EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP: HUGE CLASH Denmark v Israel

02.06.2012
Denmark v Israel in Netanya (ENC 2C)

Venue: Wingate Institute

Referee: Sébastien Pomarède (France)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
ISRAEL	7	6	0	1	171	97	74	2	0	26
DENMARK	7	5	1	1	155	116	39	0	1	23
AUSTRIA	8	3	0	5	157	141	16	1	4	17
HUNGARY	8	3	0	5	130	182	-52	0	2	14
NORWAY	8	1	1	6	72	149	-77	0	1	7

Preview
This is the crucial encounter of this division and it is fitting that it is the last. Both teams are chasing top berth on the table. This will enable the winner to playoff against second bottom placed team in Division 2B for a place in ENC 2B for 2012-14. That team will certainly be Slovenia as Armenia will automatically slip down to ENC 2 as they have forfeited their remainder games of this season.

So it means there is only one promotion-relegation playoff thus it has to be the winner.

Denmark has the more difficult end of the assignment. They are playing away against the team already at the top. Denmark needs to win and not let Israel get any bonus points. If Israel gets a bonus losing point then Denmark needs a bonus point at least. Denmark has a slight advantage here as they defeated Israel at home in the first round.

Other Previews
http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/rugby-european-group-2c-historic-campaign-reaches-climax-1.433519

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Israeli-National-Rugby-Team/115698775148292

http://www.facebook.com/RUGBYdk

Photo courtesy Israel RFU

Previous Encounters
07.05.2011 Denmark 27-19 in Odense (ENC 2C)
04.05.1989 Denmark 16-6 in Tours, France (WCQ Europe)

Denmark Last Five
21.04.2012 v Austria W 28-22 in Odense (ENC 2C)
29.10.2011 v Hungary W 21-13 in Kecskemet (ENC 2C)
15.10.2011 v Norway W 28-5 in Odense (ENC 2C; Viking Tri-Nations)
14.05.2011 v Austria L 16-23 in Odense (ENC 2C)
09.04.2011 v Sweden L 15-55 in Stockholm (Viking Tri-Nations)

Israel Last Five
21.04.2012 v Hungary W 44-5 in Ezstegom (ENC 2C)
22.10.2011 v Austria W 28-26 in Vienna (ENC 2C)
29.10.2011 v Norway W 27-11 in Netanya (ENC 2C)
14.05.2011 v Norway W 15-13 in Oslo (ENC 2C)
07.05.2011 v Denmark L 19-27 in Odense (ENC 2C)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Denmark 28th, Israel 33rd

IRB Ranking Points
Israel 43.29, Denmark 42.04

Prediction: Israel by 6 points

 

Sadly neither squad is available for such an important encounter