RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP: Division 2A

14.11.2015
Switzerland v Israel in Auvsey (REC 2A)
Croatia v Malta in Split (REC 2A)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
SWITZ.	5	4	0	1	126	99	27	2	18
CZECH REP	5	3	1	1	106	82	26	3	17
CROATIA	5	4	0	3	112	124	-12	4	12
MALTA	4	2	0	2	80	89	-9	1	9
ISRAEL	5	0	1	4	98	129	-31	2	4

Previews
Switzerland should account for Israel at home. Croatia and Malta slug out a middle of the table clash which should see the home team win.

Predictions
Switzerland by 18 v Israel. Score 32-14
Croatia by 15 v Malta. Score 36-21

TEAMS

Switzerland Squad

SCHAERER , Benjamin , RC Kourou
CHAMAND , Romain , RC GPLO
BARTSCHI , Clément , l'US Romans
GUYOU , Nicolas , RC Tricastin
ALBER , Edgar , CS Vienne
WULLSCHLEGGER , Jonathan , SO Givors -Rugby
POMMIES , Ludovic , RC LUC
LIN , Cyril , RC Nyon
DOY , Benjamin , l'USBPA
HIRSCH , Gaëtan , RC GPLO
HEINRICH , Lucas , CSBJ
GUYOU , Matthieu , RCACP
MONTIEL , Ghislain , RC Saint Médard en Jalles
HIRSCH , Sylvain , RC GPLO
GERY , Thibault , RC Servette
RONZA , Manuel , RC LUC
MORITZ , Benjamin , RC Avusy
COULLON , Alexandre , RC Nyon
ASPIROZ DE ACHAVAL , Matias , RC Stade Lausanne
GREENHALGH , Henry , Angleterre
LUKUSA , Jeremie , RC Pontarlier
GANGATH , Francis , RC Hermance
HUSTAIX , Dorian , RC Servette

http://www.suisserugby.com/uploads/tx_news/Liste_selectionnes__Suisse_Israel_14112015_FINAL.pdf

Other squads not available

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

07.11.2015

Division 1B

Moldova 25, Sweden 7 in Malmo

Sweden were considerably weakened by the decision of a number of leading players to represent Sweden in a sevens tournament. Even so they did well to hold the much respected Moldovan side who seriously underperforms away from home, usually because a number of top players are usually unavailable.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	7	6	0	1	146	112	134	4	28
UKRAINE	7	5	0	2	155	111	44	2	22
MOLDOVA	6	4	0	2	180	90	90	4	20
POLAND	7	3	0	4	146	187	-41	2	15
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	8	0	0	8	87	319	-211	0	0

Division 2A

Croatia 26, Israel 21 in Netanya

Israel failed to take advantage of their home ground against Croatia although they did get a bonus point.

Israel’s next game is a very tough one away to Switzerland. They’ll be hoping for a repeat performance against front contender Czech Republic when they drew 26-26 in Prague. Croatia will host Malta next weekend.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
SWITZ.	5	4	0	1	126	99	27	2	18
CZECH REP	5	3	1	1	106	82	26	3	17
CROATIA	5	4	0	3	112	124	-12	4	12
MALTA	4	2	0	2	80	89	-9	1	9
ISRAEL	5	0	1	4	98	129	-31	2	4

Division 2B

Latvia 31, Cyprus 3 in Paphos

The once invincible Cyprus team, and world record holder of the most consecutive test rugby wins, has fallen on hard times in this division. They were promoted last season but have failed to fire against the stronger opposition in this division.

Neither team is playing next weekend.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	6	6	0	0	230	107	123	6	30
LATVIA	6	4	0	2	141	108	33	3	19
CYPRUS	5	2	0	3	90	121	-25	1	9
ANDORRA	5	2	0	3	79	136	-57	0	8
HUNGARY	6	0	0	6	101	170	-69	4	4

Division 2C

Slovenia 33, Serbia 17 in Belgrade

This was the third match in the REC games this weekend in which the home side lost. Serbia were outplayed by their northern rugby rivals despite nearly scoring a fourth (and bonus) try towards the end.

The Serbs will have a tough away game against Luxembourg next weekend whilst Slovenia hosts Denmark at home.

