UKRAINE v POLAND

World Cup Qualifying, Europe R4. ENC 1B

30.03.2013

Venue: National Rugby Stadium, Gydnia

Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
GERMANY	4	3	0	1	118	72	46	3	0	15
UKRAINE	3	2	0	1	92	71	19	2	0	10
SWEDEN	3	2	0	1	86	46	40	1	0	9
POLAND	2	2	0	0	51	16	35	0	0	8
MOLDOVA	3	1	0	2	57	98	-41	1	0	5
CZECH REP.	5	0	0	5	56	157	-101	0	1	1

Preview
In this level of competition only Czech Republic look to be out of their depth. All the other teams are still in with a chance to lead this division at season’s end.

Poland is the only side undefeated in this division so far this season. They have a large contingent of France-based players. Coupled with the fact they are playing at home gives them two advantages over the Ukrainians.

The Ukraine were relegated from ENC 1A in 2012. They lost heavily to Germany in their first game at this level. They could not field their strongest side. But against the Czech Republic we saw them as a stronger unit and again against the promising Swedish side.

I expect this to be a tight hard-fought rugby test match between two sides who could either take out this championship. I favour the Poles to win narrowly.

Ukraine head coach Oleh Zalizny
Image thanks to http://rugby.org.ua

Last Five Encounters
12.09.2009 Ukraine 19-12 in Kiev (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
04.10.2008 Ukraine 13-12 in Lodz (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
25.10.2003 Ukraine 24-13 in Lodz (ENC 2A)
19.10.2002 Poland 20-11 in Kiev (ENC 2A)
19.05.2001 Ukraine 9-3 in ? (FIRA B)

Poland Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
03.11.2012 v Germany W 22-13 in Gdansk (WCQ Europe R 4; ENC 1B)
06.10.2012 v Czech Republic W 29-3 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
21.04.2012 v Netherlands W 32-19 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
07.04.2012 v Belgium L 13-20 in Brussels (ENC 1B)
19.11.2011 v Germany W 34-8 in Gdansk (ENC 1B)

Ukraine Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
27.10.2012 v Germany L 28-46 in Berlin (WCQ Europe R 4; ENC 1B)
17.11.2012 v Czech Rep. W 42-15 in Dnepropetrovsk (WCQ Euro.R4; ENC 1B
20.10.2012 v Sweden W 22-10 in Stockholm (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
31.03.2012 v Romania L 0-71 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
17.03.2012 v Portugal W 35-33 in Odessa (ENC 1A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Poland 9th, Ukraine 11th

IRB Ranking Points
Poland 56.91, Ukraine 53.80

Prediction: Poland by 5 points

TEAMS

Poland squad

Forwards

Mateusz Bartoszek (Givors, FRA),

Kamil Bobryk (CS Vienne, FRA),
Jean Boutes (CS Vienne, FRA),
Maciej Brażuk (Orkan Sochaczew),

Adrian Chróściel (Pogoń Siedlce),

Merab Gabunia (Budowlani S.A. Łódź),

Tomasz Hebda (Lechia Gdańsk),
Grzegorz Janiec (Romans, FRA),

Tom Jankowski (Bahrain RFC, UAE)

Thomas Kordzielewski (Castanet, FRA),

Michał Krużycki (Lechia Gdańsk),
Kacper Ławski (CS Vienne, FRA),

Eric Piorkowski (Rodez, FRA),

Thomas Pretkowski (Lille, FRA),

 

Backs:

Alexandre Beccuau (Beziers, FRA),

Romuald Berthe (Rouen, FRA),

Leandre Billaud (Beziers, FRA),
David Chartier (St Suplice, FRA).

Krzysztof Hotowski (Vichy, FRA),

Robert Pawelec (Pogoń Siedlce),

Dawid Popławski (Gaillac, FRA),
Cedric Vaissiere (Gaillac, FRA),
Tomasz Stepień (Arka Gdynia),

Łukasz Szostek (Arka Gdynia)

 

Non travelling reserves
Robert Andrzejczuk (Ark), Peter Zeszutek (cell Sopot), Mark Plonka (Lechia), Daniel Trybus (Posnania).

 
Head Coach: Tomas Putra

 

http://pzrugby.pl/?p=8414http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4287

Ukraine Squad

Sergey Cerkovny (RC Olymp Kharkov)
Ievgen Chaika (VVA Podmoskovye, Russia)
Nikolay Deliergiev (RC Kredo-63)
Vladislav Grabowski (Arka Gdynia, Poland)

Oleg Kosarev (RC Olymp Kharkov)
Nikolay Kirsanov (RC Olymp Kharkov)
Vitaly Kramarenko (RC Kredo-63)
Vlaceslav Krasilnik (VVA Podmoskovye, Russia)

Vitaly Krasnodemsky (Agro-Strela Kazan, Russia)

Maxim Kravchenko (RC Olymp Kharkov)
Alexander Lomakin (RC Olymp Kharkov)
Taras Marchenko (RC Kredo-63)
Denis Masjukov (RC Kredo-63)
Pavel Masjukov (RC Kredo-63)
Dimitry Mokretsov (Falcon Lviv)

Sergey Nikitin (RC Kredo-63)
Alexey Novokreschenov (?)

Vitaly Orlov (Enisey-STM, Russia)

Alexander Polyansky (RC Kredo-63)
Vyacheslav Ponomarenko (RC Olymp Kharkov)

Ruslan Radchuk (Agro-Strela Kazan, Russia)
Miroslav Shulyak (Obolon University)

Igor Sisnarenko (Agro-Strela Kazan, Russia)
Alexander Tsapenko (RC Olymp Kharkov)
Eduard Vertiletsky (RC Kredo-63)
Vitaly Volyanchuk (IV Circolo Benevento, Italy)

Sergey Yanchy (Bulava Taganrog)

 

Head Coach: Oleh Zalizny

 

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4287