THIS WEEKEND 5-8 MAY
Updated 23.05.2007
08.05.2007
Kazakhstan 71,
Sri Lanka 6 in Almaty (Asia Nations Div.2)
http://www.mulpituwa.com/?viewnews=5137
05.05.2007
Spain 42,
Czech Republic 15 in Prague (ENC 1)
Spain won by 27 points. I predicted Spain by 20.
Previews
A number of
overseas-based players return to the Czech squad. The Czechs are probably
targeting Spain as the team they are most likely to defeat in this competition.
They will need to do this twice before June 2008 if they are to remain in
Division 1. They have already played Spain twice earlier in the season in World
Cup qualifying matches. The Czechs lost both 12-33 and 17-46.
Spain is looking to
cement its place in Division 1 after being in division 2 for two seasons.
http://rugbyunion.cz/cesko-spanelsko-
LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS
30.09.2006 Spain 46-17
in Madrid (WCQ Europe R4 playoff 2nd leg)
16.09.2006 Spain 33-12
in Prague (WCQ Europe R4 playoff 1st leg)
27.03.2004 Czech
Republic 16-6 in Prague (ENC 1)
30.03.2003 Czech
Republic 40-38 in Madrid (ENC 1)
30.11.1997 Spain 39-8 in
Santander (WCQ Europe, Pool 3, Rnd B)
GWC Rugby Rankings:
Europe Table-Spain 7th, Czech Republic 12th
Moldova 17,
Ukraine 16 in Kiev (ENC 2A)
Moldova won by 1 point. I predicted Moldova by 8.
Previews
This is crucial game for
both teams. Moldova are now favourites to take this title and win promotion to
Division 1 in 2008. The Ukraine, recently relegated, must win against their up
and coming southern neighbours. This win is crucial to their plans to be
reinstated into the top Division of FIRA-AER.
Amazingly these rugby
neighbours have only met once before in 1996. Ukraine won 38-0 in Kiev in the
early rugby days of both nations.
GWC Rugby Rankings:
Europe Table-Moldova 14th, Ukraine 16th
Belgium 27,
Netherlands 20 in Amsterdam (ENC 2A)
Belgium won by 7 points. I predicted Belgium by 24.
and thanks to ‘quentin’ FIRA-AER forum
LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS
16.04.2005 Belgium 15-10 in
Vise (WCQ Europe R2, Pool C)
17.03.2004 Netherlands 18-10
in Vise (Friendly)
22.01.2003 Belgium 32-25 in
Middleburg (Friendly)
10.01.2001 Belgium 8-0 at
Waterloo (Friendly)
18.04.1998 Netherlands 19-16
in Brussels (WCQ Europe Pool2, Rnd B)
GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Belgium 15th, Netherlands
22nd
Poland 33,
Latvia 9 in Riga (ENC 2B)
Poland won by 24 points. I predicted Poland by 6.
http://www.pzrugby.pl/seniorzy.reprezentacja.html
22.09.2001 Poland 60-18 in
Riga (WCQ Europe R2, Pool B)
02.10.1999 Poland 41-8 in
Riga (FIRA C)
GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Latvia 17th, Poland 18th
CHANGE
Sweden 6,
Switzerland 0 in Eskilstuna (ENC 3A)
Sweden won by 6 points. I predicted Sweden by 24.
Sweden and Switzerland both
lead this competition. Sweden is undefeated and has the home advantage. They
also thrashed the Swiss last year.
http://www.rugby.ch/index.php?id=13&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=59&tx_ttnews[backPid]=7&cHash=0ee895956a
22.04.2006 Sweden 35-3 in
Goteberg (ENC 3A)
04.05.1999 Sweden 33-15 in
Tours (WCQ Europe)
20.05.1982 Sweden 10-3 in
Enkoping (FIRA C)
01.11.1980 Sweden 7-4 in
Yverdon (FIRA C)
GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Sweden 23rd, Switzerland 26th
Austria 7,
Bulgaria 3 in Vienna (ENC 3B)
Austria won by 4 points. I predicted Austria by 20.
