International Rugby: Sweden v Croatia

02.05.2009
Croatia v Sweden in Split (WCQ Euro.R3; ENC 2B)

Preview
The Netherlands has already qualified for the next round of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Therefor this match has no consequence in that regards. The focus will be on the second round of this competition. With only one loss Croatia is in a better position to challenge the leaders and look for promotion.

So far this round Sweden have defeated Latvia 21-5, but lost to Malta 6-9 and Netherlands 24-36. Croatia have defeated Malta 18-16, lost to Netherlands 10-29 and Malta 19-32.

These two teams have not met before.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Sweden 20th, Croatia 22nd

Prediction: Sweden by 7 points

Teams

Croatia Squad
Vedran Antić (RK Nada)
Tony Begovich (Waitemata RFC, New Zealand)
Ante Blažević-Bandov (RK Nada)
Mate Borozan (RK Nada)
Tonči Buzov (RK Nada)
Branimir Čolić (RK Berlin, Germany)
Goran Čulić (RK Nada)
Josip Dedić (RK Makarska Rivijera)
Duje Grubišić (RK Nada)
Većeslav Holjevac (RK Zagreb)
Jakov Jerčić (RK Nada)
Nik Jurišić (RK Mladost)
Igor Letica (RK Makarska Rivijera)
Andrej Mihalj (RK Mladost)
Josip Mrkoci (RK Makarska Rivijera)
Alek Osmanović (RK Makarska Rivijera)
Miroslav Pregun (RK Makarska Rivijera)
Ivica Nino Rubelj (RK Nada)
Boško Sabljić (RK Nada)
Saša Sekovanec (RK Nada)
Ivica Šimić (RK Makarska Rivijera)
Aleksandar-Saša Slijepčević (RK Nada)
Ivan Šuta (RK Mladost)
Marin Tvrdić (RK Nada)
Vlado Ursić (RK Nada)
Head Coach: Jakša Lovreta
http://nada-rugby.hr/content/view/789/2/

Sweden Squad
Thomas Arvidsson (Fredriksberg RF. Denmark)
Andreas Bruhn (Göteborg RF) age 35
Fredrik Casselhag (Hammarby IF Rugby)
Roger de Jager
Nils Edström Hannes Eriksson (Vänersborg RK)
Eshan Fadaker (Hammarby IF Rugby)
Linus Hector (Vänersborg RK) 24
Mak Jelec
Richard Johansson (Hammarby IF Rugby)
Timothy Johansson (Enköping RK) age 23
Douglas Lidberg (Göteborg RF) 25
Paul Matthews (Göteborg RF) 35
Nico Parmelund (Göteborg RF) 26
Viktor Pettersson (Enköping RK) 23
Lee Sandberg
Paul Sullivan (Stockholm Exiles RFC)
Seteraki Tegunimataka (Pingvin RC) 24
Alex Taylor (Nuneaton RFC, England)
Mathias Thorhard (Hammarby IF Rugby)
Olof Wadell (Enköping RK)
Erik Wikström (Hammarby IF Rugby)
Head Coach: Robban Boström
Manager: Mike Tatu 42
http://www.rugby.se/t2.asp?p=5122&x=1&a=1168722