RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

07.11.2015

Division 1B

Moldova 25, Sweden 7 in Malmo

Sweden were considerably weakened by the decision of a number of leading players to represent Sweden in a sevens tournament. Even so they did well to hold the much respected Moldovan side who seriously underperforms away from home, usually because a number of top players are usually unavailable.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	7	6	0	1	146	112	134	4	28
UKRAINE	7	5	0	2	155	111	44	2	22
MOLDOVA	6	4	0	2	180	90	90	4	20
POLAND	7	3	0	4	146	187	-41	2	15
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	8	0	0	8	87	319	-211	0	0

Division 2A

Croatia 26, Israel 21 in Netanya

Israel failed to take advantage of their home ground against Croatia although they did get a bonus point.

Israel’s next game is a very tough one away to Switzerland. They’ll be hoping for a repeat performance against front contender Czech Republic when they drew 26-26 in Prague. Croatia will host Malta next weekend.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
SWITZ.	5	4	0	1	126	99	27	2	18
CZECH REP	5	3	1	1	106	82	26	3	17
CROATIA	5	4	0	3	112	124	-12	4	12
MALTA	4	2	0	2	80	89	-9	1	9
ISRAEL	5	0	1	4	98	129	-31	2	4

Division 2B

Latvia 31, Cyprus 3 in Paphos

The once invincible Cyprus team, and world record holder of the most consecutive test rugby wins, has fallen on hard times in this division. They were promoted last season but have failed to fire against the stronger opposition in this division.

Neither team is playing next weekend.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	TL
LITHUANIA	6	6	0	0	230	107	123	6	30
LATVIA	6	4	0	2	141	108	33	3	19
CYPRUS	5	2	0	3	90	121	-25	1	9
ANDORRA	5	2	0	3	79	136	-57	0	8
HUNGARY	6	0	0	6	101	170	-69	4	4

Division 2C

Slovenia 33, Serbia 17 in Belgrade

This was the third match in the REC games this weekend in which the home side lost. Serbia were outplayed by their northern rugby rivals despite nearly scoring a fourth (and bonus) try towards the end.

The Serbs will have a tough away game against Luxembourg next weekend whilst Slovenia hosts Denmark at home.

SWEDEN V MOLDOVA: REC 1B

07.11.2015

Venue: Malmö RC

Referee: Tomáš Tuma (Czech Republic)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	7	6	0	1	146	112	134	4	28
UKRAINE	7	5	0	2	155	111	44	2	22
MOLDOVA	5	3	0	2	155	83	72	4	16
POLAND	7	3	0	4	146	187	-41	2	15
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	7	0	0	7	80	296	-193	0	0

Preview
This will be a crucial match for Moldova. Notoriously weak when playing away and like ferocious devils at home they need this win (and the rest) to get near or head off Belgium and Ukraine.

Moldova has always struggled when playing away. They may well face a revised and determined home team.

Sweden has little chance of avoiding relegation but this game could well be a vital building step towards a stronger team.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Moldova 18th, Sweden 21st

World Rugby Ranking Points
Moldova 53.69, Sweden 44.49

Prediction: Moldova by 32 points. Score 48-16

TEAMS

Sweden

1 Lars Peter Tunestål (Pingvin RC)
2 Andreas Persson (Pingvin RC)
3 Alexander Eliasson (Spartacus RUFC)
4 Alexander Rappestad (Stewart's Melville FP RFC, Scotland)
5 Tobias Rörstam (Pingvin RC)
6 Erik Mårtensson (Universities of Edinburgh RC, Scotland)
7 Måns Derk (Södertälje RK)
8 Sebastian Nockmar Norrköpings (RK Trojan)
9 Karl Linderoth (Stockholm Exiles RFC)
10 Tim Karl Johansson (Stockholm Exiles RFC)
11 Oliver Sharp (Stockholm Exiles RFC)
12 Alfred Meitmann (Pingvin RC)
13 Oliver Callaghan (Amstelveense RC, Netherlands)
14 Niklas Ståhle (Hammarby IF RF)
15 Fredrik Enstad (Södertälje RK)

Replacements
16 Johan Vuris (Pingvin RC)
17 Alexander Johansson (Vänerborgs RK)
18 Robhin Karlsson (Södertälje RK)
19 Jonas Zengler Norrköpings (RK Trojan)
20 Erik Sjöbeck (Pingvin RC)
21 André Eriksson (Pingvin RC)
22 Philip Axelsson (Södertälje RK)

https://www.facebook.com/SvenskaRugbyforbundet

Moldova not available

TEST RUGBY THIS WEEKEND

07.11.2015
Sweden v Moldova in Malmo (REC 1B)
Israel v Croatia in Netanya (REC 2A)
Cyprus v Latvia in Paphos (REC 2B)
Serbia v Slovenia in Beograd (REC 2C)

08.11.2015
Colombia v Ecuador in Lima (CONSUR B)
Venezuela v Peru in Lima (CONSUR B)

Briefly
As the dust settles on the 2015 Rugby World Cup final last weekend the test rugby elsewhere continues. This month you wont be seeing the Southern Hemisphere teams touring north as they need a good rest after the tournament.

The Rugby Europe Championship continues with four tests on Saturday. On Sunday sees the start of CONSUR B, or South American Championship, Division B. That tournament, being held in Lima, Peru, is the second tier of South American rugby behind Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay.

Later in November Germany will visit Brazil for a test match. December will be busy with CONSUR C being held in San Salvador whilst in early December Germany will play their second test in Brazil.

This weekend
Sweden faces front runner Moldova in an attempt to improve on its earlier results this season against Belgium and Poland. It wont be enough to avoid relegation.

Israel and Croatia will battle to avoid the relegation area. Israel drew with Czech Republic away in their last match and are beginning to adjust to this new level of European test rugby. Croatia won the first leg match against Israel but could struggle playing away. Croatia warmed up with a 5-39 loss to Oxford University last weekend.

Cyprus and Latvia clash in Cyprus in a Division 2B test match. Cyprus, holder of the world record of 24 consecutive test match wins up to 2014, were promoted from Division 2C the same season. Their results at this level have been mixed. Latvia has also had a mixed season, have played one more test than Cyprus. Neither team fared well against competition Lithuania who are unassailable at the top of this division.

Balkan rugby rivals Slovenia and Serbia clash in Beograd. Serbia had a disastrous start to the 2014-15 season but a change of management after Christmas has seen them win against Denmark and Austria.Slovenia is tucked just behind the undefeated Luxembourg ( to whom they lost to in the first leg) but has a game in hand. I expect this to be a close result.

BELGIUM v SWEDEN: Rugby Europe Champ. 1B

26.09.2015

Venue: Korsängens Arena, Enköping

Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	5	5	0	0	189	75	114	2	22
MOLDOVA	5	3	0	2	155	83	72	4	16
POLAND	6	3	0	3	132	157	-25	2	15
UKRAINE	5	3	0	2	108	81	27	1	13
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	6	0	0	6	60	255	-193	0	0

Preview
Taking backstage to the Rugby World Cup the European Championship continues with Sweden hosting Belgium. Sweden is almost guaranteed of relegation whilst Belgium, who are heading the points table has a lot to win for.

Prediction: Belgium by 10 points. Score 26-16

  TEAMS

Belgium Squad

Julien Berger , Provence Rugby
Bertrand Billi , Soignies
Nathan Bontems , Racing Métro
Ryan Brion , Royal Kituro
Cian Cauwenberghs , Royal Kituro
Brieuc Corradi , Soignies
Tom Coupé , Dendermonde
Bram Coupé , La Hulpe
Sep De Backer , Dendermonde
Christophe Debaty , RFC Liégeois
Max Dubois , Soignies
William Hubert , ES Catalane
Baptiste Lescarboura , Royal Kituro
Simon Marote , ASUB
Julien Massimi , ASUB
Tornike Megrelidze , Soignies
Tuur Moelants , Boitsfort
Romain Pinte , Royal Kituro
Florian Piron , Chartres
Hugo Sensée , Royal Kituro
Maxime Temmerman , ASUB
Esteban Thewissen , Stade Toulousain
Raffaele Vaccaro , Boitsfort
Savenaca Vocea , Dendermonde
Kevin Williams , ASUB