Austria and Bulgaria could
well be the teams fighting next year to ward off relegation to 3C. Bulgaria has
lost all its games so far by big scores whilst Austria was outplayed by Hungary
away.
These two teams have only
met once before in Kostininbroad back in 2004. Austria won 28-13.
GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Austria 29th, Bulgaria 34th
Slovenia 25,
Luxembourg 16 in Ljubliana (ENC 3C)
Slovenia won by 9 points. I predicted Slovenia by 6.
Only Bosnia looks out of
their depth in this competition. All other teams are in with a chance. The home
advantage is very important at this level. Most players are amateur and find
difficulty getting time off work to travel.
Both teams are as yet
undefeated. Luxembourg has injury worries. Slovenia has the home advantage
These two teams have only
met once before in Cessange back in 1994 when they were both in FIRA Group B3.
Luxembourg won that day 22-3.
GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Luxembourg 32nd, Slovenia
33rd. CHANGE
Following the injuries to
Zelito NEVES DOS SANTOS (broken thumb) and Gilles CAVIGLIA (neck), the team for
Saturday is as followed :
Forwards: 1.SPECIAL -
2.SULLIVAN - 3.DE MICHELLI - 4.BENEL (1st Cap) - 5.HOFFMANN 6.THOMPSON (Capt) -
7.FLYNN - 8.HARVEY - 9.MC KINLAY - 10.SACAZE - 11.DOHERTY - 12.KELLY - Backs:
13.LISTER - 14.WHITEMAN - 15.LOWE - 16.CHIMIENTI - 17.HERVE C. - 18.SHARPLIN -
19.KNOWLES - 20.GUILFOYLE - 21.HARRIS - 22.HERVE F.
http://www.rugby.lu/news_fiche.asp?newsID=95
List of 40 candidates to
cover for matches v Luxembourg, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Finland
Damjan Ahačič (RK
Ljubljana)
Luka Arko (RK Ljubljana)
Žiga. Burnik (RK Ljubljana)
David Cerar (RK
Bežigrad)
David Duh (RK Bežigrad)
Dejan Đukič (RK
Ljubljana)
Goran Đuratovič (RK
Ljubljana)
Peter Gobec (RK Ljubljana)
Marko Gumzej (RK Bežigrad)
Andrew Harrisom (Overseas
Club)
Tit Hočevar (Overseas
Club)
David Horvat (RK Emoona)
Goran Jelenčič
(Overseas Club)
Nace Kirn (RK Ljubljana)
Zoran Kalakovič (RK
Emoona)
Peter Kavčič (RK
Ljubljana)
Matej Kos (RK Bežigrad)
Grega Kosanovič (RK Bežigrad)
Aljaž. Kralj (RK Ljubljana)
Žarko Krsmanovič (RK
Ljubljana)
Miroslav Lazič (RK
Ljubljana)
Saša Leskovar (RK Emoona)
Urban Magušar (RK
Bežigrad)
Darko Maslakovič (RK
Ljubljana)
Luka Miklič (RK Emoona)
Grega Miljuš (RK Ljubljana)
Ivanovič Miro (RK
Emoona)
Dejan Mrak (RK Ljubljana)
Juka Potnik (RK Emoona)
Stojan Premk (RK Ljubljana)
Goran Šafar (RK
Bežigrad)
Lovro Sambol (RK
Bežigrad)
Jošt Slapničar (RK
Ljubljana)
Domen Slavec (RK
Bežigrad)
Klemen Slavec (RK
Bežigrad)
Dali Suljič (RK Ljubljana)
Mirt Suljič (RK
Ljubljana)
Damjan Volavšek (RK
Ljubljana)
Borut Završan (RK Emoona)
Urban Volavšek (RK
Ljubljana)