RWC: United States - Russia (15-09-2011, 19:30)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth (15-09-2011, 19:30)

Referee: Dave Pearson

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] United States [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Russia [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Chris Wyles [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Igor Klyuchinkov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Takudzwa Mgwenya [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Vasily Artemyev [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Paul Emerick [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Konstantin Rachkov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrew Suniula [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Alexey Makovetskiy [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] James Paterson [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Vladirmir Ostriushko [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ronald Suniula [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Yuri Kushnarev [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mike Petri [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Alexander Shakirov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nic Johnson [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Vyacheslav Gravchev [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Todd Clever [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Andrey Garbozov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Louis Stanfill [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Artem Fatakhov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Hayden Smith [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Denis Antonov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Johan van der Giessen [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Alexander Voytov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Matekitonga Moeakiola [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Ivan Prishchepenko [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Chris Biler [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Vladislav Korshunov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mike MacDonald [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Sergey Popov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Phil Thiel [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Valery Tsnobiladze [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Shawn Pittman [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Vladimir Botvinnikov [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Scott LaValle [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Alexander Khrokin [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Pat Danahy [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Adam Byrnes [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tim Usasz [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Alexander Yanyushkin [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nese Malifa [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Victor Gresev [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Blaine Scully [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Andrey Kuzin [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie United States-Russia

I added the vBookies for this cold war-clash!!!

 

[M Two One]

This could be one of the best and/or ugliest matches of the rugby world cup.

It will be Russia's first appearance at the cup, so they will be looking to make an immediate impact. I don't expect any fears to show. They're also a bit of a mystery for the rest of the teams in their group as some of their players ply their trade overseas. Players like Sergey Popov could easily play for bigger clubs in Europe, but he's fiercely loyal.

Konstantin Rachkov is closing in on the all-time points record for his nation despite only earning half the caps of his younger counterpart Yuri Kushnarev. Rachkov was a big part of Stade Phocéen's unbeaten run to the Fédérale 2 ***le last season, but Kushnarev is a more exciting player to watch and should be used as a spark off of the bench.

I'd like to see Artemiev and Ostroushko as the starting wingers and have Kuzin on the bench. I think they'll end up going with Kuzin to start, but I'm not sure if he will be used as a winger.

The United States will not come out the same as they did against Ireland in their first match. With plenty of options and experience in the back, they should try to run at the Russians and show what they can do. It will definitely be a welcome display considering how slow and uninspiring they were on Sunday.

I'd love to have Colin Hawley and Kevin Swiryn on the bench, but you won't see both players out there. I doubt one of the wingers would even replace Ngwenya or Paterson anyway, but Hawley would be the better option since he can play as a fullback.

Tai Enosa at the fly-half seems to be the best option for the US as Roland Suniula and Nese Malifa haven't really impressed during and prior to the world cup.

Here are my picks for both sides:


[TABLE="class: grid"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]United States[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Russia[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chris Wyles[/TD]
[TD] 15[/TD]
[TD]Igor Klyuchnikov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Takudzwa Ngwenya[/TD]
[TD] 14[/TD]
[TD]Vasily Artemiev[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Paul Emerick[/TD]
[TD] 13[/TD]
[TD]Mikhail Babaev[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Andrew Suniula[/TD]
[TD] 12[/TD]
[TD]Alexei Makovetski[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]James Paterson[/TD]
[TD] 11[/TD]
[TD]Vladimir Ostroushko[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tai Enosa[/TD]
[TD] 10[/TD]
[TD]Konstantin Rachkov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mike Petri[/TD]
[TD] 9[/TD]
[TD]Alexander Yanyushkin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nic Johnson[/TD]
[TD] 8[/TD]
[TD]Viacheslav Grachev[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Todd Clever[/TD]
[TD] 7[/TD]
[TD]Andrey Garbuzov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Louis Stanfill[/TD]
[TD] 6[/TD]
[TD]Artem Fatakhov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Hayden Smith[/TD]
[TD] 5[/TD]
[TD]Andrei Ostrikov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scott LaValla[/TD]
[TD] 4[/TD]
[TD]Adam Byrnes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Shawn Pittman[/TD]
[TD] 3[/TD]
[TD] Ivan Prishchepenko[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chris Biller[/TD]
[TD] 2[/TD]
[TD]Vladislav Korshunov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mike MacDonald[/TD]
[TD] 1[/TD]
[TD]Sergey Popov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Phil Thiel[/TD]
[TD] 16[/TD]
[TD]Evgeni Matveev[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mate Moeakiola[/TD]
[TD] 17[/TD]
[TD]Alexander Khrokin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]John v. der Giessen[/TD]
[TD] 18[/TD]
[TD]Alexander Voytov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Inaki Basauri[/TD]
[TD] 19[/TD]
[TD]Victor Gresev[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tim Usasz[/TD]
[TD] 20[/TD]
[TD]Alexander Shakirov[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Valenese Malifa[/TD]
[TD] 21[/TD]
[TD]Yuri Kushnarev[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Colin Hawley[/TD]
[TD] 22[/TD]
[TD]Andrei Kuzin[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Darwin]

What is Enosa like as a goal-kicker (or does he not kick goals)?. I was shocked to see James Paterson kicking in the Ireland match, as I've never seen him goal-kicking at any level.

