IRB NATIONS CUP TEST RUGBY: Russia face Italy ‘A’

08.06.2012
Russia v Italy ‘A’ in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

Venue: Arch of Triumph Stadium

Referee:

Preview
Italy has sent a very inexperienced side to Bucharest. Only two players have experienced test rugby.

Russia are missing a few key players which is normal for this tournament. Russia usually struggles at this level. Their form since attending the 2011 Rugby World Cup has been less than impressive. With an experimental selection policy they have struggled, including a 0-46 hammering from Georgia. An interesting selection is Adam Byrnes from the Melbourne Rebels. Burns first played for Russia at the World Cup.

Previous Encounters
12.06.2012 Italy ‘A’ 24-19 in Worcester (Churchill Cup)
16.06.2009 Italy ‘A’ 35-3 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
11.06.2008 Italy ‘A’ 38-15 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
24.06.2006 Italy ‘A’ 32-29 in Lisbon (IRB Nations Cup)
18.11.1984 Italy XV 13-12 in L’Aquilla (FIRA A)

Russia Last Five

19.05.2012 v Spain W 41-37 in Moscow (ENC 1A)
17.03.2012 v Georgia L 0-46 in Tblissi (ENC 1A)
10.03.2012 v Ukraine W 38-19 in Sotchi (ENC 1A)
25.02.2012 v Romania L 0-25 in Sochi (ENC 1A)
11.02.2012 v Portugal W 33-32 in Lisbon (ENC 1A)

GWC Rugby Rankings and IRB points do not apply.

Prediction: Italy ‘A’ by 10 points

Teams

RUSSIA

15		Andrey Otrokov	Krasny Yar
14		Ivan Kotov
13		Dmitry Gerasimov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
12		Alexander Makovetsky	Krasny Yar
11		Mikhail Babaev	VVA-Podmoskovye
10		Sergey Sugrobov
9		Alexey Scherban
8		Victor Gresev	London Wasps, England
7		Pavel Butenko	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
6		Andrey Temnov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
5		Adam Byrnes
4		Alexander Voytov (Capt.)	VVA-Podmoskovye
3		Evgeny Pronenko	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
2		Stanislav Selsky
1		Vladimir Botvinnikov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
16		Sergey Popov	Slava Moscow
17		Alexey Volkov	VVA-Podmoskovye
18		Innokenty Zykov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
19		Paul Kvernadze	Spartak GM
20		Alexander Shakirov	VVA-Podmoskovye
21		Artem Fatahkov	VVA-Podmoskovye
22		Anton Ryabov	Krasny Yar
		HEAD COACH: Kingsley Jones

ITALY ‘A’
Team yet to be announced