NORWAY v LUXEMBOURG: ENC 2D

19.10.2013

Image thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4392

Venue: Bislett Stadion, Oslo

Image thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4392

Referee: Karlis Sarkans (Latvia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	TL
NORWAY	5	3	0	2	89	60	29	1	1	14
GREECE	6	3	0	3	96	116	-20	0	1	13
LUXEMBRG	4	3	0	1	74	62	12	0	4	12
BOSNIA H.	5	2	0	3	95	90	5	0	2	11
FINLAND	6	2	0	4	91	122	-29	1	2	11

Data from www.rugbyinternational.net

Preview
This is a show-down rugby test match between two of the leading contenders for the competition title and a chance at promotion to ENC 2C for 2014-16.

Luxembourg put up some stiff resistance when it took on Israel last week in a World Cup qualifying match. Israel is playing at a higher level and had to work hard to keep the locals under control. Luxembourg can take great heart from that performance. The gain in confidence will certainly be an advantage when playing away.

Norway put themselves into title contention in this very even competition with an impressive 24-12 win away over Finland. They will find Luxembourg a difficult side to defeat.

Previous Encounters
10.11.2012 Luxembourg 15-8 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
06.05.2006 Norway 25-8 in Cessange (ENC 3C)
23.09.2000 Luxembourg 41-9 in Oslo (WCQ Europe R1; FIRA Pool 2)
15.04.2000 Luxembourg 78-12 in Luxembourg (FIRA Div.3)

Norway Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
12.10.2013 v Finland W 24-12 in Turku (ENC 2D)
13.04.2013 v Greece L 14-21 in Athens (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
10.11.2012 v Luxembourg L 8-15 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)03.11.2012 v Bosnia Herzegovina W 11-9 in Bergen (WCQ Eur. R1; ENC 2D)
20.10.2012 v Finland W 32-3 in Oslo (WCQ Euro.R1; ENC 2D)

Luxembourg Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
05.10.2013 v Israel L 12-26 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R2 Playoff)04.05.2013 v Slovenia W 22-10 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R1 Playoff)
20.04.2013 v Greece W 20-7 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
13.04.2013 v Bosnia Herzegovina L 23-33 in Tesanj (WCQ Euro.R1; ENC 2D)
10.11.2012 v Norway W 15-8 in Lux’bourg W 15-8 (WCQ Euro.R1; ENC 2D)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Luxembourg 32nd, Norway 36th

IRB Ranking Points
Luxembourg 34.93, Norway 33.90

All data from www.rugbyinternational.net

Prediction: Luxembourg by 5 points

TEAMS

Norway

After the win in Finland last weekend the following players have been selected by coaches Karl Frisch and Glenn Collins for the game against Luxembourg in Oslo on Saturday:

Rob Gannon (Captain) - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Andreas Fyri (Vice Captain and Pack Leader) - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Dave Noonan - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Alastair Reed - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Even Ellingsen - Blindern Rugbyklubb
Sondre Gundersen - Stavanger Rugbyklubb
Pascal Raclin - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Alex Diessner - Stavanger Rugbyklubb
Kristian Elgheim - Blindern Rugbyklubb
Shelton Davis - ECB Rugby
Anders Teigland - Bergen Rugbyklubb
Kim Robin Pettersen - ECB Rugby
Frederik Skovly - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Thomas Bichard Breaud - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Simen Hammer - ECB Rugby
Kristoffer Borsheim - Erritsø Rugbyklubb
Michal Urbanski - Bergen Rugbyklubb
Erlend Laukvik - NTNUI Rugby
Axel Wilhelmsen - Oslo Rugbyklubb
David Hume - Bergen Rugbyklubb
Marcin Gadzinski - Bergen Rugbyklubb
Alexander Rønning - Oslo Rugbyklubb
Andre Slaata - Bergen Rugbyklubb
https://www.facebook.com/norgesrugbyforbund

Luxembourg
Squad not yet published