EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP DIVISION1B Germany Take on Czech Republic

10.03.2012
Germany v Czech Republic in Prague (ENC 1B)

Venue: Tatra Smíchov Stadium.

Referee: Robert Diaconescu (Romania)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
BELGIUM	7	6	0	1	236	91	145	3	1	28
POLAND	8	5	1	2	193	150	43	1	1	24
MOLDOVA	7	5	1	1	145	114	31	2	0	24
CZECH R.	9	4	0	5	143	198	-54	1	2	19
GERMANY	7	2	0	5	140	158	-18	0	3	11
NETH.	8	0	0	8	94	241	-147	0	1	1

Preview

Both teams are well off the pace in this competition, especially Germany. It would be safe to say that both teams are safe from relegation. Perhaps it’s a time for team building.

Czech Republic are certainly doing that by introducing a number of Under 19 and Under 18 age group players to their bench from their successful teams.

Germany has had a less than memorable two seasons at this level following relegation from ENC 1B (2A) in 2010.

Last Five Encounters
12.03.2011 Czech Republic 29-23 in Heidelberg (ENC 1B)
08.04.2001 Germany 30-17 in Constance (FIRA B)
18.10.1997 Germany 31-17 in Hannover (WCQ Europe Pool 3, Round B)
11.05.1997 Germany 14-9 in Prague (FIRA Final 9th-10th)
23.09.1995 Germany 28-17 in Hannover (FIRA B1)

Germany Last Five
19.11.2011 v Poland L 8-34 in Gdansk (ENC 1B)
12.11.2011 v Netherlands W 23-7 in Hannover (ENC 1B)
02.04.2011 v Moldova L 15-28 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
19.03.2011 v Belgium L 25-28 in Brussels (ENC 1B)
12.03.2011 v Czech Republic L 23-29 in Heidelberg (ENC 1B)

Czech Republic Last Five
26.11.2011 v Moldova L 7-13 in Prague (ENC 1B)
19.11.2011 v Netherlands W 22-10 in Prague (ENC 1B)
05.11.2011 v Belgium L 0-55 in Brussels (ENC 1B)
15.10.2011 v Poland L 13-20 in Nowy Sacz (ENC 1B)
19.03.2011 v Moldova L 16-24 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Germany 15th, Czech Republic 16th

IRB Ranking Points
Germany 51.46, Czech Republic 51.46

Prediction
A close match with only pride to play for.
Czech Republic by 4 points.

Teams

Germany Squad

Forwards
Dan Armitage, Kehoma Brenner, Benjamin Danso, Tim Kasten, Alexander Widiker, Arthur Zeiler (alle Heidelberger RK), Tim Coly (RG Heidelberg), Alexander Hauck (SC Frankfurt 1880), Rob May (TSV Handschuhsheim), Callum Sauer (TV Pforzheim), Damien Tussac (RC Toulon/FRA), Benjamin Strappazon (Stade Montois Rugby/FRA)

Backs
Sean Armstrong (Heidelberger RK), Fabian Heimpel, Bastian Himmer (beide RG Heidelberg), Kieran Manawatu (SC Frankfurt 1880), Tim Menzel (TSV Handschuhsheim), Mustafa Güngör (TV Pforzheim), Raynor Parkinson (RC Hilversum/NED), Matthieu Franke (RC Orléans/FRA), Gilles Pagnon (Saint Raphael/FRA), Lars Eckert (SC Neuenheim)

Standby
Benjamin Krause (DSV Hannover 1878), Anjo Buckmann, Steffen Liebig, Patrick Schliwa (Heidelberger RK),Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg), Carlos Soteras-Merz (TV Pforzheim), Mark Sztyndera (SC Frankfurt 1880)

http://www.totalrugby.de/content/view/5003/37/

Czech Republic

15		Jan Rohlík	RC Říčany
14		Michal Jirman	RC Slavia Praha
13		Václav Jursík	RC Strasbourg, France
12		Petr Okleštěk	RC Auxerre, France
11		Michal Schlanger	RC Říčany
10		Petr Čížek	RC Slavia Praha
9		Vachtang Pailodze	RC Sparta Praha
8		Karel Nešpor	RC Slavia Praha
7		Vojtěch Havel	RC Tatra Smichov
6		Jiří Černý	RC Tatra Smichov
5		Radim Backa	RC Praga
4		Miroslav Němeček	US Oyonnax, France
3		Jan Benda	RC Sparta Praha
2		Vojtěch Mára	RC Tatra Smichov
1		Roman Šuster (Capt.)	Aurillac, France
16		Michal Novák	RC Praga
17		Emilio Caldaroni	RC Sparta Praha
18		Martin Havlíček	RC Havířov
19		Přemysl Brádle
20		Michal Kulhánek	RC Praga
21		Zbynek Schutz	RC Sparta Praha
22		Jan Kolář	RC Slavia Praha
		COACH: Martin Kafka

Adapted from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4013