EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP 2C: Austria v Norway

05.05.2012
Austria v Norway in Bergan (ENC 2C)

Venue: Fana Stadium

Referee: John Kulakovskis (Lithuania)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
ISRAEL	6	5	0	1	126	92	34	1	0	21
DENMARK	6	4	1	1	127	94	33	0	1	19
AUSTRIA	6	3	0	3	129	102	27	1	2	15
HUNGARY	6	2	0	4	97	124	4	0	2	10
NORWAY	5	0	1	4	36	93	-57	0	1	3

Preview
Both Austria and Norway are famous for their winter sports involving skiing and skating but are lesser known for their rugby prowess. This weekend sees the two nations square off on the international test rugby stage. There is a fair bit at stake as well.

Norway has a mathematical chance of avoiding the relegation playoff series but at this stage it is looking unlikely. Austria, on the other hand, has a chance to at least qualify for the promotion playoffs and an even remoter chance of heading this competition.

Last Five Encounters
06.11.2010 Austria 15-9 in Vienna (ENC 2C)
14.11.2009 Austria 12-9 in Vienna (ENC 3B)
11.10.2008 Norway 11-3 in Oslo (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 3B)
28.04.2008 Drawn 3-3 in Vienna (ENC 3B)
09.06.2007 Norway 22-8 in Oslo (ENC 3B)

Austria Last Five
21.04.2011 v Denmark L 22-28 in Odense (ENC 2C)
14.04.2011 v Slovenia W 19-5 in Ljubliana (Friendly)
05.11.2011 v Hungary W 38-7 in Vienna (ENC 2C)
22.10.2011 v Israel L 26-28 in Vienna (ENC 2C)
14.05.2011 v Denmark W 23-16 in Odense (ENC 2C)

Norway Last Five
29.10.2011 v Israel L 11-22 in Netanya (ENC 2C)
15.10.2011 v Denmark L 4-28 in Odense (ENC 2c; Viking Tri Nations)
03.09.2011 v Sweden L 7-18 in Bergin (Viking Tri Nations)
04.06.2011 v Hungary L 5-21 in Budapest (ENC 2C)
14.05.2011 v Israel L 3-15 in Oslo (ENC 2C)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Austria 30th, Norway 33rd

IRB Ranking Points
Austria 38.15, Norway 34.81

Prediction: Austria by 7 points

Teams

Austria

15		Lukas Dobner	RC Stade Viennois
14		Nicos Hnilicka	RC Donau
13		Martin Leidl	RC Wambats
12		Alexander Radomirov	RC Donau
11		Milan Sabo	RC Donau
10		Michael Kerschbaumer	RC Donau
9		Mushegh Aslanyan	Vienna Celtic RFC
8		Sebastian Freydell	RC Donau
7		Johannes Dachler	RC Donau
6		Lukas Kolb	RC Innsbruck
5		Dominik Kinski	Vienna Celtic RFC
4		Andreas Gaul	RC Donau
3		Manuel Pollak	RC Donau
2		Milad Farkhondeh Fal (Capt.)	RC Stade Viennois
1		Max Müller	RC Innsbruck
16		Omar Nino El Agrebi	Vienna Celtic RFC
17		Sebastian Borer	RC Donau
18		Patrick Maurer	RC Stade Viennois
19		Maximilian Grubner	RC Donau
20		M.Dachler
21		Gordon Chiu	RC Donau
22
		HEAD COACH: Gael Mouysset

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4072

Norway Squad

Ewan Adair (Oslo RK)
Thomas Bichard-Breaud (Oslo RK)
Kristoffer Borsheim (Stavanger RK)
Joe Bula Waqalevu (Gloppen Bushmen RK)
James Buncle (Civic Service RFC, England)
Shelton Davis (Tønsberg RK)
Alex Diessner (Stavanger RK)
Even Ellingsen (Blindern RK)
Finn Gormley (Galway Corinthians RFC, Ireland)
Samuel Hedger (Sunnmøre RK)
Pascal Raclin (Oslo RK)
Sakaraia Ravonkula (Tabu Soro RK)
Aleksander Rønning (Fredrikstad RK)
Eirik Salvesen Lie (Bergen RK)
Fredrik Skovly (Oslo RK)
Andre Slaatta (Bergen RK)
Kim-Robin Petterson (Horten RK)
Markus Sourlas (Bergen RK)
Nick Sæby (Stavanger RK)
Viliame Tirikula (Tabu Soro RK)
Andre Van Niekerk (Bergen RK)
Axel Wilhelmsen (Bergen RK)
Head Coach: Peter Burke

Adapted from http://www.norgesrugby.no/national-teams/729-2012-selection-5th-may-austria