THIS WEEKEND 10 NOVEMBER

This weekend sees 6 European teams continue to play in the European Nations Cup. This cup is played in a number of pools and three divisions.

Georgia and Portugal were to have played their first post World Cup matches in the ENC 1^st division but a state of emergency was declared in Georgia Wednesday following several days of public protests and unrest. The Netherlands is ready to take on the Ukraine in Kiev after their 49-12 friendly win over Switzerland. Belgium and Germany start the second half of the 2A tournament in Brussels. Croatia caused an upset by defeating Pool leaders Poland in Poland last month and must be favoured to defeat Malta at home.

The Asiad Rugby Tournament winds up in Colombo with finals day on Saturday. Undefeated sides Kazakhstan and hosts Sri Lanka play for the premier trophy, The Asiad Cup. Both teams have brushed aside rivals in pool play making the final looking very much like a tight, tough encounter. The two China’s will continue a most intriguing rivalry when they play for the Asiad Bowl. Thailand and Malaysia have both slipped in the Asian table and face each other to decide the wooden spoon of this tournament.

The second tier South American nations are playing fro the CONSUR B trophy in Lima, Peru. Brazil looks favoured to take the title as only lowly Colombia stand in their way on Saturday whilst host nation Peru look likely to defeat Venezuela for second place.

10.11.2007

Georgia v Portugal in Tblissi (ENC 1) Game postponed-state of emergency in Georgia

Ukraine 13, Netherlands 7 in Kiev (ENC 2A)

Ukraine won by 6 points. I predicted Ukraine by 19.

Reviews

Previous Encounters

18.11.2006 Ukraine 29-18 in Amsterdam (ENC 2A)

15.05.2006 Ukraine 22-0 in Kiev (ENC 2A)

27.04.2003 Ukraine 24-18 (ENC 2A)

01.11.1997 Netherlands 35-13 in Amsterdam (WCQ Euro Pool 2, RB)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Ukraine 16^th, Netherlands 22^nd

Teams

Ukraine Squad

Sergіy Bubela

Mikola Delіergіev

George Gueguidze

Artem Glinka

Ondri Golіshchev

Volodimir Kashlyuk

Mykola Kіrsanov

Vadim Kolishkіn

V'yacheslav Krasil'nikov

Maxim Kravchenko

Oleksandr Kul'gan

Oleg Kvasnitsya

Dmytro Levіchev

Olexsandr Lomakіn

Oleksandr Liubiy

Jaba Malaghuradze

Vіtalіy Orlov

Vyacheslav Ponomarenko

Ruslan Radchuk

Sergіy Shydlovsky

Mykola Sivko

Sergіu Sukhіkh

Olexsandr Tsapenko

Ruslan Tserkovniy

Sergіy Tserkovni

Sergіy Yanchіy

Vіtalіy Zadvіrni

Іvan Zalіzniak

From http://rugby.org.ua/newsdesk_info.php?n ... d3db107c36

Bold type indicates did not play for Ukraine 2006-07

Gueguidze and Malaghuradze are Georgians who have settled in Ukraine.

Delіergіev played in 2005-06

Thanks to ‘Quentin’ and ‘FLIDTA RISXVA’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2564

Belgium 32, Germany 18 in Brussels (ENC 2A)

Belgium won by 14 points. I predicted Germany by 14.

Reviews

Last Five Encounters

18.11.2006 Germany 32-13 in Heidelberg (ENC 2A)

29.04.2006 Germany 33-15 in Hannover (WCQ Euro. R3A, Pool B)

25.04.1999 Germany 27-17 in Heidelberg (FIRA C)

16.11.1996 Belgium 24-3 in Brussels (FIRA Classif. Pool A)

21.11.1993 Germany 32-16 in Heurestamm (FIRA A2)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Germany 13^th, Belgium 15^th CHANGE

