NORWAY v BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA; ENC 2D

19.04.2014

Venue: Stadion Kamberovic Polje Ulaz Slobodan

Image thanks to Welsson at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15096832

Referee: Afonso Nogueira (Portugal)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	TL
LUXEMBRG	6	4	0	2	95	93	2	0	0	16
NORWAY	6	3	0	3	96	69	27	0	3	15
BOSNIA H.	6	3	0	3	119	103	16	0	3	15
GREECE	6	3	0	3	101	116	-15	0	1	13
FINLAND	6	2	0	4	92	122	-30	1	2	11

Preview
There are three test matches to play after this game in this division. So far this division has been wide open so anybody can win it although Finland has struggled more than most.

The composition of the ENC teams before and after Christmas can be very different, especially in these lower divisions. The team that can be held together over the long mid-winter break is crucial.

Bosnia’s last test match was a very disappointing loss to Greece at home. The home advantage should be major at this level but that loss in Bihac set Bosnia’s hopes back. They will need to win this game and stay with the leading pack.

Norway also suffered a home defeat in their last test match. Pacemaker Luxembourg did the business on that day back in October. Prior to that Norway lost to both Greece and Luxembourg with a win against Finland the only positive result. They did defeat Bosnia at home back in December 2012.

The result will be close and I’m going for the home side to win.

Previous Encounters
03.11.2012 Norway 11-9 in Bergen (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
03.06.2006 Norway 35-23 in Oslo (ENC 3C)

Norway Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
19.10.2013 v Luxembourg L 7-9 in Oslo (ENC 2D)
12.10.2013 v Finland W 24-12 in Turku (ENC 2D)
13.04.2013 v Greece L 14-21 in Athens (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
10.11.2012 v Luxembourg L 8-15 in Luxembourg (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)03.11.2012 v Bosnia Herzegovina W 11-9 in Bergen (WCQ Eur. R1; ENC 2D)

Bosnia Herzegovina Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
12.10.2013 v Greece L 17-20 in Bihac (ENC 2D)
20.04.2013 v Finland W 19-15 in Sarajevo (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
13.04.2013 v Luxembourg W 33-23 in Tesanj (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
17.11.2012 v Greece L 17-22 in Thessalonika (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)
03.11.2012 v Norway L 9-11 in Bergan (WCQ Europe R1; ENC 2D)

GWC Rugby Rankings
Europe Table: Bosnia Herzegovina 34th, Norway 37th

IRB Ranking Points
Bosnia Herzegovina 35.41, Norway 32.71

Prediction: Bosnia Herzegovina by 4 points

Teams

Bosnia Herzegovina Squad

Senad Turčinović
Mirsad Fetić
Zeid Stanković
Adis Bašić
Danijel Keserović
Edin Pojskić
Armin Kavazović
Vedran Izić
Kenan Uzunović
Durgut Dženan
Damir Jovanović
Emir Čerim
Armin Zadić
Samed Smajlović
Armin Vehabović
Melvin Baručija
Sabahudin Subašić
Haris Oruč
Adnan Hamzić
Fadil Spahić
Zijad Ajkunić
Krešimiri Marković
Nejro Ahmić

Adapted from http://zeragbi.blogspot.co.uk/

Norway Squad

Samuel P E Barnes (Tring RFC)
Thomas Barnes (University of Exeter RFC, England)
Nicolas Barrel (Oslo RK)
Kristoffer Borsheim (Esbjerg RK)
Thomas Bichard Breaud (Oslo RK)
Tomas D (Blindern RK)
Shelton Davis (Tønsberg RK)
Anthony Duchene (Oslo RK)
Kristian Elgheim (University of York RFC, England)
Even Ellingsen (Blindern RK)
Marcin Gadzinski (Bergen Fana RK)
Robert Gannon(captain) (Oslo RK)
John Knutsen (Bergenhus RK)
Eirik Salvesen Lie (FanaRK) (Bergen Fana RK)
Ezra Mcintyre (Stavanger RK)
Nicolay Sæby (Aberyswyth RFC, Wales)
Kasper Solli (RK Vestfold Studentsamfunns)
Stefan Svellingen (BergenhusRK)
Erlend Meldalen (Blindern RK)
Alastair Reed (Oslo RK)
Aleksandser Rønning (Fredrikstad RK)
Anders Teigland (Bergenhus RK)
Michal Urbanski (Bergen Fana RK)

Adapted from http://www.norgesrugby.no/national-teams/1044-2014-men-selection-19th-april-bosnia-herzegovina