EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP: Division 2D

12.11.2011
Finland v Greece in Athens (ENC 2D)

Venue:

Referee: Bartolic (Croatia)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
CYPRUS	5	5	0	0	256	38	218	5	0	25
BULGARIA	6	4	0	2	89	158	-69	0	0	16
GREECE	5	2	0	3	119	94	25	2	2	12
FINLAND	4	1	0	3	41	107	-62	0	1	5
LUXEMB.	6	1	0	5	67	175	-98	0	1	5

Preview
Finland and Greece meet for the second time this year in what is a crucial test match for both teams.

In June Greece arrived in Helsinki with a team missing a couple of players who refused to travel at the last minute. With a squad short of reserves plus a certain amount of disharmony, the Greeks fell short of what would normally be a predictable win. Instead they lost 7-11.

This placed Greece under pressure. They came out firing last weekend against Bulgaria to topple their neighbours by 40 points!

This will be Finland’s first outing this season. They also have the away game disadvantage. Apart from June’s win against Greece, they do not have a good record against the Mediterranean team.

Last Five Encounters
11.06.2011 Finland 11-7 in Helsinki (ENC 2D)
27.02.2010 Greece 31-10 in Patras (ENC 3C)
11.10.2008 Greece 12-10 in Helsinki (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 3C)
27.05.2006 Finland 27-0 in Helsinki (ENC 3D)
14.05.2006 Finland 17-12 in Athens (ENC 3D)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Greece 35th, Finland 37th

IRB Rankings do not apply-Greece not listed

Finland Last Five
11.06.2011 v Greece W 11-7 in Helsinki (ENC 2D)
14.05.2011 v Bulgaria L 10-12 in Pernik (ENC 2D)
26.03.2011 v Cyprus L 10-70 in Paphos (ENC 2D)
09.10.2010 v Luxembourg L 10-18 in Helsinki (ENC 2D)
02.10.2010 v Estonia W 55-5 in Helsinki (Friendly)

Greece Last Five
05.11.2011 v Bulgaria W 47-7 in Thesalonika (ENC 2D)
11.06.2011 v Finland L 7-11 in Helsinki (ENC 2D)
02.04.2011 v Luxembourg W 30-18 in Athens (ENC 2D)
20.11.2010 v Cyprus L 13-33 in Athens (ENC 2D)
06.11.2010 v Bulgaria L 22-25 in Pernik (ENC 2D)

Prediction: Greece by 19 points

Teams

Finland Squad
Aaro Katainen (JRC)
Bernt Lindel (EAGLES)
Christiaan Freeman (VAASA)
Galen Rangiawha (EAGLES)
lkka Tuomaala (EAGLES)
Isaac Visser (WRC)
Jaakko Vilen (WRC)
Janne Holtta (WRC)
Joakim Grader (WRC)
Juha Rainvuori (WRC)
Jussi Keskinen (WRC)
Jussi Viljanen (TRUC)
Juuso Sirén (WRC)
Mauno Konttila (JRC)
Mehdi Marami (HRC)
Olli-Pekka Tuomaala (VAASA)
Petri Pallari (HRC)
Pierre-Yves Guiban (RIP)
Riku Ryyninen (FRANCE)
Semu Salmivalli (EAGLES)
Stephen Whittaker (c) (HRC)
Ville Siiskonen (HRC)
Head Coach: Alan Hine

http://rugby.fi/news/team-selected-to-face-greece-in-athens/

Greece squad not available