TEST RUGBY RESULTS: Saturday 26 October

26.10.2013
Germany 28, Ukraine 16 inKomsomolsk (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
Madagascar 17, Sri Lanka 12 in Colombo (IRB Serendib Tri-Nations)
Netherlands 52, Israel 8 in Netanya (WCQ Europe R3 Playoff)
Andorra 22, Latvia 19 in Riga (ENC 2B)
Hungary 35, Slovenia 3 in Esztergom (Venue TBA) (ENC 2C)

ISRAEL v NETHERLANDS: World Cup Qualifying Europe Round 3 Playoff

26.10.2013

Venue: Wingate Institute, Netanya

Referee: Jérôme Lamirand (France)

Preview
There is no doubt that this is the rugby test match of this weekend. At stake is a playoff against the winner of the ENC 1B competition. The Netherlands is the highest ranking team that Israel has ever played. The odds are against the home side but then few people are aware of what the Israelis have achieved to date.

It was not that long ago that Israel ranked in the 90’s on the IRB Rankings table. Today they clock in at 47th place. This has been a result of a gradual rise through the ENC competitions over the last decade plus some recent wins in the race for a place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup finals.

Nobody in Israel is expecting their side to do the impossible and make the finals. But Israel’s aim is to go where no other Israeli rugby side has managed. And that is as far as they can get!

Today they are playing a team that is in 34th place on the IRB Rankings. It’s a huge ask but it is certainly not impossible. Israel has reached this position be coming first on the ENC 2B table for 2012-13 being the first leg. Then they had to fend of challenges from winning teams from lower divisions-firstly Slovenia and then recently Luxembourg. In between they have still had to play their regular competition games, defeating Serbia 18-6 away last weekend.

This has meant that the Israeli team has had to do a lot of travel over the last three weeks. This will certainly have cemented a strong team spirit within the team but the travel will have sapped physical energy from the side. This could count against them.

The Netherlands have two distinct disadvantages. Firstly, this is their first game together this season. There are new players in the team and combinations will be new. Secondly they are playing away. It has only been in the last few years that the European rugby body has made the higher placed team play away to the lower team in the World Cup qualifying games. No longer are these games a given win for the higher ranked side. And this is what makes this game so interesting.

But in the end the Netherlands is a stronger side coming from a much stronger club competition involving 7000 players as opposed to 700 in Israel. This depth will tell in the end.

Prediction: Netherlands to win by 15 points. But don’t be surprised if the score is closer!

TEAMS

Israel

15		Vitali Pryimak
14		Ori Abutbul
13		Adrian Rainstein
12		Gilad Goldstein
11		Amit Kakoun
10		Mordechay Radahkovich
9		Citan Humphries
8		Michael Eli
7		Guy Dotan
6		Jonathan Shaki
5		Yonatan Kaplan (Capt.)
4		Daniel Palma
3		Matan Brosh
2		Tomer Bracha
1		Nathan Amos
16		Omri Lotan
17		Adam Rozenburg
18		Adam Rozenburg
19		Nessi Abranaval
20		Amir Beutler
21		Tornike Sukhashvili
22		Stav Gutavoy
23		Oren Alt
		HEAD COACH: Raanan Penn

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4398

Netherlands squad

1. Altink Tom (LRC DIOK)
2. Balkom van Rik (RC the Dukes)
3. Barendregt Alexander (Haagsche RC)
4. Brouwer Sam (RC 't Gooi)  1st cap
5. Carroll Storm (RC Hilversum)
6. Danen Dirk (RC Hilversum)
7. Darlington Andy (RC 't Gooi) 1st cap
8. Grimbergen Vincent (LRC DIOK) captain
9. Illstons Tony (Haagsche RC) 1st cap
10. Ketelings Jan (Utrechtse RC)
11. Koenen Leon (LRC DIOK)
12. Kuijpers Alex (RC 't Gooi)
13. Langelaan Hugo (RC 't Gooi)
14. Mambo Norbecio (RC the Dukes)
15. Osch van Maarten (RC the Dukes)
16. Roijen Barry (RC the Hookers) 1st cap
17. Romijn Bart Jan (Haagsche RC)
18. Roovers Rik (RC Hilversum)
19. Ruijter de Thom (LRC DIOK) 1st cap
20. Schermer Roy (Castricumse RC)
21. Verhoeven Nicky (RC the Dukes)
22. Vliet van Huey (Haagsche RC)
23. Volker Danny (Amstelveense RC) 1st cap

Head Coach: Alex Chang

GERMANY v UKRAINE: World Cup Qualifying, Europe Round 4; ENC 1B

26.10.2013

Venue: Komsomolsk

Referee: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
POLAND	7	5	0	2	155	90	65	0	1	21
GERMANY	5	4	0	1	191	89	102	4	0	20
MOLDOVA	5	3	0	2	119	136	-17	3	0	15
SWEDEN	7	3	0	4	142	177	-35	1	1	14
UKRAINE	5	2	0	3	122	122	0	1	1	10
CZECH REP.	7	1	0	6	83	198	-115	0	1	5

Preview
This is the first game of the new season for these two sides. Germany is in a very strong position on the points table, trailing Poland by 1 point with two games in hand.

