EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP RUGBY TEST: Andorra v Slovenia

12.11.2011
Andorra v Slovenia in Ljubliana (ENC 2B)

Venue: Oval, Stanežičah

Referee: Mossford (Finland)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
SWITZ.	4	3	0	1	99	64	35	1	1	14
SERBIA	5	3	0	2	118	108	10	1	0	13
ANDORRA	4	2	0	2	85	68	17	1	1	10
ARMENIA	4	2	0	2	80	62	18	0	2	10
SLOVENIA	5	1	0	4	50	110	-60	0	0	4

Preview
Slovenia, promoted from Division 2C, face almost certain relegation. At the end of August they were crushed 0-52 by Serbia, a team they defeated 33-3 in November 2010. Just what has happed in Slovenian rugby in the last year is not clear. At the end of last season they had to forfeit a game against Armenia, due to lack of players at training!

Andorra still has a chance to win this competition. They will need to win their remainder test matches comfortably and hope other teams above them crash and burn. This is their first game of the season and they have to play away. Even so, I can’t see Slovenia picking up a win here.

Last Five Encounters
09.10.2010 Andorra 22-7 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)
30.04.2005 Andorra 38-5 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2A)
11.11.2001 Slovenia 26-16 in Ljubliana (FIRA B, Pool A)
30.10.1999 Andorra 16-3 in Ljubjiana (FIRA D1)
26.11.1994 Andorra 28-23 in Andorra La Vela (FIRA B3)

The 1994 test match was the first encounter between these two nations.

Andorra Last Five
19.03.2011 v Switzerland L 9-21 in Nyon (ENC 2B)
19.02.2011 v Serbia W 42-25 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)
13.11.2010 v Armenia L 15-12 in Abovian (ENC 2B)
09.10.2010 v Slovenia W 22-7 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)
08.05.2010 v Switzerland W 10-0 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 3A)

Slovenia Last Five
29.10.2011 v Serbia L 0-52 in Belgrade (ENC 2B)
30.04.2011 v Switzerland L 10-33 in Ljubliana (ENC 2B)
23.11.2010 v Serbia W 33-3 in Ljubliana (ENC 2B)
09.10.2010 v Andorra L 7-22 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)
23.05.2010 v Norway W 16-13 in Oslo (ENC 3B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Andorra 26th, Slovenia 28th

IRB Ranking Points
Andorra 42.83, Slovenia 39.24

Prediction: Andorra by 18 v Slovenia

Teams not available