EUROPEAN NATION CUP TEST RUGBY: Netherlands v Czech Republic

19.11.2011
Netherlands v Czech Republic in Prague (ENC 1B)

Venue: Tatra Smichov Stadium

Referee: Volovik (Russia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
BELGIUM	6	5	0	1	178	88	90	2	1	23
MOLDOVA	6	4	1	1	132	108	24	2	0	20
POLAND	7	4	1	2	159	142	17	0	1	19
CZECH R.	7	3	0	4	115	175	-59	0	1	13
GERMANY	6	2	0	4	132	124	8	0	3	11
NETH.	6	0	0	6	81	161	-80	0	1	1

Preview
This is the second ENC 1B match of the weekend.

The Netherlands are experiencing a horror time in their new division of European rugby. This is really their last chance to turn their season around. They have introduced their first France-based player of the season.

There is a more solid look about this side over the last few games. They could well give the Czechs a fright.

The Czech Republic are experiencing some woes of their own. Thrashed 0-55 by Belgium at the beginning of the month, there are obviously problems within the team.This lineup looks solid enough but they could struggle against a determined Netherlands side.

It would be an upset if the Netherlands were to win this one.

Last Five Encounters
20.11.2010 Czech Republic 25-13 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
19.05.2002 Czech Republic 54-12 in Amsterdam (WCQ Europe R3, Pool A)
19.04.1997 Czech Republic 19-18 in Prague (FIRA Playoff, 9th-12th)
30.03.1996 Netherlands 36-3 in Prague (FIRA A1)
15.05.1994 Netherlands 33-9 in Brescia (WCQ Europe)

Netherlands played the then Czechoslovakia for the first time in 1946, losing 8-14 in Bussem.

Netherlands Last Five
12.11.2011 v Germany L 7-23 in Hannover (ENC 1B)
30.04.2011 v Moldova L 15-22 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
23.04.2011 v Belgium L 18-30 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
16.04.2011 v Poland L 18-32 in Cracovie (ENC 1B)
27.11.2010 v Germany L 10-29 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)

Netherlands has lost its last 7 test matches in a row. They have not won a game since promotion to ENC 1B in April 2010. There last win was v Malta (19-0) in April 2010.

The Netherlands record losing sequence is 12, in the years 2000-2003.

Czech Republic Last Five
05.11.2011 v Belgium L 0-55 in Brussels (ENC 1B)
15.10.2011 v Poland L 13-20 in NowySacz (ENC 1B)
19.03.2011 v Moldova L 16-24 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
12.03.2011 v Germany W 29-23 in Heidelberg (ENC 1B)
20.11.2010 Netherlands W 25-13 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Czech Republic 16th, Netherlands 22nd

IRB Ranking Points
Czech Republic 52.46, Netherlands 47.28

Prediction: Czech Republic by 4 points

Teams

Netherlands
15 Bart Viguurs (RC The Dukes)
14 Jay Jay Boske (RC Hilversum)
13 Richard van der Broek (RC The Dukes)
12 Jordy Bonhof (LRC DIOK)
11 Babak Motazed (RC The Dukes)
10 Fedde Lingsma (RC Hilversum)
9 Jeroen Fluiter (RC Hilversum)
8 Caine Elisara (Heidelberg RG, Germany)
7 Dirk Danen (RC Hilversum)
6 Zeno Kieft (La Rochelle, France)
5 Stefan Vos (RC The Dukes)
4 Maurice Stahlecker (RC Hilversum)
3 Robert Rijnhold (RC Hilversum)
2 Alexander Barendregt (Hague RC)
1 Catalin Buburuzan (RC The Dukes)
Replacements
16 Floris Kieft (Hague RC)
17 Roy Schermer (Castricum RC)
18 Tjebbe Jehee (LRC DIOK)
19 Thomas Altink (LRC DIOK)
20 Nicholas Janssen (RC Hilversum)
21 Leon Koenen (LRC DIOK)
22 Kees Beentjes (Castricum RC)
Head Coach: Alexander Chang

Adapted from http://www.rugby.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=943:heren-xv-tegen-tsjechie&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=237

Czech Republic (1 to be omitted)
15 Jan Rohlík
14 Michal Jirman
13 Václav Jursík
12 Petr Okleštěk
11 Michal Schlanger
10 Milan Jirman
9 Vachtang Pailodze
8 Karel Nešpor
7 Martin Wognitsch
6 Josef Maňák
5 Miroslav Němeček
4 Tomáš Holovský
3 Pavel Indrák
2 Ondřej Kutil
1 Roman Šuster
Replacements
16 Michal Průša
17 Jiří,Skall
18 Jan Kurka
19 Jiří Černý
20 Vojtěch Havel
21 Schütz
22 Irakli Sulamanidze
23 Jakub Fuchs
Head Coach: Martin Kafka

Adapted from ragby.cz: