REC Division 2A: Malta v Israel

18.04.2015

Image thanks to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israeli-National-Rugby-Team/115698775148292?sk=timeline

Venue: Wingate Institute, Netanya

Referee: Andrea Spadoni (Italy)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
CZECH REP	3	3	0	0	66	36	30	2	14
CROATIA	3	1	0	2	66	63	3	4	8
SWITZ.	2	1	0	1	43	45	-2	1	5
MALTA	2	1	0	1	44	53	-9	0	4
ISRAEL	2	0	0	2	38	60	-22	0	0

Preview
Israel has struggled since gaining promotion to this level of European international test rugby.

Playing at home Israel can expect a huge and vocal support from fans dressed in blue. This has been the way since Israel’s successful promotion up through the divisions-2C in 2010-11 and now 2A in 2014-15. The development of interest in rugby in Israel in that time has been fantastic.

Malta has a better recent record against teams Israel has played in 2A. Despite playing away Malta should prove too strong in the second half. Expect a huge effort from Israel

These two teams have never met before in a test rugby international

Israel Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
08.11.2014 v Croatia L 20-31 in Zabreb (REC 2A)
25.10.2014 v Switzerland L 18-29 in Netanya (REC 2A)
26.04.2014 v Latvia L 22-29 in Riga (ENC 2B)
12.04.2014 v Andorra W 20-16 in Netanya (ENC 2B)
02.11.2013 v Denmark W 15-13 in Netanya (WCQ Europe R3 Playoff)

Malta Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
08.11.2014 v Czech Republic L 13-27 in Prague (REC 2A)
01.11.2014 v Croatia W 31-26 in Valetta (REC 2A)
12.04.2014 v Switzerland W 29-14 in Winterthur (ENC 2A)
05.04.2014 v Netherlands L 10-33 in Valetta (ENC 2A)
09.11.2013 v Croatia W 37-18 in Valetta (ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Malta 20th, Israel 25th

World Rugby Rankings
Malta 49.30, Israel 44.60

Prediction: Malta by 10 points. Score 27-17

     

Teams not available