RUSSIA v SPAIN WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A

01.02.2014

Venue: Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid

Image thanks to ‘4N’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4474

Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)

Preview
This could be the closest contest of all the ENC 1A fixtures this weekend.

Russia has been struggling since the 2011 Rugby World Cup and may well find Spain a tough customer at home. Russia struggled in their November tests but this team is very different from the November one.

Spain’s form during the November test window was not encouraging. They lost 15-16 to Uruguay away and 7-40 to Japan at home. Again they are  relying an a big France-based contingent.

Comments
”Bad news for Spain with the big loss of Julen Goia from the original squad. Clearly a breach in Rule 9.
Fabien Rofes is also out. Pierre Belzunce (Colomiers) and Anthony Pradalie (Villefranche de Lauragais) are in.
Pradalie addition is a must. He will just trash his Russian opponent. Spanish first row will be a nightmare for Russia.
Sempere comes in at center. Dan Snee finally starts at fly-half. Poggi (centre with Lormont) returns to the wing.
Elgoyhen finally on the bench for Matt Cook.
Really big forwards, really big team. Considering Russia's downfall, Spain can't lose this one.” Olivier

Previous Encounters
02.02.2013 Russia 13-9 in Sochi (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
19.05.2012 Russia 41-37 in Moscow (ENC 1A)
05.02.2011 Russia 28-24 in Madrid (ENC 1A)
13.02.2010 Russia 38-20 in Madrid (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
08.11.2008 Russia 42-15 in Moscow (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Russia 19th, Spain 22nd

IRB Ranking Points
Russia 61.14, Spain 60.62

Prediction: Spain to cause a minor upset and finally win against Russia, by 4 points.

Teams

Spain

15		Mathieu Peluchon	SC Albigeois, France
14		Sebastien Ascarat	FC Auch-Gers, France
13		César Sempere	CR El Salvador
12		Jaime Nava	US Bressane Paus I'Ain, France
11		Marcos Poggi	CA Lormont, France
10		Daniel Snee	Getxo RT
9		Pablo Feijóo (Capt.)	Bera Bera RT
8		Federico Negrillo	RC Vanes, France
7		Matthew Cook	Tunbridge Wells RFC, England
6		Gautier Gibouin	Union Bordeaux-Begles, France
5		Jesús Recuerda	Pays D'Aix RC
4		David Barrera	RAC Angerein, France
3		Jesús Moreno	Montluçon Rugby, France
2		Marcos Pinto	AS Béziers Hérault, France
1		Franck Labbe	CA Lormont, France
16		Beñat Auzqui	Unión Bordeaux-Belges, France
17		Augustin Ortiz	US Nafarroa, France
18		Anthony Pradalie	FC Villefranche de Lauragais, Fr
19		Aníbal Bonan	Stade Bagnerais, France
20		Damien Elgoyhen	Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
21		Guillaume Rouet	Aviron Bayonnais, France
22		Charly Malie	AS Béziers Hérault, France
23		Pierre Belzunce	Pierre Colomiers Rugby
		HEAD COACH: Santiago Santos

Russia

15		Vasily Artemyev	Northampton Saints, England
14		Andrei Otrokov	Krasny Yar
13		Igor Galinovskiy	Krasny Yar
12		Alexey Makovetsky	Krasny Yar
11		Yaroslav Rechnev	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
10		Yuri Kushnarev	RC Kuban Krasnodar
9		Alexander Yanyushkin	VVA-Podmoskovye
8		Andrey Temnov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
7		Andrei Garbuzov	Krasny Yar
6		Andrey Ostrikov	Sale Sharks, England
5		Kirill Kulemin	Sale Sharks, England
4		Alexander Voytov (Capt.)	VVA-Podmoskovye
3		Innokenty Zykov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
2		Vladislav Korshunov	VVA-Podmoskovye
1		Grigory Tsnobiladze	Krasny Yar
16		Valeriy Tsnobiladze	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
17		Sergey Sekisov	Agro-Strela Kazan
18		Evgeny Pronenko	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
19		Pavel Butenko	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
20		Victor Gresev	Krasny Yar
21		Anton Ryabov	Krasny Yar
22		Sergey Yanyushkin	VVA-Podmoskovye
23		Dmitry Gerasimov	Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk
		HEAD COACH: Kingsley Jones