http://sportkipik.be/trois-changements-chez-les-diables

Sweden Squad

Prop , MakJelek  Dozo , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Hooker , James Darbyshire , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Prop , Mark Beveridge , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Lock , Erik  Sjöbeck , Pingvin RC Trelleborg
Lock , Tobias Rörstam , Pingvin RC Trelleborg
Back row , Sebastian Nockmar , Norrköping RK Trojan
Back row , Måns Derk , Södertälje RC
N°8 , Sean Burke , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Scrum Half , Matt Mitchell , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Fly half , Dustin Eaton  ,Stockholm Exiles RFC
Winger , Oliver Sharp , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Center , Tim Karl Johansson , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Center , Neill Erasmus , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Winger , Robin Fransson , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Full Back , Ian Gowland (Capt.), Stockholm Exiles RFC
Prop , Henrik Ek , Norrköping RK Trojan
Hooker , Alexander Johansson , Vänersborg RK
Prop , Grant Duffy , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Lock , Alexander  Rappestad , Stewarts Melville RFC (Scotland)
Back row , Andre´ Eriksson , Pingvin RC Trelleborg
Player , Karl Linderoth , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Player , Rikus Van Niekerk , Stockholm Exiles RFC
Player , Oliver Callaghan , 19930618 , Amstelveense RC (Netherlands)

Adapted from http://iof3.idrottonline.se/SvenskaRugbyforbundet/Nyheter/Senastenytt/HerrXVlagetmotBelgien/?source=0

TEST RUGBY RESULT: Saturday 12 September

12.09.2015
Poland 29, Sweden 11 at Enkoping (REC 1B)

Review by ‘Polter’ at http://t2rugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=637

This win in many ways was the best win for the Plonka, post Putra coaching regime. They've managed to beat under strength Swedish and woeful Czech Republic teams a few times, plus beaten the Netherlands at home, but this result vindicates their position in the division.

The loss of Daish was a blow to the Swedes, but Poland also missed several first choice players through injury or unavailability. All credit to Poland for getting 2 yellow cards and going down to 13 men and yet still coming away with a bonus point win. Sweden on the other hand only scored a try after a Poland mistake and 6 points during the yellow cards.

What next for Sweden? There is still a mathematical chance for them to stay up. The Netherlands are now the team to reel in but they have to rely on the Dutch not picking up any further points. 3 more home games will help the Swedes and as long as the best players they have can be picked it they will be far more competitive, but the disastrous first year of the campaign plus the need to win away in the Ukraine looks to be too much to make up. That said, they could still play a significant role in deciding who wins the division depending in how they do against the teams Belgium and Moldova send to Sweden.

And as for Poland? The countries rugby community really really needed this win. Hopefully the team will take a lot of confidence, get some more players back and put up a decent challenge to the Ukraine away in October and Moldova at home in November. Please don't sit back on your laurels and make this another false dawn....

Point scorers
Poland:
Tries-Gruszczyński (2), Bobryk, Rakowski.
Convs-Banaszek (3)
PGs-Banaszek

Sweden
Try-Gowland
Pgs-Tim Johansson (2)

Image thanks to http://pzrugby.pl

 

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	B	PT
BELGIUM	5	5	0	0	189	75	114	2	22
MOLDOVA	5	3	0	2	155	83	72	4	16
POLAND	6	3	0	3	132	157	-25	2	15
UKRAINE	5	3	0	2	108	81	27	1	13
NETHERLANDS	5	2	0	3	81	74	3	2	10
SWEDEN	6	0	0	6	60	255	-193	0	0

Remaining Fixtures 1B Division
26/09: Sweden v Belgium at Enkoping
10/10: Ukraine v Belgium in Kiev
07/11: Sweden v Moldova in Malmo (TBC)
14/11: Poland v Moldova in Warsaw
21/11: Ukraine v Moldova in Odessa
20/02: Belgium v Netherlands in Brussels
12/03: Moldova v Belgium in Chisinau
19/03: Poland v Belgium in Poland
19/03: Moldova v Netherlands in Chisinau
30/04: Netherlands v Poland in Amsterdam
30/04: Ukraine v Sweden in Kiev
07/05: Netherlands v Ukraine in Amsterdam
14/05: Sweden v Netherlands in Enkoping