ISRAEL v CROATIA; REC 2A

07.11.2015

Venue: Wingate Institute, Netanya

Referee: Laurent Cardona (France)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
SWITZ.	5	4	0	1	126	99	27	2	18
CZECH REP	5	3	1	1	106	82	26	3	17
MALTA	4	2	0	2	80	89	-9	1	9
CROATIA	4	1	0	3	86	103	-17	4	8
ISRAEL	4	0	1	3	77	103	-26	1	3

Preview
This bottom of the table clash sees Israel in danger of relegation

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Israel 14th, Croatia 24th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Croatia 44.83, Israel 44.20

Prediction: Israel by 8 points. Score 26-18

TEAMS

Croatia squad

Ilija Biškić (Mladost Zagreb)
Denis Brečić (Mladost Zagreb)
Tomislav Burazin (Nada Split)
Krešimir Čorić (Nada Split)
Željko Galić (Zagreb)
Marko Grčić (Hull RUFC, England)
Dušan Hakaraia (Waitemata RFC, New Zealand
Dario Jurčević (Hull RUFC, England)
Luka Jureško (Zagreb)
Nik Jurišić (Capt.) (Mladost Zagreb)
Luka Lerotić (Nada Split)
Frane Marčić (Hull RUFC, England)
Ivan Miljak (Canterbury RFC, England)
Jason Newton (South African club)
Luka Perlain (Old Dunstonians RFC, England)
Ivo Perić (Nada Split)
Juraj Popović (Nada Split)
Luka Rosso (Nada Split)
Dylan Rowe (Burgos, Spain)
Antonio Stojanovski (Lokomotiva Zagreb)
Ivan Šuta (Mladost Zagreb)
Vinko Udovičić (Mladost Zagreb)
Shane Vinac (New Zealand club)

’Croatia will miss their captain Tonči Buzov who was seriously injured while playing in Scotland but is now getting better, fly-half Jai Ayoub (Australia) and flanker Mario Ozich (East Grinstead, ENG).’

Thanks to ‘Tarara’ at http://t2rugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=722

Israel

15. Eitan Humphreys-21.02.1990
14. Yuval Zidani-01.08.1995
13. Amit Kakoun-27.12.1988
12. Jonathan Radashkovich-24.06.1988
11. Ori Abutbul-02.05.1994
10. Vitali Pryimak-29.05.1986
9. Shai Hacohen-22.02.1992
8. Michael Eli-21.04.1989
7. Gilad Goldenstein-25.08.1985
6. Jonathan Shaki-10.05.1983, Capt.
5. Thomas Burden-09.08.1995
4. Ushangi Manjavidze-13.04.1986
3. Matan Brosh-12.04.1981
2. Omri Iotan-10.08.1984
1. Nathan Amos-11.08.1978

Replacements
16. Sela Arnsberg-07.04.1994
17. Adam Rosenberg-02.12.1984
18. Itshak Hanania-12.08.1982
19. Gur Yam-01.03.1994
20. Alon Okon-13.11.1985
21. Fabian Maguid-08.02.1986
22. Levan Gikashvili-02.05.1995
23. Guy Brengler-03.01.1994

Head Coach: Raanan Penn

Send by iphone thanks to Julian Shapiri, Manager Israeli team.

TEST RUGBY RESULTS: REC 2A & 2B

25.04.2015
Switzerland 23, Malta 20 in Valetta (REC 2A)
Israel 26, Czech Republic 26 in Prague (REC 2A)
Lithuania 46, Latvia 11 in Siaulai (REC 2B)

Briefly
Israel caused the major surprise of the test rugby weekend by drawing with the fancied Czech side in Prague. The Czechs had to come from way behind and just salvaged a draw but this is an indication of the development of Israeli rugby.

As I predicted Switzerland and Malta slugged out a very close contest in Malta. Meanwhile in Siaulai Lithuania were too strong for their neighbours.

