Russia v. Canada

First topic message reminder :

Tonga have just thrashed USA to overtake them in the World Rankings. Russia v. Canada are soon to kick off. I imagine Russia are underdogs for this game but can they pull of a win?

Canada

15 James Pritchard
14 Matt Evans
13 Conor Trainor
12 Mike Scholz
11 Justin Mensah-Coker
10 Ander Monro (c)
9 Sean White
8 Aaron Carpenter
7 Chauncey O'Toole
6 Jebb Sinclair
5 Jamie Cudmore
4 Tyler Hotson
3 Scott Franklin
2 Ryan Hamilton
1 Tom Dolezel
Substitutes:
16 Pat Riordan
17 Andrew Tiedemann
18 Hubert Buydens
19 Mitch Gudgeon
20 Nanyak Dala
21 Ed Fairhurst
22 Phil Mackenzie

Russia

15 Igor Klyuchnikov
14 Vasily Artemiev
13 Igor Makovetskiy
12 Alexey Makovetskiy
11 Vladamir Ostroushko
10 Yuri Kushnarev
9 Sergey Sergeev
8 Vyacheslav Grachev
7 Andrey Garbuzov
6 Andrey Temnov
5 Alexander Voytov
4 Vladimir Boltenkov
3 Ivan Prischepenko
2 Vladislav Korshunov (c)
1 Sergey Popov
Substitutes:
16 Valery Tsnobiladze
17 Alexey Travkin
18 Alexey Panasenko
19 Victor Gresev
20 Andrey Bykanov
21 Sergey Trishin
22 Anton Ryabov

Just imagine if a large sporting nation like Russia had taken the sport seriously much sooner they would be far higher up the rankings.

Cymroglan wrote:Just imagine if a large sporting nation like Russia had taken the sport seriously much they would be far higher up the rankings.

A sign of things to come in the Rugby World.

Notch wrote:Here that comment about the Llanelli fans dreamer?

Probably a bad referee...

aye, typical Llanelli!

That's just unbelievable from Artemiev. Fantastic defence.

Notch wrote:

A sign of things to come in the Rugby World.

And that can only be good for the sport.

What a tackle!

Absolutely fantastic given the pace.

Where ever he learnt his rugby they did well

Notch wrote:

Cymroglan wrote:Just imagine if a large sporting nation like Russia had taken the sport seriously much they would be far higher up the rankings.

A sign of things to come in the Rugby World.

Everything within the IRB is geared to promoting the game but making sure the strong stay strong and the weak stay weak. Since the 1940's nothing much has happened in rugby apart from Italy joining the now 6 Nations and Argentina will be joining the 3 Nations. At this rate most of us will be long dead before we see any serious changes to the pecking order...

I'm not saying they are going to win World Cups, I'm just saying they are going to get a lot stronger over the next decade.

Other than the introduction of the Pacific Nations Cup in 2005, the Churchill Cup in 2002 and the European Nations Cup in 2000.

These competitions give regular rugby to the lower tier nations. The Churchill Cup and Pacific Nations Cup also include the A teams of England and Australia and the Maoris.

That's hardly nothing.

You've got to admire the spirit of Russia here to weather that Canadian storm, but they really need to get some possession otherwise they WILL tire!

They've really shown some character in the last fifteen minutes.

That's a fantastic try from Canada. Brilliant offloads.

The Russians seem to whip the ball out too quickly. Allowing the Canadian defence to cover across.

And that's the game- hard luck Russia.

What an arrogant player Chauncy O'Toole is. Completely disrespectful for Russia. I've never seen an interview with the guy but even if I did I would ignore. Anyone who dives to score a try is arrogant

Edit:

Come on, young and in the heat of the moment- doesn't say what he's like off the pitch if it's a one-off. That's like saying everyone who throws a punch is a violent thug in real life.

ANOTHER interception try. Russia have tired in the last quarter. Harsh scorelne, but there you go.

At least he didn't dive, eh Thunor?

Aw, that is a shame.

The Russians with just a bit too much eagerness there at the end and Canada pouncing. Catching the last ten minutes, it doesn't sound like the score was an accurate reflection of the game.

I feel sorry for the USA. It's hard to believe thar rugby is the fastest growing sport in the country after that performance. And they said on Sky that USA have just established their first professional club. How does this work?

To be honest I thought having the match in that stadium was a poor show. The USA players were training in a car park. It just looked really bad for rugby. They should have had it somewhere decent like Franklins Gardens, Kingsholm or Welford Road.

Ruggerby,

They're bringing international rugby to a place that would never get it otherwise. They wouldn't have got a decent crowd anywhere so this was good.

For the slots when the Saxons are playing, we'll see bigger stadiums.

Thought Russia did very well, could see more than just the winger playing in britain after the WC

AlynDavies wrote:

Notch wrote:

Cymroglan wrote:Just imagine if a large sporting nation like Russia had taken the sport seriously much they would be far higher up the rankings.

A sign of things to come in the Rugby World.

Everything within the IRB is geared to promoting the game but making sure the strong stay strong and the weak stay weak. Since the 1940's nothing much has happened in rugby apart from Italy joining the now 6 Nations and Argentina will be joining the 3 Nations. At this rate most of us will be long dead before we see any serious changes to the pecking order...

Thats a bit ridiculous. Where were the Island nations 20 years ago. Now they regulalry beat Wales, the self appointed greatest rugby nation on earth.