RUGBY TEST MATCH: Scandinavian Friendly

09.04.2011
Denmark v Sweden in Stockholm (Viking Tri Nations)

Venue:  Södertälje, Brunnsängens IP

Referee: Vincent Bouchet (Norway)

Preview
Sweden is using this friendly international test match to blood some new players at this level of rugby.

In the FIRA-AER competition Sweden plays in 2C whilst Denmark is two tiers lower, playing in 2C.

Last Five Encounters
03.11.2007 Sweden 8-6 in Helsinborg (ENC 3A)
28.10.2006 Sweden 23-13 in Odense (ENC 3A)
05.11.2005 Sweden 16-14 in Helsinborg (ENC 3A)
27.10.2001 Denmark 33-21 in Copenhagen (WCQ Europe R3, Pool 3)
31.10.1998 Denmark 19-9 in Copenhagen (FIRA A)

Denmark last defeated Sweden in Sweden in 1993, winning 15-13 in Trelloburg.

Last Five for each nation
As Sweden is blooding a number of new players their lineup will be considerably weaker that what they would field if it was an ENC 2A match. Therefor recent form is of little influence.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Sweden 18th, Denmark 30th

IRB Ranking Points
Sweden 49-71, Denmark 41.17

Prediction: Sweden by 10 points

Teams

Denmark
15. Andrew Grantham (Aalborg RK)
14. Rasmus Mortensen (Aalborg RK)
13. Andy Nielsen (Aalborg RK)
12. Kristoffer Vandborg (Frederiksberg RK)
11. Kevin Gadeberg (Lindø/Odense)
10. Peder Wilhelm Bjerrum (Aalborg RK)
9. Christian S. Jensen (Aalborg RK)
8. Johannes Mackeprang (RK Speed)
7. Kasper Vad Pedersen (Aalborg RK)
6. Emad Libis (CSR/Nanok)
5. Nicolas Eegholm (CSR/Nanok)
4. Jonas Haaning (Frederiksberg RK)
3. Nicholas J. Ennis (Lindø/Odense)
2. Rasmus Dufke (Hamlet)
1. Søren Brobyskov, Capt. (Lindø/Odense)
Replacements
16. Daniel Pilgaard (Aalborg RK)
17. Niels Gotfredsen (Aalborg RK)
18. Gaspard Nau Valbak, RCME
19. Jannick Larsen (Lindø/Odense)
20. Mikkel S. Jensen (Aalborg RK)
21. Jesper G. Jensen (Lindø/Odense)
22. Thomas Graagaard (Holstebro RK)

Head Coach: Ivan Andersen

Adapted from http://www.rugby.dk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1365&Itemid=2

Sweden
15. Robin Fransson (Walsham RFC, England)
14. Daniel Nissila (Attila RG)
13. Thomas Arvidsson (Fredriksberg RK, Denmark)
12. Sami Paulsson (Enköping RK)
11. Tobias Borg (Enköping RK)
10. Timothy Johansson (Enköping RK)
9. Lee Sandberg (Walsham RFC, England)
8. Hannes Eriksson (Hammarby IF Rugby)
7. Eirik Lundquist (Enköping RK)
6. Mathias Bjöckebäck (Hammarby IF Rugby)
5. Rikard Örnberg (Vänersborg RK)
4. Henrick Shengor (RK Speed, Denmark)
3. Peter Wiklund (Vänersborg RK)
2. Rickard Johansson (Hammarby IF Rugby)
1. Stefan Obradovic (Attila RG)
Replacements
16. Peter Blaha (Attila RG)
17. Lars Tunestål (Pingvin RK)
18. Edward Lunberg (Södertälje RK)
19. Andreas Austa (Södertälje RK)
20. Paul Mathews (Spartacus RC)
21. Connor Murphy (Connacht, Ireland)
22. Ian Gowland (Stockholm Exiles RFC)

Head Coach: Mike Tatu

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

‘There are 9 debutants in the squad and only 4 players in the starting line up that started against Lithuania: Mathias Bjöckebäck (only forward), Lee Sandberg, Tim Johansson and Thomas Arvidsson.’ http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3749