REC 2A: CZECH REPUBLIC v ISRAEL

25.04.2015

Image thanks to http://www.rugbyunion.cz/cs/article/300

Venue: RC Sparta Praha, Prague

Referee: Alexei Bryzgalin (Russia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
CZECH REP	3	3	0	0	66	36	30	2	14
SWITZ.	3	2	0	1	83	65	18	2	10
MALTA	3	2	0	1	60	66	-6	0	8
CROATIA	4	1	0	3	86	103	-17	4	8
ISRAEL	3	0	0	3	51	76	-25	1	1

Preview
Israel has found the step to Division 2A a tough assignment. They have won their way up two divisions since being in ENC 2C in 2010, a fantastic effort. The support the team had in that time was also fantastic.

Israel has remained a tough opponent in spit of its three losses so far. At no time have they been outplayed. With the continued development in their game they would be aiming just to remain at this level for the 2016-18 competition.

The Czech Republic remains on top of the table. They were relegated from Division 1B in 2014. They remain undefeated but they have not dominated the competition opposition as some thought. This is a far cry from the 2003-2008 season when they played at the top level of the FIRA-AER competitions.

The Czechs should win this game but if they play as indifferently as they did against Croatia they might find Israel a tougher opponent than they expected. If the Czech Republic respect their opposition and play as well as they can then Israel could be in for a tough time.

These two teams have met only once before, in 1993. Czech Republic won 28-0 in Amsterdam in a World Cup qualifying tournament.

Czech Republic Last Five P 5, W4, L 1
11.04.2015 v Croatia W 12-9 in Zagreb (REC 2A)
08.11.2014 v Malta W 27-13 in Prague (REC 2A)
01.11.2014 v Switzerland W 27-14 in Nyon (REC 2A)
26.04.2014 v Moldova W 37-19 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
05.04.2014 v Germany L 12-76 in Heidelberg (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)

Israel Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
18.04.2015 v Malta L 13-16 in Netanya (REC 2A)
08.11.2014 v Croatia L 20-31 in Zabreb (REC 2A)
25.10.2014 v Switzerland L 18-29 in Netanya (REC 2A)
26.04.2014 v Latvia L 22-29 in Riga (ENC 2B)
12.04.2014 v Andorra W 20-16 in Netanya (ENC 2B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Czech Republic 13th, Israel 25th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Czech Republic 52.07, Israel 44.60

Prediction: Czech Republic by 18 points. Score 43-18

TEAMS

Czech Republic

1. Lukáš Macháček 2. Vojtěch Mára 3. Lukáš Rapant 4. Radim Backa 5. Robert Voves (c) 6. Jiří Frank 7. Vojtěch Havel 8. Josef Maňák 9.Vachtang Pailodze 10. Pavel Vokrouhlík 11. Martin Sadílek 12. Jiří Lacina 13. Aleš Stejskal 14. Adam Soural 15. Jan Rohlík
lavička: 16. Ondřej Kovář 17. David Jaroš 18. Jakub Doležel 19. Jan Olbrich 20. Jakub Kopřiva 21. Tomáš Forst 22. Petr Čížek 23. David Brtníček

http://www.rugbyunion.cz/cs/article/307

Israel

15. Mordechay Radahkovich-06.09.1984
14. Ori Abutbul-02.05.1994
13. Amit Kakoun-27.12.1988
12. Alexy Veklov-15.06.1991
11. Jonathan Radashkovich-24.06.1988
10. Vitali Pryimak-29.05.1986
9. Shai Hacohen-22.02.1992
8. Michael Eli-21.04.1989
7. Guy Matisis-28.07.1987
6. Jonathan Shaki-10.05.1983, Capt.
5. Thomas Burden-09.08.1995
4. Ushangi Manjavidze-13.04.1986
3. Matan Brosh-12.04.1981
2. Omri Iotan-10.08.1984
1. Nathan Amos-11.08.1978

Replacements
16. Sela Arnsberg-07.04.1994
17. Oren Alt-08.03.1971
18. Jonathan Levy-27.02.1988
19. Itshak Hanania-12.08.1982
20. Dekel Fleisch-22.11.1995
21. Adrian Rainstein-16.06.1989
22. Fabian Maguid-08.02.1986
23. Guy Brengler-03.01.1994

Head Coach: Raanan Penn

Send by iphone thanks to Julian Shapiri, Manager Israeli team.