The Ukraine, relegated from the top division at the end of 2012 are struggling at this level as well. They appear to be well away from the relegation zone, that position belonging to the Czech Republic, but some good showings are essential for the rebuilding programme.

Previous Encounters
27.10.2012 Germany 46-28 in Berlin (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 1B)
19.04.2008 Germany 13-5 in Hannover (ENC 2A)
21.04.2007 Germany 22-14 in Kiev (ENC 2A)
12.10.2003 Ukraine 6-3 in Kiev (ENC 2A)
24.11.2002 Drawn 26-26 in Heidelberg (ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Germany 13th, Ukraine 14th

IRB Ranking Points
Germany 55.96, Ukraine 50.97

Prediction: Germany by 11 points

TEAMS

Germany Squad

Heidelberger RK: Benjamin Danso, Arthur Zeiler, Raynor Parkinson, Steffen Liebig, Kehoma Brenner, Anjo Buckman, Alex Widiker, Sean Armstrong, Pieter Jordaan, Ansgar Ruhnau.
RG Heidelberg: Manuel Wilhelm
SC Neuenheim: Lars Eckert, Paul Weiss
TSV Handschuhsheim: Alexander Hug, Marcus Bender
SC Frankfurt 1880: Chad Sheperd, Mark Sztyndera
TV Pforzheim: Rob May, Timo Vollenkemper, Chris Howells, Carlos Soteras-Merz
Hannover 78: Phil Szczesny

Standby: Rafael Pyrasch, Pierre Mathurin (both Heidelberger RK), Alexander Hauck, Jannis Läpple (both SC Frankfurt 1880), Jörn Schröder (TV Pforzheim), Benedikt Scherrer (Heidelberger TV) & Tim Biniak (RK Heusenstamm).

Ukraine Squad

Forwards :
Eduard Vertiletsky, Vitaly Kramarenko, Eduard Kozyr, Alexander Polyansky, Evgeny Chayka, Viktor Gulenko, Sergey Nikitin (all "Kredo-1963", Odessa)
Alexander Tsapenko, Alexander Lomakin (both "Olymp", Kharkiv)
Dimitry Mokretsov, Nikolay Aleksandryuk (both "Bulava Taganrog", Russia)
Alexey Novokreshchenov ( "Kuban Krasnodar", Russia)
Vyacheslav Krasilnik ("VVA-Saracens", Russia),
Alexander Khomenko ("Epoch-Polytechnic", Kiev),
Vladislav Demetsky ("Obolon -University ", Khmelnitsky)

Half-backs :
Sergey Yanchy ("Bulava Taganrog", Russia),
Sergey Tserkovniy ("Olymp", Kharkov).

Backs :
Miroslav Shuljak ("Obolon-University", Khmelnitsky),
Taras Marchenko, Paul Masjukov, Artyom Kulik, Dennis Masjukov (all "Kredo-1963", Odessa),
Vyacheslav Ponomarenko, Oleg Kosarev (both "Olymp", Kharkiv)
Vitaly Krasnodemsky ("Agro-Strela Kazan", Russia),
Maxim Tyurikov ("RC Novokuznetsk", Russia)

ENC 2B AND ENC 2C

26.10.2013

Latvia v Andorra in Riga (ENC 2B)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	TL
ISRAEL	5	5	0	0	155	51	104	3	0	23
LATVIA	5	3	0	2	110	96	14	3	1	16
DENMARK	4	1	1	2	62	79	-17	1	0	7
ANDORRA	4	1	1	2	48	77	-29	0	0	6
SERBIA	6	1	0	5	104	176	-72	1	1	6

Briefly
Not a great deal hinging on this game except that Andorra is at the bottom of the points table with Serbia. Andorra has a game in hand against Latvia and two compared with Serbia. So there position is not desperate providing they can pick up some points in the next two games.

Prediction: Latvia defeated Andorra away in their last meeting. Since they they pushed Israel 15-17 and defeated Serbia. They look good for a home win.
Latvia by 14 points

Hungary v Slovenia in Ezstergom (ENC 2C)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
CYPRUS	4	4	0	0	198	53	145	3	0	19
HUNGARY	5	3	0	2	128	62	66	1	2	15
SLOVENIA	4	2	0	2	52	96	-44	1	1	10
BULGARIA	6	2	0	4	84	253	-169	1	0	9
AUSTRIA	5	1	0	4	115	113	2	1	3	8

Briefly
Both teams are hovering in the middle of this division with neither looking particularly threatened with relegation whilst neither can match Cyprus who heads the table.

