Kazan Euro Grand Prix Preview

France and Russia - top two in Europe in 2015

Pool A

France

Coach David Courtiex was very disappointed with his team’s performance in Clermont, highlighting that his team were making too many errors. Clermont also cost the team Caroline Ladagnous, whose knee injury could potentially see her missing Rio which will be a significant blow to French chances. With Courtiex aiming to select a strong team for Kazan the inclusion of Amiel, Biscarat, Fourcade and Troncy in place of Tremouliere, Guiglion, Le Pesq and the injured Ladagnous suggests that the final three or four places in Rio will be between these players.

As for this weekend, even if France do not make a marked improvement in their performance they should still win this pool at a canter and then be well placed to challenge for for the final

Montserrat Amedee (Montpellier); Audrey Amiel (Stade Français); Pauline Biscarat (Bobigny); Laürelin Fourcade (Bordeaux); Camille Grassineau (Bordeaux); Lina Guerin (Marcoussis); Fanny Horta (FFR); Shannon Izar (Lille MRCV); Christelle Le Duff (Villelongue); Marjorie Mayans (Blagnac St-Orens); Rose Thomas (Bordeaux); Jennifer Troncy (Montpellier);

Netherlands

The first big test for the Dutch side since their elimination from Rio last year sees a team that is roughly 50% experienced campaigners, and 50% newcomers to rugby at this level. The team is clearly in rebuilding mode and the loss of the experienced Joyce van Altena with an ankle injury sustained at Amsterdam, where the squad finished second to an Irish Development team, is a set-back for the Dutch. The loss in that final, after an impressive semi-final win against the Chinese, also raises questions about how likely the team is to be competing for a return to the top four in Europe. That said a quarter-finals should be well within their grasp, even if that is likely to be as a best third-placed team.

Anne Hielckert (AAC); Annemarije van Rossum (RUS); Bodil van Wijnbergen (URC); Elke van Meer (RUS); Jannicke IJdens (RUS);  Erin Arends; Marit de Gier (AAC); Paula Schouten (AAC); Pien Selbeck (AAC); Pleuni Kievit (The Dukes); Sanne Klem (URC); Willemijn ter Avest (ARC The Pigs)

Great Britain Royals(Great Britain 2)

Officially “Great Britain 2”, this GB team takes Wales’ place in this tournament and plays under the name of Great Britain Royals. Appropriatelythe teamincludes all of the GB squad’s Welsh players, plus Scotland’s Steph Johnston as well as eight English names.

The result is a team that is stronger than Wales would be on their own, full of players desperate to make their mark and push for a place in the Rio squad. With all of that incentive, plus months of training and playing together, they should be too strong for the Dutch and Finns, and will be the real test for the French as well. Beyond that on Day 2, given a good draw, they must have a good chance causing an upset and making the last four.

Squad:See here

Finland

The Finnsexceeded all expectationslast year just to win promotion to this Grand Prix, and their greatest aim must be to keep their place at the top table. And that will be tough as to do so they must finish higher than two from teams (probably two from Belgium, Portugal and Ukraine.

That said, Finland performed very creditably in their warm-up tournaments so far and (although they are likely to be in the bowl this time around, given this pool draw (should not be under-estimated. Two bowl semi-final wins would be more than enough to see them return next year.

Squad: TBC

Pool B

Russia

A squad has not been announced, but the team for Russia’s home tournament in Kazan is expected to be the strongest it has fielded since the World Series in Dubai.

The next few weeks are make-or-break for Pavel Baronovsky and his team - they absolutely must qualify for Rio (as a minimum) to retain their funding for next season and beyond. Failure would probably see the loss of most of the coaching staff, and several players too.

Pressure is therefore going to be huge, but the Russians have been a team that have responded well to playing at home in the past and will be expecting a minimum of a semi-final, if not a place in the final, which would set them up perfectly for Dublin.

Ireland

Drawn in the pool with their biggest rival for a place in Rio gives the Irish a perfect chance to see how realistic their Olympic ambitions remain after a tough World Series where they finished behind both Spain and Russia.

The good news for Kazan is the return of Louise Galvin and Nicole Cronin from injury, plus a first full cap for 15s captain Niamh Briggs, who was central to their development team’s triumph in Amsterdam. Shannon Houston also plays having missed Clermont, and the changes also give some of their Clermont team a rest ahead of Dublin.

At this level, and with their World Series experience, Ireland will make the last eight without undue difficulty – getting beyond that will be the challenge.

Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster); Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians / Munster); Nicole Cronin (Railway Union / Munster); Aoife Doyle (Shannon / Munster); Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster); Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster); Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians / Munster); Shannon Houston (Blackrock / Leinster); Alison Miller (Portlaoise / Connacht); Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum / Leinster (Captain); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster); Megan Williams (St.Mary’s College RFC)

Italy

The Italian XVs championship ended only last weekend, and with half of the squad involved in that final fixture as well as the weeks of play-offs leading up to it, preparations for this championship will not have been ideal. Switching between 15s and 7s is notoriously difficult, even for players who play sevens regularly. As a result, talented though the Italians undoubtedly are, it is unlikely that they will seriously trouble the leading teams in Kazan. A quarter-final place should be the peak of their ambition.

Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale); Jessica Busato (Benetton Rugby Treviso); Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Monza 1949); Maria Grazia Cioffi (Caravaggio Benevento ); Manuela Furlan (Benetton Rugby Treviso); Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949); Maria Magatti (Rugby Monza 1949); Elisa Pillotti (Rugby Parabiago); Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Claudia Salvadego (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Michela Sillari (Hbs Rugby Colorno)

Belgium

Another team not to be underestimated, the Belgians – with a third of their players from French champions Lille, all of whom were playing in the opening round of the French club sevens last weekend – are a talented side with the ability to not only trouble the Italians in the pool, but other teams beyond. Ultimately they lack the fire power to challenge the World Series teams, but a place in the last eight is possible.

Margaux Lalli (Lille); Sytske D’Haeseleir (Lille); Ciska De Grave (Lille); Nele Pien (Lille); Evelien Rosier (Leuven); Cécile Blondiau (Soignies); Hanne Boedt (Dendermonde); Carmen De Donder (Dendermonde); Gaëlle Portier Coq (Mosan/Boitsfort); Margaux Stévins (Boitsfort); Héloïse Stévins (Boitsfort); Emilie Musch (Boitsfort);

Pool C

Spain

Spain (with England) practically owned this championship before the rise of Russia and, in last year or so, France and will be targeting a top four finish after an encouraging seventh place in Clermont was more than enough to confirm their place in next year’s World Series.

The squad has yet to be announced, but is expected to be missing young Tesesa Bueso, who was injured in Clermont. All Spanish hopes will be targeted beyond Kazan towards Dublin where the Spanish are expected to be the biggest challenge to Russia. If they are to hope to beat Russia in two weeks then here in Kazan they really must reach the semi-finals as a minimum, although being drawn with Great Britain may make that quite challenging.

Great Britain Lions(Great Britain 1)

Taking England’s place in the draw we have a Great Britain team made up entirely by Englishwomen – and, moreover, the twelve players who are in the driving seat for a place in Rio. The most notable absence, and perhaps a crucial one, is Emily Scarratt who was injured in Clermont and being rested here, though we understand she should be recovered by Rio. Scarratt has been the lynchpin of England’s dramatically improved form after their poor showing in Sao Paulo and without her in Clermont they were not the same team.

Anything less than a place in the final here in Kazan would be a major disappointment for a team with real podium hopes in Rio.

Squad:See here

Ukraine

Finalists in theCentrale 7s, Ukraine’s preparations have gone well, though the retirement of captain Olga Blanutsa - possibly the best sevens player to have never played in the World Series – will make it tough for one of Europe’s yo-yo teams, rising and falling between the top two levels of European Sevens.

Their target will be staying in the top flight and , despite the good showing last month, they may have a tough time on Day 1.

Squad: TBC

Portugal

Always the surprise team in these tournaments, Portugal beat the Dutch to make the Dublin Olympic play-off last year.They believethey can have their best ever year in European Sevens, and after a performance at theCentrale 7swhere most observers thought them to be the best team (they were unlucky to finish only third), Portugal are a dangerous team to be drawn against.

They should win at least one pool game, and will probably make the quarter-finals. After that, with their record, they could pull off a shock.

Christina Louise Ramos (SL Benfica); Maria Lezita Simas Guerreiro (SC Porto); Arlete Cristina Lima Gonçalves (SL Benfica); Leonor Pinto Amaral (Sporting CP); Isabel Brito Cunha Noronha Ozório (Sporting CP); Catarina Sofia Ramos Antunes (SL Benfica); Catarina Isabel Santos Ribeiro (SC Porto); Maria Ana Saraga Biscaya Silva Heitor (LMRCV Club Villeneuvois); Inês Spinola Duarte (MRC Bairrada); Sara Jéssica Ribeiro da Silva (RC Tondela); Maria Vasquez Leal Felix Jesus (SL Benfica); Antónia Fernandes Braga Martins (CRAV)

Fixtures and scores

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