ENC RUGBY: Czech Republic take on Germans

12.03.2011
Czech Republic v Germany in Heidelberg (ENC 1B)

Venue: Städtisches Stadion Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark

Referee: Raduta (Romania)

Preview
This is the second ENC 1B encounter this weekend.

Germany were relegated from the ENC first division at the end of the 2009-10 season. Their campaign to regian first division status began disastrously back in November with a 17-22 loss to Poland. Since then they bounced back to win easily over Netherlands. They will be without their star player Clemens von Grumbkow, out because of injury. Mathieu Franke returns to the team after a two-year absence because of injuries.

The team had a warm-up game against the New Zealand Ambassadors XV, made up of New Zealanders based in Germany, and lost 19-43. Playing on their home turf I’d expect the Germans to win.

The Czechs will be coming to Germany confident they can win. The records say they can. They have recorded wins over Netherlands and Poland (who defeated Germany), and a loss to competition leaders Belgium. The side has a healthy mix of France-based players of considerable experience, especially forward.

It will be a close tussle.

Czech Republic lost to Belgium in early 2010.

Last Five Encounters
08.04.2001 Germany 30-17 in Constance (FIRA B)
19.10.1997 Germany 31-17 in Hanover (WCQ Europe Pool 3)
10.05.1997 Germany 14-9 in Prague (FIRA Final, 9th-10th Playoff)
24.09.1995 Germany 28-17 in Hanover (FIRA B1)
23.10.1994 Czech Republic 12-5 in Ricany (FIRA A2)

Last Five Germany
11.12.2010 Hong Kong W 34-13 in Heidelberg (Friendly)
27.11.2010 Netherlands W 29-10 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
20.11.2010 Poland L 17-22 in Frankfurt (ENC 1B)
30.03.2010 Spain L 17-21 in Heidelberg (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
13.03.2010 Russia L 11-48 in Sochi (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)

Last Five Czech Republic
20.11.2010 Netherlands W 25-13 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
13.11.2010 Belgium L 12-24 in Prague (ENC 1B)
09.10.2010 Poland W 20-15 in Prague (ENC 1B)
10.04.2010 Ukraine W 27-16 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)
03.04.2010 Belgium L 16-19 in Prague (WCQ Europe R4; ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Germany 13th, Czech Republic 15th

IRB Ranking Points
Germany 54.26, Czech Republic 53.30

Prediction: Germany by 6 points

Teams

Germany
15 Guillaume Franke (RC Orleans, France)
14 Marten Strauch (SC Neuenheim)
13 Gilles Pagnon (RC Draguignan, France)
12 Benjamin Simm (DSV Hannover 78)
11 Mathieu Franke (RC Orleans)
10 Fabian Heimpel (RG Heidelberg)
9 Tim Menzel (US Colomiers, France)
8 Timothy Kasten (Heidelberger RK)
7 Alexander Hauck (SC Frankfurt 1880)
6 Kehoma Brenner (Heidelberger RK)
5 Jens Schmidt (TSV Handschuhsheim)
4 Daniel Armitage (Heidelberger RK)
3 Patrick Schliwa (Heidelberger RK)
2 Alexander Widiker, Capt. (Heidelberger RK)
1 Arthur Zeiler (Heidelberger RK)
Replacements
16 Sven-Uwe Wetzel (TSV Handschuhsheim)
17 Benjamin Krause (DSV Hannover 78)
18 Jannis Läpple (SC Frankfurt 1880)
19 Alexander Hug (TSV Handschuhsheim)
20 Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg)
21 Anjo Buckman (Heidelberger RK)
22 Bastian Himmer (RG Heidelberg)
Head Coach: Head Coach: Torsten Schippe

http://www.totalrugby.de/content/blogsection/5/33/

Czech Republic
15 Jan Rohlík (RC Říčany)
14 Irakli Sulamanidze (RC Sparta Praha)
13 Jan Kolář (RC Slavia Praha)
12 Petr Okleštěk (RK Petrovice)
11 Michal Jirman (RC Slavia Praha)
10 Pavel Vokrouhlík (RC Sparta Praha)
9 Haiden Roche (Civil Service RFC, England)
8 Jakub Procházka (RC Tatra Smíchov)
7 Martin Wognitsch (Oyonnax, France)
6 Karel Nešpor (RC Slavia Praha)
5 Robert Voves (Narbonne, France)
4 Tomáš Holovský (St. Rafael, France)
3 Jan Benda (Sparta Praha)
2 Ondřej Kutil (Annecy, France)
1 Roman Šuster, Capt. (Aurillac, France)
Replacements
16 Michal Průša (RC Tatra Smíchov)
17 Petra Hocke (RC Tatra Smíchov)
18 Radim Backa (RC Praga)
19 Vojtěch Havel (RC Tatra Smíchov)
20 Vachtang Pailodze (RC Sparta Praha)
21 Milan Jirman (RC Slavia Praha)
22 Zbynek Schutz (RC Slavia Praha)
Head Coach: Martin Kafka