EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP: Division 2A

21.04.2012
Sweden v Malta in La Valette (ENC 2A)

Venue: Hibernians Stadium Corradino, Paola

Referee: Pedro Murinello (Portugal)

Preview

Comments from ‘Scanrugby’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4055

“To me the Swedish squad looks good but missing five very good players: Ian Gowland (Stockholm Exiles), Tim Johansson (Enköpings RK), Bobby Nave (Enköpings RK), Viktor Pettersson (Enköpings RK) and Andrew Daish (Old Albanians). Tim Johansson is Australia trying to get a contract with Sydney Club, I don’t know why they others aren’t playing.

Maltese press have done a first write-up, seams Malta have found a new backrower in Wales http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/vi ... den.414699
They wrongly say that the group is already decided, both Lithuania and Malta can win the group (with help from Latvia!).

Malta Rugby Union have again done a good job and it looks like there will be a good crowd. I have not found the team but the squad is meeting on the 15th April which is something Sweden only can dream of. http://www.maltarugby.com/index.php?opt ... te-content

Even thou Sweden are leading the group I hold Malta as favourites with a small margin. Sweden don’t tend to play well in the spring (Swedish season only start in May) and with the preparation (Malta a week) Sweden (Team arrive late Thu) plus missing key players.”

And from Malta’s point of view…

‘[the squad] includes two newcomers of Maltese descent – James Morris, a 19-year-old fly-half on the books of Hartpury College in England, and back rower Daniel Apsee who plays for Bridgend Athletic in Wales.

The return of Charlie Sammut is another major boost for the team as the Oxford Harlequins blind-side flanker is an influential figure in the back line.

“This is the first time in several months that we have an almost full compliment to rely on,” the Malta coach [Damien Neill] said.’

Maltese coach continued, ‘“Theoretically, we may consider our position in the group as safe,” the Malta coach said.

“However, there is still a possibility of us slipping back to fourth place if we fail to take points from our last two matches and Croatia win theirs with bonus points.

“In that case, we would have to figure in a relegation play-off with Andorra. That’s something we want to avoid. Destiny is clearly in our hands so we are looking to wrap our campaign on a high.”’

Go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120419/rugby/Coach-Neill-gunning-for-two-more-wins-in-group.416155 for a full view of the article.

I expect this to be a close encounter.

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
SWEDEN	6	5	1	0	194	125	65	2	0	24
LITHUANIA	6	3	1	2	157	91	66	2	2	18
MALTA	6	3	0	3	108	98	10	2	2	16
CROATIA	6	2	0	4	105	125	-20	1	2	11
LATVIA	6	1	0	5	84	213	-129	2	1	7

Previous Encounters
07.05.2011 Sweden 24-13 in Stockholm (ENC 2A)
07.11.2009 Malta 25-23 in La Valette (ENC 2B)
01.11.2008 Malta 9-6 in Vanesborg (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2B)

Sweden Last Five
29.10.2011 v Croatia W 24-18 in Enkoping (ENC 2A)
22.10.2011 v Lithuania D 30-30 in Kuanua (ENC 2A)
14.05.2011 v Latvia W 54-29 in Riga (ENC 2A)
07.05.2011 v Malta W 24-13 in Stockholm (ENC 2A)
09.04.2011 v Denmark W 55-15 in Stockholm (Friendly)

Malta Last Five
05.11.2011 v Lithuania W 14-10 in La Valette (ENC 2A)
29.10.2011 v Latvia W 28-0 in Riga (ENC 2A)
07.05.2011 v Sweden L 13-24 in Stockholm (ENC 2A)
30.04.2011 v Croatia W 21-14 in La Valette (ENC 2A)
06.11.2010 v Latvia L 26-33 in La Valette (ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Sweden 19th, Malta 20th

IRB Ranking Points
Sweden 51.46, Malta 47.93

Prediction: Sweden by 1 point

Teams

Sweden Squad

Richard Johansson - Hammarby IF Rugby
Alex Taylor - Hammarby IF Rugby
Ivar Bengtsson - Hammarby IF Rugby
Mattias Björkebeck - Hammarby IF Rugby
Peter Blaha - Hammarby IF Rugby
Stefan Obradovic - Hammarby IF Rugby
Rikus Van Niekerk - Sthlm Exiles RFC
Simon Pierce - Sthlm Exiles RFC
Robin Fransson -Malvern RFC (UK)
Richard Örnberg -Malvern RFC (UK)
Lee Sandberg - Cambridge RFC (UK)
Sebastian Taylor - Old Haberdashers RFC (UK)
Connor Murphy - Corinthians RFC (IRL)
Tobias Borg - Enköping RK
Jonny Petterson - Enköping RK
Sami Paulsson - Enköping RK
Eirik Lundquist- Enköping RK
Tomas Arvidsson - Fredriksberg RK (DK)
Peter Wiklund- Vänersborg RK
Emil Andersson - Helsingborg RC
Mark Stephenson- Spartacus RFC
Daniel Nissila- Attila RG

Head Coach: Mike Tatu

http://iof3.idrottonline.se/SvenskaRugb ... tt/HerrXV/

Malta Squad

A. Livesey, D. Cerketa, V. Stivala, H. Collins, T. Holloway, J. Howland, D. Holliday, M. Davey, M. Galea, T. Pace Moore, R. Holloway, M. Attard, C. Cassar, T. Quarandon, C. Sammut, M. Bonavia, K. Mason, J. O’Brien, D. Apsee, D. Busuttil, J. Morris, M. Camilleri, L. Watts, R. Borg, J. Cutajar, N. Gatt, O. Sacco, D. Deguara.
Preview at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/vi ... oup.416155