EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP 1A: Ukraine v Romania

31.03.2012
Ukraine v Romania in Bucharest (ENC 1A)

Venue: Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf

Referee: Not available

Preview
Very little is hinging on this test match. Ukraine are guaranteed relegation despite their win over Portugal last weekend. Romania cannot catch Georgia at the top of the 2010-12 ladder nor can they catch Georgia who are at the top of the 2012 ENC 1A championship.

Neither team are selecting their best squads. Ukraine has up to six players unavailable from their winning side last weekend, whilst Romania have selected only one player based in France, blooding a number of local players.

Last Five Encounters
20.08.2011 Romania 41-16 in Kiev (ENC 1A)
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)

Romania Last Five
17.03.2012 v Spain L 12-13 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
10.03.2012 v Georgia L 13-19 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 v Russia W 25-0 in Sochi (ENC 1A)
04.02.2012 v Portugal W 15-7 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
28.09.2011 v Georgia W 25-9 in Palmerston North (World Cup, Pool B)

Ukraine Last Five
17.03.2012 v Portugal W 35-33 in Odessa (ENC 1A)
10.03.2012 v Russia L 19-38 in Sochi (ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 v Spain L 6-41 in Alushta (ENC 1A)
19.03.2011 v Portugal L 24-46 in Lisbon (ENC 1A)
12.03.2011 v Russia L 5-41 in Odessa (ENC 1B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Ukraine 7th, Romania 11th

IRB Ranking Points
Romania 63.81, Ukraine 53.95

Prediction: Romania by 33 points

Teams

Ukraine Squad
Nicolas Deliergiev (RC Kredo-63)
Vadyslav Demetskyi
Dmitri Fedyshyn (RC Kredo-63)
Vladyslav Hrabovskyy
Sergii Iermolenko
Zourab Kikacheishvili (RC Kredo-63)
Nikolaï Kirsanov (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Vitaliy Kramarenko (RC Kredo-63)
Maxim Kravchenko (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Artem Kulik (Eger Kiev)
Oleg Lytvynenko
Dennis Masyukovy (RC Kredo-63)
Denis Milov (RC Kredo-63)
Sergius Monastiryov (RC Kredo-63)
Aleksander Polanski (RC Kredo-63)
Vyacheslav Ponomarenko (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Miroslav Shulyak (Obolon-University RC)
Alexander Tsapenko (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Sergey Tserkovniy (Olmyp-RSC KhTZ)
Alexander Tsyss
Edward Vertiletsky (RC Kredo-63)

Head Coach: Zaza Lezhava

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4039

Romania Squad

Forwards: Flavius DOBRE (Dinamo), Andrei URSACHE (Baia Mare), Mihai ADASCALITEI (Dinamo), Vlad BADALICESCU (Dinamo), Andrei RADOI (Baia Mare), Petre TAMBA (Dinamo), Cristian PETRE (Saint Etienne), Valentin POPARLAN (CSM Bucuresti), Marian DRENCEANU (Timisoara), Marius ANTONESCU (Dinamo), Mihai MACOVEI (Baia Mare), Daniel IANUS (Steaua), Viorel LUCACI (Steaua), Marian GORCIOAIA (Arad), Adrian ION (Dinamo), Marius DANILA (Baia Mare)

Backs: Valentin CALAFETEANU (Timisoara), Vlad AILENEI (Baia Mare), Florin SURUGIU (CSM Bucuresti), Florin VLAICU (Steaua), Ionut MAZARE (Arad), Csaba GAL (Baia Mare), Cristian DINIS (Baia Mare), Constantin GHEARA (Constanta), Madalin LEMNARU (Timisoara), Adrian APOSTOL (Constanta), Mihai ROSCA (Steaua), Ionut NIACSU (Baia Mare), Marian ISPIR (CSM Bucuresti)

Head Coach:Haralambie Dumitras

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4039&p=47101#p47101