WORLD CUP RUGBY: Ukraine Face a Huge Test

22.05.2010
Romania v Ukraine in Kiev (WCQ Europe R5 Final, 1st leg)

Venue: Spartak Stadion,

Referee: Maciello (France)

Preview
The Ukraine defeated Lithuania 27-16 on the 8th of May to progress to this stage in the World Cup qualifying stage. The win ended Lithuania's amazing run of consecutive test victories, 18, which is now a world record. Ukraine's win ended a horror run of losses in ENC 2A in which it still managed to hold the top place in that division.

Romania is here because it gained 3rd place overall in ENC division 1 for 2008-10. Georgia and Russia gained 1st and 2nd gaining them automatic qualification to the 2011 Rugby World Cup finals.

Romania arrives in Ukraine without their coach (sacked?), nor with experienced regulars Dumitras, Sirbu, Tonita, Petre, Tincu, Dima, Carpo and Lazar. Hmmmm!

Ukraine was briefly in ENC 1 back in 2005-06. They got thrashed in the two games they played against Romania.

Previous Encounters
03.06.2006 Romania 58-0 in Kiev (ENC 1)
19.03.2005 Romania 97-0 in Bucharest (ENC 1)
30.05.1998 Romania 39-17 in Kiev (WCQ Europe, Pool 2, Rnd B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Romania 7th, Ukraine 15th
IRB Ratings-Romania 67.85, Ukraine 54.42, with 5 places between them on the Europe table only.

Prediction: I can see Ukraine putting up a good fight at home in front of a passionate crowd but it wont be enough. Romania by 15 points

Romania Squad
Ionut Botezatu (CSM Baia Mare) Age 22, 6 tests
Stelian Burcea (CSU Arad) 26, 21
Stefan Ciuntu (CSM Baia Mare) 23, 21
Alin Coste (Narbonne, France) 21, 9
Robert Dascalu (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) 25, 25
Ionut Dimofte, Capt. (CSM Baia Mare) 25, 39
Danut Dumbrava (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) 28, 42
Silviu Florea (US Montauban) 32, 22
Csaba Gal (CSM Baia Mare) 24, 20
Valentin Ivan (CS Dinamo Bucuresti) 21, 3
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) 23, 2
Mihai Macovei (CSM Baia Mare) 22, 14
Samuel Maris (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) New
Catalin Nicolae (RCJ Farul) 29, 11
Cezar Popescu (Saint Medard en Jalles) 32, 37
Andrei Radoi (CSM Baia Mare) New
Marius Sirbe (Tarbes, France) New
Socol Sorin (FC Oloronais, France) 31, 51
Florin Surugiu (CSM Bucuresti) New
Sergiu Ursache (Casino di Venezia, Italy) ?, 1
Valentin Ursache (CSM Baia Mare) 24, 23
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) 23, 29
Bogdan Zebega (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) 25, 17

Coaches: Romeo Gontineac and Steve McDowell

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3481&start=15

Ukraine Squad
Orlov Віта (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Evigney Chaika (RC Kredo 63)
Vitaly Dotsenko (RC Aviator)
Sergei Garkavy (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Vladyslav Grabovsky (RK Sokol)
Oleg Kosarev (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Nikolai Kirsanov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Vyacheslav Krasylnyk (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Maksym Kravchenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Oleksandr Lomakin (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Jaba Malaguradze (RC Kredo 63)
Pavlo Masyukov (RCKredo-63)
Andrei Melnikov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Demen Mikola (RC Aviator) New?
Serge Monastir (RC Kredo 63)
Dmytro Mukhin (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Vyacheslav Ponomarkenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Serhiy Sukhykh (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Oleksandr Tsapenko (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Serhiy Tserkovny (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Maksym Tyurikov (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Eduard Vertiletsky (RC Kredo 63)
Bogdan Voloshin (RK Sokol)
Sergei Yanchiy (RC Olymp-RSC KhTZ)
Ievgen Zapolsky (RK Sokol)
HeadCoach: Valeri Kochanov

Adapted from http://rugby.org.ua/index.php?newsid=531