LITHUANIA v CROATIA: ENC 2A

19.04.2014

‘The poster of the match seems to figure an horse and it should be related to a therapeutic horse-riding for kids association which will collect funds during the game’. DD at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4544

Venue: Kranjčevićeva Stadium, Zagreb

Referee: Štepán Cekal (Czech Republic)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
NETHERL.	8	7	1	0	255	124	131	5	0	35
SWITZ.	7	4	1	2	152	135	17	2	0	20
MALTA	8	4	0	4	162	179	-17	1	1	18
CROATIA	7	1	0	6	120	200	-80	2	1	7
LITHUANIA	6	1	0	5	103	156	-53	0	0	4

Preview
Croatia and Lithuania are struggling at the bottom of the ENC 2A division and this match is virtually a fight for survival. Lithuania looks to be in a slightly better position as they have a game in hand but they play this test match away, always a challenge at this level of test rugby.

Lithuania bring into their squad all of their overseas contingent making it the strongest Lithuanian side for some time.Having risen the levels of European rugby in the last four seasons including a fantastic run at the Rugby World Cup finals,Lithuania is now facing relegation.They must win this test match and their remaining one against Switzerland if they are to hold their place in this division.

Croatia has last their last six rugby test matches.Although being played at home they face a determined Lithuanian side. The Croatians have brought a number of foreign-based players including two from New Zealand.

Previous Encounters
27.04.2013 Lithuania 15-14 in Vilnius (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
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 1, L 4
09.11.2013 v Netherlands L 24-34 in Amsterdam (ENC 2A)
02.11.2013 v Malta L 10-13 in Vilnius (ENC 2A)
27.04.2013 v Croatia W 15-14 in Vilnius (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
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)

Croatia Last Five P 5, L 5 
12.04.2014 v Netherlands L 13-45 in Amsterdam (ENC 2A)
09.11.2013 v Malta L 18-37 in Valette (ENC 2A)
02.11.2013 v Switzerland L 11-26 in Split (ENC 2A)
27.04.2013 v Lithuania L 14-15 in Vilnius (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
20.04.2013 v Netherlands L 24-29 in Zagreb (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)

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

IRB Ranking Points
Lithuania 46.06, Croatia 44.42

Prediction: Lithuania by 6 points

Teams

Lithuania Squad

Marius Andrijauskas (Peterborough Lions R.F.C., England)

Vytaras Bloškys (Šiaulių "BaltRex-Šiauliai")

Ignas Darkintis (Coventry R.F.C., England)

Naglis Duncikas (Kauno „Ąžuolas“)

Vaidotas Gaubas (Coventry University RFC, England)

Aurimas Gedminas (Klaipėdos „Kovas“)

Maksimas Guseinovas (Peterborough Lions RFC, England)

Gediminas Marcišauskas ( Peterborough Lions R.F.C., England)

Kęstutis Marcišauskas (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

Andrius Martinskas (Enkopings RK, Sweden)

Jonas Mikalčius (Šiaulių "BaltRex-Šiauliai")

Mindaugas Misevičius (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

Karolis Navickas (Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk, Russia)

Mindaugas Norvaiša ( London Lithuanian RFC, England)

Artūras Rachimovas (Plungės "Perkūnas")

Andrius Sutkus (Šiaulių "BaltRex-Šiauliai")

Evaldas Štitilis (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

Dovydas Taujanskas (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

Augustinas Terleckas (Vilniaus Regbio Akademija)

Justinas Urbonas (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

Justas Vasiliauskas (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

Donatas Vilimavičius (Šiaulių "Vairas - Kalvis")

 

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4544

Croatia Squad

Jai Ayoub (Australia)
Denis Brečić (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Caleb Brown (New Zealand)
Ante Bulat (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Marko Buljac (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Marko Bunić (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Tonči Buzov (Beverley RFC, England)
Krešimir Čorić (RK Nada Split)
Marko Grčić (RK Sinj)
Toni Grle (RK Makarska rivijera)
Goran Čulić (RK Nada Split)
Fran Hasija (RK Zagreb)
Paško Ivančić (RK Nada Split)
Toni Ivanković (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Dario Jurčević (RK Nada Split)
Luka Jureško (RK Zagreb)
Nik Jurišić (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Luka Lerotić (RK Nada Split)
Ivan Miljak (RK Nada Split)
Leo Monterisi (Udine 1928, Italy)
Jason Newton (South Africa)
Dario Oxenham (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Mario Ozich (New Zealand)
Luka Perlain (RK Nada Split)
Jure Popović (RK Nada Split)
Sasha Sekovanec (RK Mladost Zagreb)
Antonio Stojanovski (RK Lokomotiva Zagreb)
Ivan Šuta (RK Mladost Zagreb)

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4544

‘These players are best of what Croatia has. Paško Ivančić is back in team, he didnt play last few matches. This season he will be playing for Green Island in Dunedin Premier Championship in New Zealand’. ‘Tarara’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4544