CUP OF NATIONS: Hong Kong v Russia

21.11.2015
Hong Kong v Russia in Hong Kong

Venue: Hong Kong Football Club

Results So Far
13.11.2015
Russia 23, Portugal 12
Hong Kong 30, Zimbabwe 11

17.11.2015
Russia 50, Zimbabwe 5
Hong Kong 13, Portugal 6

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BPL	BPT	PT
RUSSIA	2	2	0	0	73	17	56	0	1	9
HONG KONG	2	2	0	0	43	17	26	0	1	9
PORTUGAL	2	0	0	2	18	36	-18	1	0	1
ZIMBABWE	2	0	0	2	16	80	-64	0	0	0

Preview
Russia’s two test tour of Hong Kong last year was the first time these two teams met in a rugby test match. Russia proved too strong on both occasions.

Russia has won both games so far convincingly and remain the favourites. Hong Kong did well to defeat Portugal mid week although the visitors were unlucky in that game.

Hong Kong will need to play at their best to defeat the Bears.

Previous Encounters
15.11.2014 Russia 39-27 in Hong Kong
08.11.2014 Russia 31-10 in Hong Kong

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Russia 20th, Hong Kong 24th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Russia 61.56, Hong Kong 58.19

Prediction: Russia by 5 points. Score 26-21

TEAMS

Hong Kong Squad

Jack Aikman (Hong Kong Scottish)
Moses Bailey (Hong Kong Cricket Club)
Adam Butterfield (Hong Kong Football Club)
Charles Cheung Ho Ning (Hong Kong Scottish)
Rohan Cook (Hong Kong Cricket Club)*
James Cunningham (Kowloon RFC)*
Jack Delaforce (Hong Kong Cricket Club)
Paul Dwyer (Hong Kong Cricket Club)
Daniel Falvey (Hong Kong Football Club)*
Tobias Fenn (Valley RFC)
Adam Fullgrabe (Kowloon RFC)*
Adrian Griffiths (Hong Kong Cricket Club)
Gavin Hadley (Hong Kong Football Club)
Alexander Harris (Kowloon RFC) 29 tests
Nicholas Hewson (Capt.)( Valley RFC) 31 tests
Benjamin Higgins (Valley RFC)
Charles Higson-Smith (Hong Kong Football Club)
Alexander Kaleca (Hong Kong Scottish)
Matthew Lamming (Hong Kong Cricket Club)18 tests
Christopher McAdam (Kowloon RFC)
Thomas Marshall (Hong Kong Cricket Club)*
Alexander Ng Wai Shing (Valley RFC) 31 tests
Jack Parfitt (Hong Kong Scottish)
Jamie Pincott (Hong Kong Scottish)*
Bradley Raper (Hong Kong Cricket Club)*
Benjamin Rimene (Valley RFC)
Jamie Robinson (Hong Kong Cricket Club)*
Adam Rolston (Valley RFC)
Edmund Rolston (Valley RFC)
Niall Rowark (Hong Kong Football Club)
Tyler Spitz (USRC Tigers)
Jamie Tsang (Kowloon RFC)*

*New test players

Head Coach: Andrew Hall

Russia Squad

Denis Antonov (Slava Moscow)
Vasily Artemyev (Krasny Yar)
Denis Barabantsev (Yenisei-STM) *
Alexander Bezverkhov (Yenisei-STM)
Azamat Bitiev (Krasny Yar)
Daniel Chegodaev (VVA-Moscow)
Leo Derksen (Metallurg Novokuznetsk)*
Vasily Dorofeev (Krasny Yar)
Eugene Elgin (Yenisei-STM) *
Igor Galinovsky (Krasny Yar)
Andrei Garbuzov (Krasny Yar)
Tagir Gadzhiev*(VVA-Moscow)
German Godlyuk (Slava Moscow)
Kirill Gotovtsev (Krasny Yar) *
Viktor Gresev (Krasny Yar)
Nikita Ilienko (Yenisei-STM)
Alexander Ivanov (VVA-Moscow) *
Alexander Khudyakov (Krasny Yar)
Andrew Lizogub (VVA-Moscow)
Alex Makovetskii (Krasny Yar)
Yevgeny Matveyev (VVA-Moscow)
Andrew Otrokov (Krasny Yar)
Vladimir Podrezov (VVA-Moscow)
Vladimir Rudenko (Krasny Yar)
Sergei Sekisov (VVA-Moscow)
Sergey Stepanov (Slava Moscow)
Anton Sychev (Metallurg Novokuznetsk) *
Alexey Volkov (VVA-Moscow)

*New cap

Google translation from http://www.rugby.ru/new/russkij-sostav-sbornoj-rossii-po-regbi-na-sbor-pered-cup-of-nations.html

CUP OF NATIONS: Portugal v Zimbabwe

21.11.2015
Portugal v Zimbabwe in Hong Kong

Results So Far
13.11.2015
Russia 23, Portugal 12
Hong Kong 30, Zimbabwe 11

17.11.2015
Russia 50, Zimbabwe 5
Hong Kong 13, Portugal 6

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BPL	BPT	PT
RUSSIA	2	2	0	0	73	17	56	0	1	9
HONG KONG	2	2	0	0	43	17	26	0	1	9
PORTUGAL	2	0	0	2	18	36	-18	1	0	1
ZIMBABWE	2	0	0	2	16	80	-64	0	0	0

Preview

This tournament is exactly what world rugby reeds. Test matches between nations of different regions so as to bring some sense into world rugby rankings.