Slovenia has a game in hand and a win today will threaten Hungary’s second position on the table and a playoff spot for ENC 2B for 2014-16.

Prediction: Hungary too strong, to win by 14 points

MADAGASCAR v SRI LANKA: IRN Serendib Tri-Nations

26.10.2013

Venue: Colombo Racecourse Ground

Referee:

Preview
This tournament is another Cross-Continental clash of nations who have a similar IRB ranking. We have seen in 2012 such tournaments in Namibia and for the last two years in the United Arab Emirates. The other nation competing is Poland. That means Europe, Africa and Asia are represented.

The IRB Ranking points are Poland 55.64, Sri Lanka 49.88 and Madagascar 48.04.

Needless to say that none of these nations has played the other previously. All three nations are in which a chance still to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Madagascar were promoted to the Africa Cup 1A division in 2012 and retained its place in that division in 2013, losing to Zimbabwe 18-38 but defeating Uganda 48-32. By remaining in Division 1A they have a chance at grabbing the Africa 2 place at the World Cup Finals.

Sri Lanka were promoted to Asia 5 Nations in 2014 after emphatically winning the Asia Nations Division 1 this year, defeating Chinese Taipei 39-8, Thailand 45-7 and Kazakhstan 49-18. By this promotion they now have a chance at obtaining the Asia 2 position.

Poland plays in the European Nations Cup Division 1B which is the second Tier in European rugby. They are at present battling for the top place in ENC 1B which would mean a World Cup playoff against either Netherlands or Israel.

So to this match. It will be difficult to predict but the home side will have a definite advantage.On paper neither side has been able to call upon their full squad for this tournament so it could go either way.

Prediction: Sri Lanka by 7 points

TEAMS

Sri Lanka Squad

Front Row
Namal Rajapaksa (Navy SC) (Captain)
Eranga Swarnathilake (Navy SC)

Achala Perera (Kandy SC)

Bilal Hassan (Navy SC)

Henry Terance (Havelock SC)

Ananda  Jayalal (Army SC)

Duminda Pullikuttiarachi (Navy SC)

Dushmantha Priyadarshana (Havelock SC)

 

Second Row

Hasitha Perera (Up Country Lions)

Sajith Saranga (Navy SC)

Sathya Ranatunga (Navy SC)

 

Flankers

Sharo Fernando (Havelock SC)

Danushka Perera (Navy SC)

Ishan Noor (Colombo Rugby & Football Club)

Rohitha Rajapaksa (Navy SC)

 

Scrum Halves

Rehan Weerakoon (Navy SC)

Kavindu de Costa (?)

 

Fly Halves

Niroshan Fernando (Havelock SC)

Fazil Marija (Kandy SC)

Dave Anand (Navy SC)

 

Centers

Lavanka Perera (?)

Dinusha Chathuranga (Navy SC)

Pradeep Liyanage (Kandy SC)

Lee  Keegal (?)

 

Wingers

Sadun Herath (Havelock SC)

Chamara Dabare (Havelock SC)

 

Fullback
Riza Mubarak  (Navy SC)                

Nuwan Hettiarachi (Kandy SC)

 

Adapted from http://www.rugby.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421:sl-squad-announced&catid=28:serendib-cup&Itemid=352 and http://www.rugby.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=373&Itemid=345

Madagascar Squad

Marson Vonjiniaina Andriamananjara (FT Manjakaray)
Christian Andrianjaka (US Ankadifotsy)
Nirina Jacky Bayard (Iarivo RC)
José Rakoto Harison (3FB)
Juliot Mahavy (UASC)
Dimbiniaina Jean Willy Rabemanjara (UASC)
Romuald Rafaralahy (3FB)
Michale Raharijaona (TFM Ankasina)
Serge Rajoelina (FT Manjakaray)
Benjaniaina Rakotoarivelo (TFM Ankasina)
Hasina Rakotoarivelo (US Ikopa)
Alain Rakotonirina (3FB)
Tolotra Mampionontsoa Rakotoson (COSFA)
Deraniaina Rakotozafy (STM)
Tolotra Ramaromiantso (3FB)
Rodolphe Randriamanantena (COSFA)
Guy Rolland Randriamiarana (US Ikopa)
Tahiana Hery Zo Randrianarisoa (3FB)
Haja Randrianambinina (3FB)
Herizo Rasoanaivo (Iarivo RC)
Tiana Nirina Ravelomanantsoa (Iarivo RC)
Tolotra Claudio Ravelonomenjanahary (US Ankadifotsy)
Bernard Razafindranaivo (3FB)
Maminandrasana Solomampionona  (US Ankadifotsy)

3FB = Ministère de la Santé et du Planning
COSFA = Club Omnisports des Forces Armées