Should be an interesting match, as often matches between 'minnow' teams turn out to be some of the best matches in the tournament.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

It doesn't matter what the sport is, watching the U.S. and the Sov...er, Russians duke it out is always exciting.



I'm gonna take the underdogs and say Russia wins 30-27.

 

[LittleGuy]

Is there going to be a pre-match ceremony for the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team that was killed in the plane crash? I know it has devastated many in Russia, and the Bears have said they will use it to inspire them on their campaign.

 

[M Two One]

What is Enosa like as a goal-kicker (or does he not kick goals)?. I was shocked to see James Paterson kicking in the Ireland match, as I've never seen him goal-kicking at any level.

Should be an interesting match, as often matches between 'minnow' teams turn out to be some of the best matches in the tournament.

I know that Tai can play fly-half, but he hasn't been properly tested on the national team as a kicker. He has only had one attempt as far as I know and converted well on it. Paterson only kicked twice and made one of them in that match against Ireland. Considering the weather, I think he should be given more opportunities. I was also shocked to see him kicking to be honest, but it would work in their favor if he's good at it.

Is there going to be a pre-match ceremony for the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team that was killed in the plane crash?

I would hope so.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

I would hope so.

I would hope so too.

 

[Seaton]

Tastiest match of the week, looking forward to seeing the Russians in action.

 

[rusty_lock]

The one thing I have seen with the Russians the few times I have watched them is they won't die wondering. They are more than will to have a crack, often to their detriment. Too many 50-50 balls or impatient decisions are often their undoing but when they get them to stick they can really look beautiful

 

[profitius]

I think the Russians will win this because the USA played at the weekend and they can't be 100% gong into this game.

 

[Seaton]

The one thing I have seen with the Russians the few times I have watched them is they won't die wondering. They are more than will to have a crack, often to their detriment. Too many 50-50 balls or impatient decisions are often their undoing but when they get them to stick they can really look beautiful

Sounds like a carbon copy of their Sevens team then ^_^

 

[M Two One]

May want to check over the spelling of about half the players' names for both nations' starting XV.

Great to see Moeakiola starting as he earned it, but a real shame not to see LaValla or Enosa out there. Even worse not to see Enosa at least on the bench! Poor coaching decision again.

 

[RoosTah]

Working while this is on, but def going to record it. Really looking forward to seeing Russia in action... Rugby just seems so suited to Russia some how and I suspect that it is only the private school associations it has in England that prevented it from taking off.

 

[nickdnz]

Working while this is on, but def going to record it. Really looking forward to seeing Russia in action... Rugby just seems so suited to Russia some how and I suspect that it is only the private school associations it has in England that prevented it from taking off.

I think you'll find that during that rugby was always been a victim of Russia's own politics, being banned for being being brutal when the game was being founded and later being banned by the Soviet Union because it had affiliations with the rest of the western world.

 

[Shaggy]

It will be interesting to see who the crowd supports, and, hopefully, both sides will run the ball ... sorry M Two One, I know you backed the Canadians against Tonga, but i'm backing the Russians on this one

 

[Canucks]

I think we need to Soviets to pull Tretiak early and get Brooks to have Eruzione out against Pervukhin as there's a clear mismatch.. Oh wait wrong era.

I think Kesler and Orpik need to be out there shadowing the Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kovalchuk line and Ryan Miller needs to stand on his head.....oh wait wrong sport.

I think Captain America Clever needs to tie his ponytail tight and go hunting.

It might be my hockey bias coming into effect here but I think the States just needs to hit the Russians to force them into errors. Same thing Canada and USA always do in hockey, might work here. Almost worked against Ireland.

Other than that, GO MY SOUTHERN BROTHERS! I may hate you when we play you but I was cheering for you when you took it to the Irish.

 

[kovana]

I want Russia to win.. BUt i got 100 on the Americans!! Go USA!

 

[Boozecluez]

It will be interesting to see who the crowd supports, and, hopefully, both sides will run the ball ... sorry M Two One, I know you backed the Canadians against Tonga, but i'm backing the Russians on this one

Well as Russia came to New Plymouth 6 months ago and are based there along with alot of feel good articles in the local media ..Can see the locals backing the russians by a county mile

 

[Shaggy]

Well as Russia came to New Plymouth 6 months ago and are based there along with alot of feel good articles in the local media ..Can see the locals backing the russians by a county mile

Thanks ... good to know, just thought there was a lot of support for the US at the match against Ireland, so i thought support might go their way