CROATIA v LITHUANIA : World Cup Qualifying Europe R3; ENC 2A

27.04.2013

Venue: Vingio regbio stadione, Vilnius

Referee: Vladimir Volovik (Russia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
NETHERL.	4	4	0	0	125	57	68	2	0	18
SWITZ.	4	3	0	1	92	75	17	1	0	13
MALTA	4	1	0	3	74	104	-30	1	1	6
CROATIA	3	1	0	2	64	77	-13	1	0	5
LTHUANIA	3	0	0	3	54	95	-41	0	0	0

Preview
Although this rugby test match is officially a World Cup qualifying match neither team will take further part in the qualifying process. The Netherlands, who topped this division’s points table, has already qualified for the next round. For both teams it’s about surviving in this division.

Both sides hold up the bottom of the points table. Relegation is not decided until the end of the next round, played 2013-14. It is vital to both sides that they win and haul themselves up the table.

Lithuania has slipped somewhat from the heady days when they held the world record for most consecutive wins in test rugby and gained promotion twice over two competitions in the European Nations Cup competition. They have found this division tough. Their fame drew players away to English clubs a lucrative contracts. Getting players released for this season’s games has been difficult.

Looking at the Lithuanian squad just received they look to have a full squad. I expect them to be very difficult to defeat at home. With their backs to the wall the Lithuanians will want to end the season on a high note.

Croatia has pushed competition leaders Netherlands and Switzerland in recent games and could well gain a valuable away win in the Baltic republic.

Previous Encounters
05.05.2012 Lithuania 28-26 in Vilnius (ENC 2A)
07.05.2011 Lithuania 29-12 in Split (ENC 2A)

Lithuania Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
13.04.2013 v Switzerland L 21-37 in Nyon (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
10.11.2012 v Netherlands L 16-24 in Vilnius (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
03.11.2012 v Malta L 17-34 in Valletta (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
05.05.2012 v Croatia W 28-26 in Vilnius (ENC 2A)
28.04.2012 v Latvia W 48-8 in Riga (ENC 2A)

Croatia Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
20.04.2013 v Netherlands L 24-29 in Zagreb (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
03.11.2012 v Switzerland L 20-29 in Nyon (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
27.10.2012 v Malta W 20-19 in Makarska (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
26.05.2012 v Andorra W 44-8 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2A Playoff)
05.05.2012 v Lithuania L 26-28 in Vilnius (ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Lithuania 22nd, Croatia 23rd

IRB Ranking Points
Lithuania 46.77, Croatia 46.74

Prediction: Lithuania by 14 points

TEAMS

Croatia Squad

Ayoub (Australian Club)

Brown (New Zealand Club)

Bubrić (RK Nada)

Bulat (RK Mladost)

Burazin (RK Nada)

Buzov (RK Nada)

Čorić (RK Nada)

Čulić (RK Nada)

Draženović (RK Mladost)

Grčić (RK Sinj)

Ivančić (RK Nada)

Jurčević (RK Nada)

Jureško (RK Zagreb)

Jurišić (RK Mladost)

Lerotić (RK Nada)

Mijić (RK Zagreb)

Oxenham (RK Mladost)

Ožić (New Zealand Club)

Popović (RK Nada)

Sekovanec (RK Mladost)

Slaviček M. (RK Zagreb)

Tvrdić (RK Sinj)

Ujaković (Belgian Club)

http://www.nada-rugby.hr/nadanew/hrvatska/seniorirepka/1407-litva-hrvatska-najava.html

Lithuania Squad

1 Augustinas Terleckas (Vilnius VRA)

2 Ignas Darkintis (Ordizia RC, Spain)

3 Tomas Zuokas (Washington, USA)

4 Mindaugas Norvaišas (Lithuania exiles, London, UK)

5 Karolis Navickas (Bordeaux "Begles", France)

6 Vaidotas Gaubas (Šiauliai "BaltRex")

7 Andrius Martinskas (Enköpings RK, Sweden)

8 Nerijus Mačiulis (Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja")

9 Mindaugas Misevičius (Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja")

10 Kęstutis Marcišauskas (Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja")

11 Andrius Sutkus (Šiauliai "BaltRex")

12 Gediminas Marcišauskas (Peterborough Lions RUFC, England)

13 Mantautas Vilimavičius (Peterborough Lions RUFC, England)

14 Donatas Vilimavičius (Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja")

15 Justas Vasiliauskas (Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja")

16 Tomas Gabrielaitis (Šiauliai "BaltRex")

17 Justas Poškus (RK Šiauliai)

18 Julius Sutkus (Šiauliai "BaltRex")

19 Gediminas Švoba (Šiauliai "BaltRex")

20 Gediminas Liutkus (Enköpings RK, Sweden)

21 Evaldas Štitilis (Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja")

22 Mantas Maršantas (University of Derby, England)

23 Edmundas Grybauskas (Vilnius VRA)

Thanks to ‘Ignas Rugby.lt ‘ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4321