NETHERLANDS v CROATIA; World Cup Qualifying Europe R 3; ENC 2A

20.04.2013

Feature Match No.2

Venue: Stadion NK Rudeš, Zagreb

Referee: Marcin Zeszutek (Poland)

Preview

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
NETHERL.	3	3	0	0	96	33	63	1	0	13
SWITZ.	4	3	0	1	92	75	17	1	0	13
MALTA	4	1	0	3	74	104	-30	1	1	6
CROATIA	2	1	0	1	40	48	-8	0	0	4
LTHUANIA	3	0	0	3	54	95	-41	0	0	0

The Netherlands are in a very good position to take the title in this division and progress to the next round of Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifying. A win or a draw would do.

Croatia would have to defeat Netherlands and gain a bonus point and do the same against Lithuania next weekend. They could do it but the odds are against them.

Previous Encounters
24.04.2010 Netherlands 16-14 in Split (ENC 2B)
01.11.2008 Netherlands 18-12 in Amsterdam (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2B)
01.11.1998 Netherlands 29-7 in Amsterdam (Friendly)

Netherlands Last Five P 5, 4, L 1
13.04.2013 v Malta W 48-10 in Amsterdam (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
17.11.2012 v Switzerland W 24-7 in Amsterdam (WCQ Euro.R3; ENC 2A)
10.11.2012 v Lithuania W 24-16 in Vilnius (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
21.04.2012 v Poland L 19-32 in Amsterdam (ENC 1B)
07.04.2012 v Moldova W 40-26 in Chisinau (ENC 1B)

Croatia Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
03.11.2012 v Switzerland L 20-29 in Nyon (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
27.10.2012 v Malta W 20-19 in Makarska (WCQ Europe R3; ENC 2A)
26.05.2012 v Andorra W 44-8 in Andorra La Vela (ENC 2A Playoff)
05.05.2012 v Lithuania L 26-28 in Vilnius (ENC 2A)
28.04.2012 v Malta W 31-16 in Zagreb (ENC 2A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table-Netherlands 17th, Croatia 23rd

IRB Ranking Points
Netherlands 50.50, Croatia 47.76

Prediction: Netherlands by 13 points

TEAMS

Croatia
This was the squad selected to train. I’m yet to see the starting line up and bench for the day

RK NADA: Miljak, Čulić, Borozan, Čorić, Jurčević, Bubrić, Popović, Buzov, Perlain, Burazin, Ivančić, Lerotić, Rosso
RK SINJ: Tvrdić, Grčić
RK MLADOST: Bulat, Draženović, Sekovanec, Jurišić, Oxenham
RK ZAGREB: Mijić, Slaviček M., Jureško
FRANCUSKA: Rončević
BELGIJA: Ujaković
NOVI ZEALAND: Ožić, Brown
AUSTRALIJA: Ayoub

http://www.nada-rugby.hr/nadanew/hrvatska/seniorirepka/1404-jug-sjever-487-140.html

 

Netherlands squad not available