WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: Europe ENC 2B

13.01.2012
Andorra v Denmark in Odense (WCQ Europe R2; ENC 2B)

Venue: Odense Athletic Stadium

Referee: J.Kittelsen (Norway)

Preview
This is the first of a World Cup qualifying European Round 2 double-header this weekend. The other game is reviewed below; Israel v Serbia.

Denmarkr were promoted from ENC 2C along with Israel at the end of the 2010-12 tournament. It will be interesting to see how they fare at this level.

Denmark has already played a test match this season. They defeated Norway 22-15 at Roslyn Park in London in early September. This match was meant to be a preliminary game for the Viking Cup. The winner was supposed to play cup holder Sweden but Sweden pulled out. Thus Denmark hold the Viking Cup.

Two leading players who missed the Norwegian test match have returned. They are Andrew Grantham and Jesper G.Jensen.

Danish team preparing for the match in London.
Image thanks to http://www.rugby.dk/nyheder/landshold/91111607-truppen-mod-andorra

There has been no internet news from Andorra re this match. Last season they finished second in the 2010-12 ENC 2B competition thus earning the right to playoff against second-to-last in ENC 2A. They lost heavily to Croatia at home. Still, I expect the Andorrans to be very tough against Denmark.

Previous Encounters
These two sides have met only once before. This was in 1992. Andorra won 8-5 in Andorra La Vela in what was a World Cup qualifying match. Andorra went on to lose to Switzerland two later and were eliminated.

Denmark Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
08.09.2012 v Norway W 22-15 in London (Viking Cup)
02.05.2012 v Israel L 0-15 in Netanya (ENC 2C)
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)

Andorra Last Five P 5, W2, L 3
26.05.2012 v Croatia L 8-44 in Andorra la Vela (ENC 2A Playoff)
14.04.2012 v Serbia W 9-7 in Belgrade (ENC 2B)
26.11.2011 v Switzerland L 21-22 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2B)
12.11.2011 v Slovenia W 15-6 in Ljubliana (ENC 2B)
19.03.2011 v Switzerland L 9-21 in Nyon (ENC 2B)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Andorra 25th, Denmark 27th

IRB Ranking Points
Denmark 42.51, Andorra 42.21

Prediction: Denmark by 7 points

Teams

Denmark Squad

Matias Dinesen (Frederiksberg RK)

Rasmus Dufke (CSR/Nanok)

Niels Gotfredsen (Aarhus RK)

Thomas Graagaard (Holstebro RK)

Andrew Grantham (Aalborg RK)

Jesper G. Jensen (Erritsø RK)

Joshua Jensen (CSR/Nanok)

Mikkel S. Jensen (Aarhus RK)

Jannick Larsen (Erritsø RK)

Michael Friis Larsen (Aalborg RK)

Oliver Le Roux (RK Speed)

Emad Libis (CSR/Nanok)

Johannes Mackeprang (RK Speed)

Sean Maher (Towcester RFC, England)

Christian Meldgaard (Erritsø RK)

Sylvester Michaelsen (CSR/Nanok)

Kasper Vad Pedersen (Aarhus RK)

Kristian Riberholdt (Holstebro RK)

Andreas Robertson (Nottingham Trent Uni. RFC, England)

James Rosenfeldt (CSR/Nanok)

Johannes Soussan (CSR/Nanok)

Gaspard Nau Valbak (VGA Saint Maur, France)

Nicolas Vermaak (?)

Head Coach: Ivan Anderson
Adapted from http://www.rugby.dk/nyheder/landshold/91111607-truppen-mod-andorra along with my won records.

Andorra squad not available