This match is the playoff for 3rd-4th. Both teams have disappointed at this tournament with both teams looking for their first win.

This is the first time these two nations have meet in a test rugby match.

GWC Rankings
World Table: Zimbabwe 25th, Portugal 26th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Zimbabwe 55.28, Portugal 55.26

Prediction: This will be close. Portugal by 3 points. Score 21-18

TEAMS

Portugal Squad

Michael Andrade (Western Province, South Africa)
Francisco Appleton (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Tomás Appleton (Darligton Mowden Park RFC, England)
Pedro Bettencourt Ávila (ASM Clermont Auvergne, France)
Manuel Costa (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Francisco Domingues (Provence Rugby, France)
Thibault De Freitas (ASV Lavaur, France)
David dos Reis (RC Nimois, France)
Francisco Fernandes (AS Béziers Rugby)
José Lima (US Carcassonne, France)
João Lino (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Miguel Macedo (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Francisco Pinto Magalhães (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Duarte Marques (AEIS Técnico)
Bruno Medeiros (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Tomás Noronha (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Bruno Rocha (AEIS Técnico)
Francisco Silva (GD Direito)
João Diogo Silva (AA Coimbra)
Francisco Sousa (GDS Cascais)
Michael Tadjer (RC SU Agen, France)
Diogo Van den Toorn (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Salvador Vassalo (GDS Cascais)
Maxime Vaz (ASM Clermont Auvergne, France)
Francisco Viera (CD Univ.Lisboa)
Miguel Vilaça (CD Univ.Lisboa)

Adapted from http://www.fpr.pt/ficheiros_site_fpr/imagens/noticias/2015114182911.%203%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20Cup%20of%20Nations.pdf

Zimbabwe Squad

Ngonidzashe Chibuwe*
Tafadzwa Chitokwindo
Jan Ferreira (Spanish Club)
Stephan Hunduza
Charles Jiji
David Kapuya*
Kuziva Kazembe*
Brian Makamure
Tichafara Makwanya (vice-captain)
Malvern Maparura*
Tafadzwa Mhende (Harare Sports Club)
Farai Mudariki
Tatenda Murwira
Denford Mutamangira (captain)
Royal Mwale
Nico Nyemba
Riaan O’Neil
Andrew Rose
Alva Senderayi*
Gerald Sibanda
Sanele Sibanda
Gabriel Sipapati*
Manasah Sita (German Club)
Biselele Tshamala
Lungile Tshuma (USA Club)
Martin Wolfenden (Coventry RFC, England)
*New caps
Head Coach: Cyprian Mandenge

http://rugby.co.zw/2015/11/09/sables-off-to-hong-kong-cup-of-nations/

TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND: Saturday 21 November

21.11.2015
Portugal v Zimbabwe in Hong Kong (Cup of Nations)
Hong Kong v Russia in Hong Kong (Cup of Nations)
Spain v Chile in Torrelavega (Friendly)
Malta v Czech Republic in Valette (REC 2A)
Guatemala v El Salvador in Guatemala City (Herman Arrúa Cup)

2015 CUP OF NATIONS: Day 1

13.11.2015
Russia 23, Portugal 12 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong 30, Zimbabwe 11 in Hong Kong

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BPL	BPT	PT
HONG KONG	1	1	0	0	30	11	19	0	1	5
RUSSIA	1	1	0	0	23	12	11	0	0	4
PORTUGAL	1	0	0	1	12	23	-11	0	0	0
ZIMBABWE	1	0	0	1	11	30	-19	0	0	0

Data from www.rugbyinternational.net

Tournament favourites Hong Kong (hosts) and Russia got their campaign up and running with wins on day one. Hong Kong also got the only bonus point of the day whilst Zimbabwe seemed to struggle with the damp and humid conditions.

Reports
http://www.worldrugby.org/news/123242
http://www.hkrugby.com/news/hong-kong-and-russia-take-early-leads-in-inaugural-hkru-cup-of-nations

Next Two Days

17.11.2015
Zimbabwe v Russia in Hong Kong (Cup of Nations)
Hong Kong v Portugal in Hong Kong (Cup of Nations)

21.11.2015
Portugal v Zimbabwe in Hong Kong (Cup of Nations)
Hong Kong v Russia in Hong Kong (Cup of Nations)