Serbia is undefeated in 2022 .
Yes, you read that right, Serbia completes 2022 without a defeat, that is, this is our fifth victory in a row. We will spend the autumn part of the competition at the top of the table with a maximum of 10 points, which was the goal before the beginning of the cycle. There is not a lot of philosophy here, Serbia justified the role of favorite, and now we are waiting for the match with Bosnia and Herzegovina that will decide who will take the first place in the 2022/2023 season. The match is scheduled for the 29th of April 2023 . , which will take place in Zenica on Kamberovića Polje starting at 2:00 p.m.
In case you didn’t know, the rules for getting a bonus point when you beat a match have changed. Previously you needed to score four essays and win the match to get the maximum 5 match points. Now you need to win the match with three essay difference to win the bonus point. In our example, we beat Turkey 23-6, scoring three tries, Turkey none. The three essay difference is made, and we take home 4 points for the win and 1 point for the three essay difference.
Turkey positively surprised with a good game
Although we controlled most of the match, the Turks still had their chances to start the game in the second half. Luckily for us, that didn’t happen and we managed to bring the game to a peaceful end. However, Turkey surprised us, primarily with their game and scouting of our game. Although as many as 17 players appeared as against Bosnia, they made 5 changes in the starting line-up, and all in the scrum. So they strengthened positions where they were thin. And they put pressure on us primarily in the car, because they saw that we were the most dangerous there. And they succeeded in most situations, the only problem is that they failed to capitalize on it.
They managed to structure their game and win the field with a kick from penalty. We pressed them in the lineout, where we successfully stole even more lineout from them than they did to us, that’s where we managed to nullify our worse lineout. They based the game on two playmakers who were on two different sides of the field, something similar to how it is done in rugby league, however a lot of players played from that code. Omer Pir and Alkut Kanaklar had a very good match, but it was not enough for a better result. The chosen ones of Cherokee Ngue will have the opportunity for a rematch already next season, when we expect an even more interesting game.
After a slow start, Serbia stepped up towards the end of the first half
We didn’t open the game in the best way. We had a lot of errors. We missed several opportunities to attack the Turks from the lineout. As we have already stated above, Turkey exerted a lot of pressure on our team, because they knew that the greatest danger threatened them precisely from our lightning actions from the lineout. It wasn’t just the out that was a problem, we didn’t play in the system, the support was late, we had a few loose balls again. But we also had a few goals, specifically from their scrums and outs. The defense was up to the task.
The first serious action of Serbia was seen at 10th minute of the match when we formed a mole after our out, deep in 22 opponents. After a general scramble that the referee couldn’t control, somehow we manage to get the ball out and form a line attack. The ball comes to Igor Dejanović, who breaks through the defense line, but is stopped. The Turkish player did not move from the ruck and a penalty was played for us. Nikola Stanković was accurate for a 3-0 lead.
In those moments, Turkey was determined to fight back. However, our defense was up to the task. We were extremely aggressive on the ball, which forced the opponent to have three or more players in the ruck. They had to struggle for every meter won. Such aggressive play sometimes results in a penalty. That’s how it was in the 15th minute, where the Turks received a penalty ten meters from the center. Eyup Das was safe and leveled the score at 3-3.
A period of play followed where a great struggle was seen. The Eagles were very determined to score and we put pressure on the Turkish defense non-stop, which somehow managed to hold on. But it gave in at 28th minute when, after the siege of the Turkish area, we opened the ball from the penalty on the line. Antoine Jovović makes a cross with Dejanović who somehow stopped just before the tryline. However, Jovović quickly buys the ball, enters the try zone, is stopped, but managed to stay on his feet, in those moments Predrag Keglić comes to the support, who enters to get the ball, snatches it from Jovović and throws himself into the try. Serbia leads 8-3.
In those moments, Serbia wonders about everything. After the missed conversion, Nikola Stanković also misses the penalty. And then at 39th minute Turks make an unforced error and the referee plays a scrum for Serbia. The ball is taken out of the scrum by Aleksandar Madjanović, who passes an offload to Keglic, who passes a quick pass to Aleksandar Đorđević, who breaks through the Turkish defense at full speed. Then Đorđević passes the ball to Jovović, who with a quick play employs Dejanović, who noticed Kaspar Strugar in a full run, who had no difficulty scoring an essay for 13-3. From a difficult position, Aljoša Avramović failed to hit the shot from the transformation. The referee blows at the end of the half.
Turkey's pressure, Serbia's better finish
Turkey entered the second part of the match very consolidated with the desire to change the result and the situation on the field. In 4th minute, with an excellent penetration they managed to break through our defense and enter our 22 meters. After our yellow card, they had a scrum about ten meters from our essay, but an insecure ball byTurkey’scrumhalh caused the opener to drop the ball forward. We managed to defend ourselves. And then perhaps the most beautiful action of the match was seen. The ball came to Jovović from the scrum, who won ten meters of space. Then a quick ball from the ruck comes to Keglic who employs Strugar, who passes to Stankovic on the wing. In contact, Stankovic throws the opposing player to the ground and passes the ball to Strugar, who was in an unstoppable breakthrough, where in the end he scores a beautiful essay past several Turkish players. However, the referee is very weak, canceling the essay and ruling out for Turkey. We have no comment.
