POLAND v MOLDOVA; World Cup Qualifying Europe 4; ENC 1B

13.04.2013

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
GERMANY	5	4	0	1	191	89	102	4	0	20
POLAND	3	3	0	0	64	28	36	0	0	12
UKRAINE	5	2	0	3	122	123	-1	2	1	11
MOLDOVA	4	3	0	2	95	116	-21	2	0	10
SWEDEN	4	2	0	2	103	119	-16	1	0	9
CZECH REP.	5	0	0	5	56	157	-101	0	1	1

Briefly
This is an interesting rugby test match in that both teams appear to be on the rise. Germany has completed its games for the season and now it’s up to the other contestants to catch up.

Poland remain undefeated and look mostly likely to catch the Germans.

Moldova’s recent form is good including an excellent 38-18 win against Ukraine away last weekend. They have a good contingent of foreign-based players including Sale Shark’s Vadim Cobilas. The Moldovan’s have struggled when these players are unavailable. At the moment they are riding high and look well placed to give the Poles their first loss of the season.

Poland struggled at home to Ukraine in March winning 13-12 by a single point. Despite their hefty supply of France-based players they haven’t set this division on fire with dazzling form.

Prediction: Moldova to end Poland’s winning run and win by 5 points.

TEAMS

Moldova’s Early week squad of 32, to be reduced.
Cebotari Andrei

Victor Arhip

Dumitru Arhip

Adrian Baltag

Alexandru Baltag

Maxim Beşleaga

Alexandru Breazu

Alexandru Bulgac

Ion Buşilă

Nicolae Caburgan

Ion Cavcaliuc

Nicolai Chirilă

Vadim Cobîlaş

Maxim Cobîlaş

Mihai Golubenco

Orgian Igor

Dascal Ion

Ştefan Leca

Andrei Mahu,

Octavian Manoli

Evghenii Muntan

Victor Murzac

Dorin Petrache

Oleg Prepeliţa

Andrei Romanov

Dorogan Ruslan

Castraveţ Serjiu

Veaceaslav Titica

Eduard Toderica

Braga Vadim;

Dumitru Vasilachi

Gheorghe Volosciuc

 

Adapted from http://rugby.md/index.php?pagina=7&articol=661

POLAND squad from http://www.rugby.info.pl/artykul_3074_c ... o_moldawii

Forwards

Bachurzewski Craig (Arka Gdynia),

Boutes Jean, Ławski Kacper (CS Vienne),

Pretkowski Thomas (Lille),

Janiec Grzegorz (Romans),

Chróściel Adrian (Pogoń Siedlce),

Piorkowski Eric (Rodez),

Hebda Tomasz, Krużycki Michał (Lechia Gdańsk),

Brażuk Maciej (Orkan Sochaczew),

Gabunia Merab (Budowlani SA Łódź),

Bartoszek Mateusz (Givors),

Kordzielewski Thomas (Castanet),

Jankowski Tom (Bahrain);

 

Backs

Trybus Daniel (Posnania),

Szostek Łukasz, Stępień Tomasz (Arka Gdynia),

Billaud Leandre, Beccuau Alexandre (Beziers),

Pawelec Robert (Pogoń Siedlce),

Berthe Romuald (Rouan),

Hotowski Krzysztof (Vichy),

Chartier David (St Suplice).

 

Reserves

Kwiatkowski Robert, Płonka Marek (Lechia),

Szrejber Rafał, Andrzejczuk Robert (Arka),

Żórawski Łukasz (Budowlani SA),

Zeszutek Piotr (Ogniwo Sopot)