings 23-27 and finally losing 13-37 to Argentina Jaguars, a disappointing result.

The Ukraine has not played since March. Their 2011 record in the four ENC 1A matches played were; lost 3-62 to Georgia, 13-35 to Spain, 5-41 to Russia and 24-46 to Portugal. These are not encouraging results. Hopefully new coach Lezhava, a Georgian who played test rugby in the 90s, will have made some impact.

I’d expect Romania to win comfortably.

Last Five Encounters
05.06.2010 Romania 61-7 in Bucharest (WCQ Europe R5, Semi-final 2)
2205.2010 Romania 33-3 in Kiev (WCQ Europe R5, Semi-final 1)
03.06.2006 Romania 58-0 in Kiev (ENC 1)
19.03.2005 Romania 97-0 in Bucharest (ENC 1)
30.05.1998 Romania 39-17 (WCQ Europe Pool 2, Round B)

The above are all the test matches played between these two nations.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Romania 8th, Ukraine 17th

IRB Ranking Points
Romania 65.57, Ukraine 53.34

Prediction: Romania by 46 points

Teams

Ukraine Squad

Nicolas Deliergiev (RC Kredo-63)
Dmitri Fedyshyn (RC Kredo-63)
Sergueï Garkavy (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
George Gegidze (RC Kredo-63)
Vlad Grabowski (Sokol Lviv)
Zourab Kikacheishvili (RC Kredo-63)
Nikolaï Kirsanov (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Oleg Kosarev (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Vyacheslav Krasil'nik (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Vitaly Krasnodemsky (RC Kredo-63)
Sergueï Kravtchenko (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Roman Kulakivsky (RC Kredo-63)
Alexander Lomakin (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Jaba Malaguradze (RC Kredo-63)
Taras Marchenko (Aviator Kiev)
Dennis Masyukovy (RC Kredo-63)
Paul Masyukovy (RC Kredo-63)
Denis Milov (RC Kredo-63)
Alex Novokreschenov (RC Kredo-63)
Vitaly Orlov (Enisey-STM (Russia)
Aleksander Polanski (RC Kredo-63)
Vyacheslav Ponomarenko (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Rusalan Radchuk (RC Kredo-63)
Eugène Tchaïka (RC Kredo-63)
Edward Vertiletsky (RC Kredo-63)
Ivan Zaliznyak (Olmyp Kharkov)
Sergueï ?(sec) (Olmyp Kharkov)
Sergei ? (Eglise) (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Head Coach: Zaza Lezhava

Romania Squad
Stelian Burcea (Timisoara)
Daniel Carpo (Farul Constanta)
Dragos Dima (Blagnac, France)
Ionut Dimofte (Baia Mare)
Danut Dumbrava (Steaua Bucaresti)
Iulian Dumitras (Lourdes, France)
Catalin Fercu (Timisoara)
Constantin Gheara (Farul Constanta)
Mihaita Lazar (Aix en Provence, France)
Paulica Ion (London Irish, England)
Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara)
Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare)
Nicolae Nere (Steaua Bucarest)
Catalin Nicolae (Farul Constanta)
Cristian Petre, Capt. (Saint Etienne, France)
Valentin Poparlan (CSM Bucuresti)
Andrei Radoi (Baia Mare)
Cosmin Ratiu (Dinamo Bucaresti)
Lucian Sirbu (Millau, France)
Florin Surugiu (CSM Bucuresti)
Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan, France)
Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucaresti)
Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucaresti)
Head Coach: Romeo Gontineac