Test Rugby: Germany v Spain

15.11.2008
Germany v Spain in Madrid (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 1)

Preview
A German team, without a number of their top players, lost 14-27 to A Welsh Clubs XV in Berlin last weekend. The team for this week's game will be much stronger including a number of top players from French clubs, including outstanding player Robert Mohr. This match will be Germany's first test match in the top division of European rugby and will go a long way to test whether the Germans are up to this level of international rugby.

Spain lost 15-42 away to Russia last weekend and will be looking to recover with a sound win at home. They have left out 4 of the players who travelled to Russia, replacing htem with 3 new caps and experienced back Jamie Nava

Previous Encounters
27.05.2006 Spain 36-10 in Madrid (WCQ Euro. R3, Playoff 2nd leg)
13.05.2006 Germany 18-6 in Heidelberg (WCQ Euro. R3, Playoff 1st leg)
26.04.1998 Spain 24-9 in Hannover (WCQ Euro.Pool 3, Rd B)
24.11.1996 Spain 25-17 in Heidelberg (FIRA, Pool A)
13.11.1994 Spain 29-10 in Hannover 9Friendly?)

The last time these two teams met is was for a place in the next round of World Cup 2007 qualifiers. Germany suprised the rugby world with their win in Heidelberg but Spain ran away with the return game in Madrid. You have to go back 12 years before you'll find a European competition between these two teams.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Spain 10th, Germany 12th

Prediction: Spain by 14 points

Teams

Germany
15 Edemoore Takendesa (RG Heidelberg)
14 Matthieu Franke (RC Orleans, France)
13 Kieron Davies (Luton RFC, England)
12 Colin Grzanna (Berliner RC)
11 Clemens von Grumbkow (RC Orleans, France)
10 Thorsten Wiedemann (TSV Handschuhsheim)
9 Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg)
8 Robert Mohr (La Rochelle, France)
7 Gerrit van Look (Berliner RC )
6 Timothy Kasten (Southend RFC, England)
5 Jens Schmidt, Capt. (TSV Handschuhsheim)
4 Bodo Sieber (Univ. of Capetown RFC, Sth. Africa)
3 Alexander Widiker (RC Orleans, France)
2 Timothy Coly (RG Heidelberg)
1 Benjamin Krause (Hannover 78 / 08 Ricklingen)
Replacements
16 Christian Baracat (SC Neuenheim)
17 Marcus Trick (SC Neuenheim)
18 Benjamin Danso (DRC Hannover )
19 Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg)
20 Lars Eckert (SC Neuenheim)
21 Marten Strauch (SC Neuenheim)
22 Markus Walger (RK Heusenstamm)
Head Coach: Rudolf Finsterer

http://www.totalrugby.de/
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2909

Spain squad
César Bernasconi (CRC Madrid) Age 32, 16 tests
José Mª Bohorquez (CR Ciencias) 32, 22
Rafael Camacho (CR Ciencias) 30, 25
Juan Cano (CRC Madrid) 23, 17
Javier Canosa (CRC Madrid) 25, 28
Iván Criado (Cetransa El Salvador) 28, 50
Pablo Feijoo (CRC Madrid) 26, 43
Leandro Fernández-Aramburu (CR Ciencias) 28, 7
Juan González (CRC Madrid) 26, 24
Sergio Guerrero (UE Santboiana) New Cap*
Sebastián Hattori (CR Ciencias) 26, New Cap
Ion Insausti (Cetransa El Salvador) 24, 21
Juan Gónzalez Marruecos (CR Ciencias) 22, 2
Ignacio Martín (Gran Parma RC, Italy) 24, 23
Manuel Mazo (CR Ciencias) 23, 11
Igor Mirones (Getxo Artea RT) New Cap*
David Mota (CRC Madrid) 22, 19 *
Jaime Nava (Centransa El Salvador) 25, 24*
Marco Pinto (Clermont Auvergne, France) 20, 1
Camille Riu (UE Santboiana) New Cap*
Javier Salazar (CRC Madrid) 31, 54
César Sempere (CRC Madrid) 23, 31
Sergio Souto (Cetransa El Salvador) 31, 43
Matías Tudela (CRC Madrid) 24, 2
Head Coach: Ged Glynn
* Did not travel to Russia
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2909

For lists of all international rugby tests played by Germany, and by Spain, go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/

Rugby Result: Welsh Clubs 27, Germany 14

I read a report which described this game of rugby as a dreadful game, played at a very low level. That I find disappointing. For the game to grow world-wide the game must be an attractive entertainment for spectators. What happened in this game? Post your opinion now?

