Portugal expected to beat Germany
Buoyed by their fine performance in Tblissi last weekend, the Portuguese must go with great confidence into their European Nations Cup (‘Six Nations B’) match with Germany at Estadio Universitario de Lisboa, Lisbon.
Last weekend they went to Georgia and drew with the mighty Lelos 20-all and it took a last-minute try by the massive Georgians to get them the draw.
Now they play Germany who were promoted just this season and are so far without a win in three matches. That said the Germans did well in going down to Romania only 22-0 last weekend.
Log at present
Spain and Germany have each played three matches, the others two matches each.
1 Russia 6
2 Romania 6
3 Georgia 5
4 Spain 5
5 Portugal 3
6 Germany 3
As the points for these matches are three for a win, two for a draw and one in defeat, Portugal have a chance to leap above Georgia (perhaps temporarily) and Spain. In the next matches Spain play Georgia in Madrid and Romania play Russia in Bucharest. The competition runs over two years and has a huge, juicy carrot – a trip for two to New Zealand in 2011 and an chance for the next two to find a way through répechage.
Germany have called four new players into the squad – Christopher Liebig. Rolf Wacha, Marcus Trick and Benjamin Dans. The most significant absence is that of Robert Mohr who is required for duty with La Rochelle in France’s Pro D2. Missing through injury are Benjamin Simm and Michael Poppmeier.
It could be an entertaining match, especially as the skilful, fast Portuguese backs are liable to get a good deal of ball for them to run with.
Teams:
Portugal squad: Jorge Segurado (Direito), João Correia (), Cristian Spachuck (Auch, France), Juan Manuel Murre (Saint-Nazaire, France),), Bernardo Duarte (Agronomia), João Junior (CDUL), David Dos Reis (Nîmes, France), Gonçalo Uva (Montpellier, France), Juan Severino (Agronomia), Tiago Girão (Madrid), Vasco Uva (Direito), lvador Palha (Direito), Valter Ferreira (Belenenses), João Uva (Belenenses), Jose Pinto (Roma Olimpic), Pedro Cabral (Madrid), Duarte Cardoso Pinto (Agronomia), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), Diogo Mateus (Belenenses), David Mateus (Belenenses), Antonio Aguilar (Direito), Diogo Gama (Madrid), Pedro Leal (Direito), Pedro Silva (Belenenses)
Germany squad: Kieron Davies (Ampthill, England), Colin Grzanna (Berliner), Benjamin Danso (Hannover), Benjamin Krause (78/SV 08 Rickllingen), Christopher Liebig (Heidelberger), Alexander Widiker (Heidelberger), Clemens von Grumbkow (Orléans, France), Kehoma Brenner (Heidelberg), Tim Coly (Heidelberg), Pierre Faber (Heidelberg), Mustafa Güngör (Heidelberg), Edmoore Takaendesa (Heidelberg), Manuel Wilhelm (Heidelberg), Ben Brierley (Frankfurt 1880), Rolf Wacha (Frankfurt 1880), Lars Eckert (Marcus Trick (Neuenheim), Tim Kasten (Southend, England), Alexander Hug (TSV Handschuhsheim), Jens Schmidt (TSV Handschuhsheim), Thorsten Wiedemann (TSV Handschuhsheim), Bodo Sieber (UCT)
Referee: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Touch judges: Stefano Roscini (Italy), Pio Di Santo (Italy)