Teams

Belgium

15 Alan Williams (Castres, France)

14 Daniel Nkwasina (Kituro)

13 Simon Marote (Arras, France)

12 Dirk Haghedooren (Beziers, France)

11 Thibaut Andre (Lille, France)

10 Carlos Fierro (Lille, France)

9 Kevin Williams (Seapoint RFC, Ireland)

8 Andrew Neill (Valence d'Agen, France)

7 Mathew Hocken (Brussels Barbarians RFC)

6 Pierre Plasman (Boitsfort)

5 Cyrille Nana (Lille, France)

4 Mathieu Verschelden (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)

3 Jérôme Wey (La Seyne, France)

2 Thomas Dienst (Le Loup, France)

1 Norman Wende (Vannes, France)

Replacements

16 James Mulumba (?)

17 Alain Miriallakis (Villeurbanne, France)

18 Bertrand Billi (Soignies)

19 Denis Eppe (Rugby Ottignies Club)

20 Julien Berger (Kituro)

21 Sébastien Guns (Rugby Ottignies Club)

22 Fréderic Rongé (ASUB Rugby Waterloo)

Not selected from original squad

Debaty Christophe (Domont, France)

Pierre Hendrickx (Boitsfort)

Henry Sébastien (Massy, France)

David Nemsadze (Boitsfort)

Romain Orban (Kituro)

Unavailable: Damien Godefroy (Lille, France), suspended

Thanks to ‘Belgian Lion’ http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2549 and http://www.rugby.be

Germany Squad

Christian Baracat (SC Frankfurt 1880)

Kehoma Brenner (RG Heidelberg).

Sebastien Chaule (RG Heidelberg)

Benjamin Danso (DRC Hannover),

Lars Eckert (SC Neuenheim)

Pierre Faber (RC Strasbourg)

Sascha Fischer (Périgeux, France)

Matthieu Franke (RC Orléans, France)

Colin Grzanna (Berliner RC)

Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg)

Timothy Kasten (RG Heidelberg)

Benjamin Krause (SG Hannover 78/08 Ricklingen)

Franck Moutsinga (Berliner RC)

Jens Schmidt (TSV Handschuhsheim)

Bodo Sieber (University Cape Town, South Africa)

Marten Strauch (SC Neuenheim)

Timur Tekkal (DRC Hannover)

Gerrit van Look (Berliner RC)

Clemens von Grumbkow (RC Orléans, France)

Markus Walger (RK Heusenstamm)

Christopher Weselek (RG Heidelberg)

Alexander Widiker (RC Orléans, France)

Coach: Rudolf Finsterer

Changes in the German squad from original selections

Timothy Coly (RC Strasbourg, France) and Klaus Mainzer (SC Neuenheim) replaced by Pierre Faber (RC Strasbourg) and Kehoma Brenner (RG Heidelberg).

Robert Mohr (Stade La Rochelle, France) not released by club.

German squad preselection for training http://www.rugby-journal.de/templates/m ... 0-25-4309: and thanks to FIRA-AER forum contributors at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2549

Croatia 24, Malta 9 in Makarska (ENC 2B)

Croatia won by 15 points. I predicted Croatia by 18.

Reviews

Previous Encounters

04.11.2006 Croatia won 40-18 in Marsa (ENC 2B)

15.04.2006 Malta 26-15 in Marsa (WCQ Europe R3, Pool B)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Croatia 17^th, Malta 20^th

Teams

Malta Squad

Malcolm Attard (Stompers RFC)

James Bartolo (Edinburgh Academicals, Scotland) 1^st test

Ian Borda (Kavallieri RFC)

David Borg (Kavallieri RFC)

Ryan Borg (Cronulla Sharks RFC, Australia)

Justin Bugeja (Liverpool RFC, England) 1^st test

Dominic Busuttil (Beddau RFC, Wales)

Harry Collins (Hartpury College, England)

Lee Culnane (Tuggeranong Vikings RFC, Australia)

James Finlason (Hove RFC, England)

Steven Kempster (Tring RFC, England)

Guy Kennedy (Queanbeyan RFC, Australia)

Michael McArdle (Ealing RFC, England)

Leonard Mifsud (Stompers RFC)

Matthew Mirabelli (Stompers RFC)

Daryl Psaila (Overseas RUFC)

Oliver Sacco (Clifton RFC, England)

Rohan Spiteri (Goulburn Stockmen RFC, Australia)

Nicholas Warren (Wootton Bassett RFC, England)

Thomas Watts (Old Coventrians RFC, England)

Thomas Webb (Eton Manor RFC, England)

Michael Whitney (RAC Cirencester, England)

Saviour Zarb (Easts Rugby Canberra RFC, Australia)

Note: this squad is also selected for the following week's match at home to Latvia

MALTA squad from http://www.maltarugby.com/page.asp?n=ne ... ls&i=10560

Thanks also to ‘Quentin’ http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2565