TEST RUGBY: European Nations Cup 1B

24.03.2012
Moldova v Germany in Heidelberg (ENC 1B)

Venue: Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark

Referee: V. Iordachescu (Romania)

Preview

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
BELGIUM	9	8	0	1	283	136	147	3	1	36
MOLDOVA	8	5	1	2	161	131	30	2	1	25
POLAND	8	5	1	2	193	150	43	2	1	25
CZECH R.	10	4	0	6	160	217	-57	1	3	20
GERMANY	9	3	0	6	189	205	-16	1	4	17
NETH.	8	0	0	8	94	241	-147	0	1	1

Belgium has a clear lead in this competition and cannot be overtaken. They will progress to ENC 1A for 2012-14.

Neither Germany nor Moldova is in any danger of relegation. Netherlands will drop to Division 2A for 2012-14.

Germany has made great strides in 2012, defeating the Czech Republic and losing by one point to Belgium at home. Against Belgium they scored 4 tries to 2 but ill discipline let them down in that test match.

Moldova also lost to Belgium this month by one point also at home. They have not progressed as expected this season and will have to spend another two years in Division 1B.

This should be a close test match but without the intensity of the need to win.

Previous Encounters
02.04.2011 Moldova 28-15 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
24.11.2007 Germany 34-5 in Heidelberg (ENC 2A)
11.11.2006 Moldova 26-24 in Chisinau (ENC 2A)
13.11.2004 Germany 27-18 in Chisinau (WCQ Europe, R2, Pool B)

Germany Last Five
17.03.2012 v Belgium L 29-30 in Heusenstamm (ENC 1B)
10.03.2012 v Czech Republic W 20-17 in Prague (ENC 1B)
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)

Moldova Last Five
10.03.2012 v Belgium L 16-17 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
26.11.2011 v Czech Republic W 13-7 in Prague (ENC 1B)
12.11.2011 v Poland D 17-17 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
30.04.2011 v Netherlands W 22-15 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)
02.04.2011 v Germany W 28-15 in Chisinau (ENC 2B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Moldova 15th, Germany 16th

IRB Ranking Points
Moldova 53.85, Germany 52.00

Prediction: Moldova by 5 points

Teams

Moldova

Training squad for Germany from http://www.rugby.md/index.php?pagina=7&articol=504, thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4035

Dumitru Arhip (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Victor Arhip (Enisey-STM-Krasnoyarsk, Russia)
Alexandru Baltag (USEFS Blumarine)
Alexandru Bulgac (Agrouniveritet, Russia)
Nicolae Caburgan (USEFS Blumarine)
Sergiu Castraveţ (USEFS Blumarine)
Ion Cavcaliuc (LIMPS,Chişinău)
Eugen Chicu (USEFS Blumarine)
Nicolae Chirilă (Imperia Penza, Russia)
Maxim Cobîlaş (VVA-Podmoskovye, Russia)
Alexandru Colţ (Agrouniveritet, Russia)
Gheorghe Gajion (LIMPS,Chişinău)
Maxim Gargalîc (Agrouniveritet, Russia)
Alexandru Găgăuz (Agrouniveritet, Russia)
Ştefan Leca (USEFS Blumarine)
Victor Leon (Dinamo Bucureşti, Romania)
Veacelav Lozinschi (USEFS Blumarine)
Andrei Mahu (Sporting-ASEM Chişinău)
Octavian Manoli (UTM, Chisinau)
Andrei Mâţăblândă (USEFS Blumarine)
Igor Orghianu (Sporting-ASEM Chişinău)
Oleg Perpeliţă (Krasny Yar, Russia)
Dorin Petrache (USEFS Blumarine)
Andrei Romanov (VVA-Podmoskovye, Russia)
Veaceslav Titică (Krasny Yar, Russia)
Eduard Toderică (Taganrog, Russia)
Dumitru Vasilachi (USEFS Blumarine)
Andrian Baltag (Agrouniveritet, Russia)
Gheorghe Voloşciuc (USEFS Blumarine)

Head Coach: Alexandru Siscan

Germany

15. Kieran Manawatu (SC Frankfurt 1880)

14. Mustafa Güngör (TV Pforzheim)

13. Mark Sztyndera (SC Frankfurt 1880)

12. Lars Eckert (SC Neuenheim)

11. Marten Strauch (SC Neuenheim)

10. Christopher Hilsenbeck (US Colomiers, France)

9. Sean Armstrong (Heidelberger RK)

8. Rob May (TSV Handschuhsheim)

7. Kehoma Brenner (Heidelberger RK)

6. Tim Kasten (Heidelberger RK)

5. Daniel Armitage (Heidelberger RK)

4. Callum Sauer (TV Pforzheim)

3. Stéphane Kohler (Hermance Region RC, France)

2. Alexander Widiker (Heidelberger RK)

1. Benjamin Krause (DSV Hannover 1878)

Replacements

16. Arthur Zeiler (Heidelberger RK)

17. Patrick Schliwa (Heidelberger RK)

18. Benjamin Danso (Heidelberger RK)

19 Anjo Buckman (Heidelberger RK)

20. Matthieu Franke (RC Orléans, France)

21. Fabian Heimpel (RG Heidelberg

22. Tim Menzel (TSV Handschuhsheim)

Coaches: Torsten Schippe  & Kobus Potgieter

Adapted from http://www.totalrugby.de/content/view/5096/37/