Rugby Test: Germany v Welsh Clubs XV

08.11.2008
Germany v Welsh Clubs XV in Berlin (Friendly)

Preview
This game acts as a warm-up for the German team despite a number of first-choice players not being available. This is usually the case for Germany's first game of the season.

The Welsh clubs side has been chosen from clubs in Divisions 1 to 4 and includes only amateur players. Welsh District teams have been popping across to Europe since 1972 when the first team visited Belgium. Since then these teams have played against Sweden and Denmark. In 2006 the German side visited Wales and defeated the Welsh Club XV 24-13 in Pontypridd.

Prediction: The German side is below strength and may well struggle against the visitors. Welsh Clubs by 6 points.

Teams

Germany
Christian Baracat (SC Neuenheim)
Kehoma Brenner (RG Heidelberg)
Timothy Coly (RG Heidelberg)
Benjamin Danso (DRC Hannover)
Kieron Davies (Bedford RFC, England)
Lars Eckert (SC Neuenheim)
Juan Martin Goity (Newmarket RFC, England)
Mustafa Güngör (RG Heidelberg)
Alexander Hug (TSV Handschuhsheim)
Timothy Kasten (Southend RFC, England)
Benjamin Krause (DSV Hannover 78)
Rafael Pyrasch (DSV Hannover 78)
Jens Schmidt (TSV Handschuhsheim)
Udo Schwarz (SC Neuenheim)
Bodo Sieber (Univ. of Cape Town, Sth Africa)
Marten Strauch (SC Neuenheim)
Edmoore Takendesa (RG Heidelberg)
Marcus Trick (SC Neuenheim)
Damien Tussac (RC Toulon, France)
Gilles Valette (Cahors Rugby, France)
Gerrit van Look (Berliner RC)
Rolf Wacha (SC Frankfurt 1880)
Thorsten Wiedemann (TSV Handschuhsheim)
Manuel Wilhelm (RG Heidelberg)
Head Coach: Rudolf Finsterer

Regret player’s data (age, caps) not available.
Not selected due to retirement, injury, personal reasons, or not being released by clubs.
Steffen Thier, Christopher Weselek, Colin Grzanna, Franck Moutsinga, Alexander Widiker, Clemens von Grumbkow, Matthieu Franke, Markus Walger, Damien Tussac, Robert Mohr, Gilles Valette. Alexander Pipa Thanks to http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2901

Wales Clubs XV
15 Matthew John (UWIC RFC)
14 Thomas Bonnell (Narberth RFC)
13 Steven Martin (Narberth RFC)
12 Emyr Williams (Whitland RFC)
11 David James (Blackwood RFC)
10 James Howells, Capt. (Bargoed RFC)
9 Andrew Davies (Narberth RFC)
8 Colin Davies (Cardigan RFC)
7 Shaun Miles (Ammanford RFC)
6 Christopher James (Narberth RFC)
5 Alexander Jenkins (Narberth RFC)
4 James Noble (Newbridge RFC)
3 James Huntley (Rhiwbina RFC)
2 Daniel Smith (Narberth RFC)
1 Ross Jones (Bargoed RFC)
Replacements
16 Alun Davies (Carmarthen Quins RFC)
17 Rhys Cleverley (Beddau RFC)
18 Sion Dafydd Waddington (Pentyrch RFC(
19 Christopher Strick (Felinfoel RFC)
20 Carwyn Morgan (Pill Harriers RFC)
21 Matthew Lewis (Builth Wells RFC)
22 Matthew Davies (Narberth RFC)
Coach:
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2901
The team has been selected from Welsh Clubs playing in Divisions 1 to 4.

For complete lists of all international rugby test matches played by Germany and Welsh XV's go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/