Test Match: Lithuania v Switzerland

15.11.2008
Lithuania v Switzerland in Vilnius (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 3A)


Preview
Lithuania has already caused other nations in this division to take notice. A convincing 26-10 win away over Andorra, who were relegated from ENC 2B last season, has put the Lithuanians into the lead. A home win seems more likely.


Switzerland defeated the German Under 21 side back in September and were expected to set the pace at this level. It makes this match even more compelling.


These two teams have only met once before. Switzerland won a close game 23-21 in Switzerland in 1998 as part of the then FIRA seeding process.


GWC Rugby Rankings: Lithuania 23rd, Switzerland 26th


Prediction: Lithuania too strong at home, to win by 12 points.


Teams


Lithuania Squad
Tomas Astrauskas (RC Salda Siauliai)
Dainius Baltrukenas (RC Klevas Panevezys)
Rokas Daknys (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Ignas Darkintis (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Mindaugas Grigas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Vilius Kucinas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Irmantą Kukulskį (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Gediminas Liutkus (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Kestutis Marcisauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Andrius Martinskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Mindaugas Misevicius (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Darius Nosys (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Egidijus Petronis (RC Kursiai Klaipeda)
Žygimantą Radžių (RC Salda Siauliai)
Audrius Ramancionis (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Edmundas Scavinskas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Paulių Šertvytį (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Donatas Streckis (RC Kursiai Klaipeda)
Augustiną Terlecką (RC "Geležinis Vilkas" Vilniaus)
Laurynas Tipelis (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Justinas Vasiliauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Tomas Zibolis (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Edvardą Žilių (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Head coach - Anatolijus Smirnovas

Lithuania squad from http://www.kaunas.lt/regbis/

“Seems that Mariaus Andrijausko, Gedimino Marcišausko, Mindaugo Šiumberevičiaus, Aleksandro Čiuchlejaus and Tomo Stungio who were in squad for Andorra are all unavailable”
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2913

Swiss Team
Not available

For lists of international rugby results played by Lithuania, and by Switzerland, go to www.rugbyinternational.net

Rugby Match: Armenia v Switzerland

18.10.2008
Armenia v Switzerland in Abovian (WCQ Europe, ENC 3A)

Preview.
Switzerland's warm up game was against a German Under 21 side in Basle back in late September. The 28-19 victory gained for them the Alpes Cup.

Armenia lost its two opening matches last season against Sweden and Switzerland. This proved its eventual undoing as it came second to Sweden after two rounds in ENC 3. Most of Armenia's players come from France-based clubs.

Previous Encounters
06.10.2007 Armenia 28-15 in Nyon (ENC 3A)
30.09.2006 Switzerland 29-16 in Vienne (ENC 3A)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Armenia 24th, Switzerland 25th

Prediction: Armenia by 13 points

Teams

Not available

Rugby Result: Switzerland 28, Germany U21 19

International Rugby: Switzerland v Germany Under 21

The Swiss national team will play the German Under 21 side in for the Alps Cup in basel, Switzerland. For the last two years the German national side (without its France-based players) have easily defeated Switzerland for this Cup.

Teams to be announced.