Test Rugby: Lithuania v Andorra

08.11.2008
Lithuania v Andorra at Andorra La Vela (WCQ Eur. R4; ENC 3A)

Preview
At this level of international rugby there is not a lot of publicity. But if you know the right places..

Lithuania was undefeated over two rounds (2 seasons) in ENC 3B 2006-08 and were deservidly promoted to ENC 3A for the next two seasons. The experts tell me that Lithuania is a rugby nation going places as they have a very good junior rugby programme.

On the way down from ENC 2B last season were Andorra. A tiny nation squashed between Spain and France in the Pyrenees Mountains, Andorra has but one rugby club at present doing battle in the Catalan League in Northern Spain. Most of the national players come from this club.

So for this match the Andorran team heading down meets the team on the up. Last season there were two divisions between them but today they are playing at the same level.

The Lithuanians appear to have stuck with their experienced team from last year which, the experts tell me, contains two veterans from the last and only time these teams have met, back in 1996. One of them, last years captain Darius Nosys, is a young 38 years in his socks.

So now let these two teams lock horns and see what happens!

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Andorra 23rd, Lithuania 27th.

Prediction: Lithuanians to go home with a narrow win by 2 points.

Teams

Andorra Squad
David Martinez
Roger Font
Xavier Vilasetru
Jeremy Berrier
Franck Mitjana
Oscar Cabanes
Ritchie Ortega
Marcos Cellone
Gerard Soteras
Paul Alieu
David Kirikashvili
Toni Carmona
Peter Ambor
Jonathan Garcia
Esteve Pérez
Sergi Lucas
Roger Fite
Marc Gispert
Flavien Sayo
Maxim Taurinya
Anthony Gaulin
Benjami Taurinya
Waki Tchatokey
Antonio Junqueiro
Head Coach: Christian Cerqueda

Special thanks to Graham Douglas who waves the Andorran Flag at http://worldcuprugby.blog.co.uk/

Lithuanian Squad
Marius Andrijauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Tomas Astrauskas (RC Salda Siauliai)
Dainius Baltrukenas (RC Klevas Panevezys)
Aleksandras Ciuchlejus (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Rokas Daknys (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Ignas Darkintis (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Mindaugas Grigas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Vilius Kucinas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Gediminas Liutkus (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Gediminas Marcisauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Kestutis Marcisauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Andrius Martinskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Mindaugas Misevicius (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Darius Nosys (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Egidijus Petronis (RC Kursiai Klaipeda)
Audrius Ramancionis (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Edmundas Scavinskas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Mindaugas Siumberevicius (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Donatas Streckis (RC Kursiai Klaipeda)
Laurynas Tipelis (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Justinas Vasiliauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)
Tomas Zibolis (RC BaltRex Siauliai)
Head coach - Anatolijus Smirnovas

Special thanks to Alfredas at http://www.kaunas.lt/regbis/ind_rinktine.html

For lists of all international rugby testmatches played by these two nations go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/