EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP Div.2A-Latvia v Sweden

05.05.2012
Latvia v Sweden in Enkoping (ENC 2A)

Venue: Korsängens IP

Referee: Marcin Zeszutek (Poland)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
SWEDEN	7	5	1	1	204	147	57	2	0	24
LITHUANIA	7	4	1	2	205	99	106	3	3	24
MALTA	8	4	0	4	146	135	11	2	2	20
CROATIA	7	3	0	4	136	142	-6	1	2	15
LATVIA	7	1	0	6	93	261	-168	2	1	7

Preview
Sweden needs to win this rugby test match comfortably and score a bonus point in order to have a chance to maintain top of the ladder.

‘A decisive game in the battle for promotion, there is no play-off opportunity for the second placed team in Div 2A. Sweden and Lithuania are level on 24 points after 7 games each so nothing but a win will do for Sweden and to be safe a bonus point would ensure finishing top. Sweden beat Lithuania 26 - 22 and the return game was drawn so they have the advantage in head-to-head if both teams get a 4 or 5 point win. Having seen Latvia struggle to contain Lithuania at home, Sweden should win comfortably and they will be disappointed if they don't score 4 tries too for the BP. The Swedes have the advantage of later kick-off if there is news in time from Vilnius...’
From ‘Quentin’ from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4070&sid=ec2d76a42e4ea64b5bba2cb59a6077e7

Last Five Encounters
14.05.2011 Sweden 54-29 in Riga (ENC 2A)
17.04.2010 Latvia 31-27 in Riga (ENC 2B)
25.10.2008 Sweden 21-5 in Vanesborg (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2B)
22.10.2005 Latvia 18-5 in Riga (ENC 3A)
23.10.2004 Sweden 20-18 in Valmeria (WCQ Europe R2; Pool C)

Latvia Last Five
28.04.2012 v Lithuania L 8-48 in Riga (ENC 2A)
05.11.2011 v Croatia L 8-34 in Split (ENC 2A)
29.10.2011 v Malta L 0-28 in Riga (ENC 2A)
14.05.2011 v Sweden L 29-54 in Riga (ENC 2A)
30.04.2011 v Lithuania L 3-57 in Kuanas (ENC 2A)

Sweden Last Five
21.04.2012 v Malta L 14-22 in la Valette (ENC 2A)
29.10.2011 v Croatia W 24-18 in Enkoping (ENC 2A)
22.10.2011 v Lithuania D 30-30 in Kuanua (ENC 2A)
14.05.2011 v Latvia W 54-29 in Riga (ENC 2A)
07.05.2011 v Malta W 24-13 in Stockholm (ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Sweden 31st, Latvia 33rd

IRB Ranking Points
Sweden 50.41, Latvia 40.16

Prediction: Sweden by 28 points

Teams

Sweden Squad
Emil Andersson, HRC Gripen
Thomas Arvidsson, Fredriksberg, DK
Ivar Bengtsson, Hammarby IF
Mattias Björkebäck, Hammarby IF
Peter Blaha, Hammarby IF
Tobias Borg, Enköpings RK
Andrew Daish, Old Albanians RFC, UK
Robin Fransson, Malvern RFC, UK
Ian Gowland, Stockholm Exiles RFC
Connor Murphy, Corinthians RFC, UK
Daniel Nissila, Stockholm Exiles RFC
Stefan Obradovic, Hammarby IF
Johnny Pettersson, Enköpings RK
Simon Pierce, Stockholm Exiles RFC
Lee Sandberg, Cambridge RFC, UK
Mark Stephenson, Spartacus RC
Alex Taylor, Hammarby IF
Sebastian Taylor, Old Haberdashers RFC, UK
Lars Tunestål, Pingvin RC
Rikus van Niekerk, Stockholm Exiles RFC
Peter Wiklund, Vänersborgs RK
Matthew Youngman, Enköpings RK
Rikard Örnberg, Malvern RFC, UK

http://iof3.idrottonline.se/SvenskaRugb ... tLettland/

Latvia Squad
Jānis Skuja (komandas kapteinis, “Miesnieki”), Edgars Cīrulis (“Miesnieki”), Romāns Odnokurcevs (“Eži/LMT”), Jānis Podiņš (“Eži/LMT”), Santis Podāns (“Kalve”), Uldis Saulīte (Jeņiseja, Krievija), Aigars Muzikants (“Eži/LMT”), Mareks Larionovs (“Eži/LMT”), Kārlis Vents (“Miesnieki”), Jurijs Baranovs (Jeņiseja, Krievija), Gunārs Grīnvalds (“Eži/LMT”), Ingus Aivars (“Eži/LMT”), Matīss Zalcmanis (“Kalve”), Mihails Tumins (“Kalve”), Ruslans Kotļevs (“Eži/LMT”), Sandris Jauntēvs (“Kalve”), Āris Andersons (“Miesnieki”), Zigurds Felss (“Eži/LMT”) Māris Streikišs (“Eži/LMT”), Andrejs Borisovs (“Kalve”), Kārlis Bušēvics (“Eži/LMT”), Mikus Ozols (“Miesnieki”).