CZECH REPUBLIC v POLAND: World Cup Qualifying, Europe Round 4; ENC 1B

12.10.2013

Venue: Stadion Polonii, Warsaw

Referee: Frank Himmer (Germany)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
GERMANY	5	4	0	1	191	89	102	4	0	20
MOLDOVA	5	3	0	2	119	136	-17	2	0	14
POLAND	5	3	0	2	95	71	24	0	1	13
SWEDEN	5	3	0	2	122	130	-8	1	0	13
UKRAINE	5	2	0	3	122	123	-1	2	1	11
CZECH REP.	5	0	0	5	56	157	-101	0	1	1

Preview
The Czech Republic are well out of this competition and look to be heading down to Division 2A for 2014-16. The Czech’s are struggling to lineup their French contingent so will be well below usual strength.

‘Notably absent are France based players like Martin Jagr, Ondřej Kutil, Tomaš Holovsky, Lukas Rapant, Mirek Nemecek and Roman Šuster; and Aaron Radley is a new name’.

Poland on the other hand have everything to play for. They began the second round of this competition with a good 30-9 win over Sweden at home last month. Poland defeated the Czech Republic 29-3 in Prague when they last met this time last year.The Poles will simply have too much clout for their neighbours.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Poland 10th, Czech Republic 19th

IRB Ranking Points
Poland 55.64, czech Republic 46.11

Prediction: Poland by 40 points

TEAMS

Czech Republic Squad

1st Row: Lukas Machaček (RC Haviřov), Zbynek Šroubek, Tomaš Heller (both Slavia Praha), Vojtech Mara (RC Tatra Smichov), Jan Kovař (Jimi RC Vyškov);

2nd Row: Robert Voves, Jiři Frank (both RC Praga), Radim Backa (RC Přelouč);

3rd Row: Jiři Černy (RC Tatra Smichov), Karel Nešpor, Josef Manak (both Slavia Praha), Aaron Radley (Chinnor RFC - ENG), Marek Loutocky (Sparta Praha), Ondřej Kovař, Martin Pořizek, Petr Pořizek (all Jimi RC Vyškov);

Scrum-halves: Zbynek Schütz (RC Dragon Brno), Vakhtang Pailodze (Sparta Praha), Marek Siran (TJ Sokol Marianske Hory);

No 10s: Petr Čižek (RC Praga), Martin Kovař (Jimi RC Vyškov);

Threequarters: Pavel Vokrouhlik, Martin Schneider (both Sparta Praha), Jan Tieber (RC Dragon Brno), Jan Kolař, Michal Jirman (both Slavia Praha), Jakub Fuchs (RC Praga).

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4379

Poland Squad

Forwards – Sławomir Kaszuba, Rafał Witoszyński, Cyprian Majcher, Marek Płonka (Lechia Gdańsk); Rafał Kwiatkowski, Karol Perzak, Paweł Dąbrowski (Arka Gdynia); Stanisław Niedźwiecki (Budowlani Lublin); Adrian Chróściel (Pogoń Siedlce), Bartosz Szypura (Posnania Poznań), Kamil Bobryk (Vienne), Grzegorz Janiec (St. Etienne), Michał Krużycki (Rouen), Craig Bachurzewski, Mateusz Bartoszek (Glasgow Hawks);

Scrum-halves – Rafał Janeczko (Lechia Gdańsk), Łukasz Szostek (Arka Gdynia);

No 10s – Dawid Banaszek (Arka Gdynia), Dawid Lorentowicz (Pogoń Siedlce);

Threequarters – Mariusz Wilczuk, Tomasz Rokicki, Piotr Jurkowski (Lechia Gdańsk); Rafał Szrejber, Radosław Rakowski, Szymon Sirocki, Tomasz Stępień (Arka Gdynia); Robert Pawelec, Tomasz Gasik (Pogoń Siedlce).

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4379