In 60th minute the referee calls us offside and Turkey gets a penalty on the line 10 meters from the center in the middle of the field. Arin Gulsen is safe and cuts the score to 13-6. And Then in 67th minut we saw a desider. We win Turkey’s lineout in our half, the ball comes to Strugar, who makes an incredible breakthrough and transfers the pressure to the opponent’s half. Then the Turks formed two crabs, which were followed by a fantastic tactical shot. Avramović had nothing left but to kick the ball out. Although Avramović made additional contact while the ball was in the outfield, the referee allows the Turks to take a quick out. The ball quickly reaches Orhan Akbaba, who is brought down by Stanković a meter from the goal, where Đorđević wins the penalty. An incredible defensive feat by the Eagles that turned the situation around on the field.
Nervous Turks at 30th minutes aword penalty to Serbia. Ašolja Avramović transfers the penalty kick and again returns the score to two possessions 16-6. We didn’t stop there, we knew we needed one more try to take home the bonus point. Some say luck follows the brave, but we’ve earned our bonus point. After a shot by the Turks from their 22 meters, the ball reaches the captain Velibor Srećković, who pulls a counterattack where he wins ten meters and passes to Alen Ćosović offload. After a big fight in the middle of the field, the ball comes to Jovović, who took over the job of the opener, who quickly sends the ball on the wing to Đorđević, who returns it inside to Stanković, who scores an try in an unstoppable penetration. Avramović successfully converted the try for a final score of 23-6.
Match information
Venue: Trabzon, Turkey
Stadium: Vakifkebir Stadium
Date: 15.10.2022. .
Turkey – Serbia 6-23 (3-13)
Kickoff: 11:00h
Temperature: Moderately cloudy, 15 degrees
Replay: European Rugby Federation website
Conference 2 South information: Tables, schedules and scorers list.
Serbia squad:
Vladimir Đukić, Boško Jovanović, Predrag Vraneš, Aleksandar Krstić, Relja Pećanac, Aleksandar Madjanović, Alen Ćosović, Predrag Keglić 5, Aljoša Avramović 5, Nikola Stanković 8, Velibor Srecković, Aleksandar Đorđević, Antoan Jovović, Kaspar Strugar 5, Igor Dejanović, Ivan Rodić, Uroš Jončić, Stefan Ivković, Nemanja Stošić, Ivan Voštić, Rajko Janković, Stefan Simović, Stevan Nikolić.
Captain: Velibor Srecković
Headcoach: Michel Milović
Coach: Marko Janković
Coach: Marko Žeravica
Coach: Ljubomir Bukvić
Team doctor: Enes Isaki
Team manager: Miroljub Bukvić
6 takeaways
Granite defense
In two games, we did not concede a single try. We were so good and disciplined that we gave Turkey only two chances to shoot penalties, and not really from good positions. And that was all, we successfully covered all other attacks. We will repeat the situation from 67th minute again when Stanković and Đorđević stopped the opponent’s attack a meter from the goal and caused a penalty. The whole team contributed and everyone was up to the task of defending. During the entire game, we were aggressive, explosive and shut down all the actions of the Turks in the best way. Good defenses win championships.
The Aleksandar Đorđević factor
He showed class once again. During the entire match, he was impenetrable in defense. He fought like a lion throughout the match. He had a couple of balls won in the ruck, after which we got a penalty. Certainly the most significant one is when Stanković brought down the Turkish player a meter from the goal, and Đorđević forced a penalty with an excellent defensive move. In attack, he was exceptional and penetrating. A player who makes a difference on the pitch. He actively participated in all three tries, with the fact that he assisted in the last one.
The Unstoppable Strugar
Kaspar Strugar was in his element throughout the game. He got into great shape and demonstrated it throughout the game. In the first part of the match, he scored an try after an excellent action. In the second part, he participated in the action with Stanković, after which he scored a fantastic essay, which the referee did not recognize. In defense, he was up to the task because he neutralized the fast Turkish wings. Excellent at shooting and covering the field. Even better in rucks. Definitely one of the deadliest weapons that Serbia has.
Nikola Stanković MVP
Definitely man of the match. He decided the winner with two moves of his own. The first move was to bring down the Turkish player a meter from Essay while on the counter. It was a 1v1 situation against a post player. The second situation is the try that put an end to the game and with the achievement of which we got a bonus point. During the entire match, he was excellent, and he was especially deadly when he rotated with Jovović, where he played masterfully at the second center.
Reservists stabilized the ranks
The long bench wins games. The better the bench, the more likely you are to emerge victorious in the end. We must pay special attention to the scrum, where the reserves managed to stabilize the situation, even when we had 6 players in the scrum compared to the opponent, who had 8. Selector Milović replaced the entire first line, which showed character and brought the game to a calmer end. Once again it was shown that the players from the bench decided the game.
Bad lineout
Our deadliest weapons did not work. Turkey analyzed our out well and stopped us completely. The out was uncertain, we looked more to deflect the ball towards the demi than to catch it. As far as it seems to us, we formed a minor only once during the match. Not a single point was won directly because of the offside, which is a big disadvantage of the match, but on the other hand, it was a tactical victory for Turkey. It’s as if we didn’t have a plan B if it’s not possible to implement plan A.
