Preview Portugal v Germany Changing negatives into positives!
This is going to be the 9th match between the two nations, a series of intermittent clashes that started in 1974, with Germany winning 20-10. The next match was played some 14 years later with Portugal extracting revenge 13-9 in 1988, but Germany struck back winning 30-15 the following year. In 1994 Germany won in Lisbon 20-18, their last win of the series and from 1995 onwards it was Portugal all the way, winning all four matches, the last two in 2009/2010 double season by substantial margins.
Chris Thau reports Having lost their first two matches in this year’s Championship, the two teams are hoping to end the current famine this weekend, with Portugal buoyed by their defensive bonus point from the Georgia match. It was a mighty effort that restored the morale of the team, dented in the aftermath of the defeat by Romania at home in the first round. On the other hand, Germany who led Russia at the break, found themselves confronted with the already familiar scenario of losing, this time heavily, in the closing stages to the rampant Bears. Winger-come-centre Gonçalo Foro is the main addition to the Portugal squad, having made a quicker than expected recovery from an injury suffered last December.
The availability of the experienced CDUL winger, is definitely a bonus for the Lobos, given that thirteen of their flyers have been away with the sevens team, which is an active and successful participant in the WR Sevens Series. Portugal Director of Rugby Tomaz Morais explained: “There is no doubt that if the 13 players currently playing on the World Rugby sevens circuit, would have been available for selection for the fifteenth, we certainly would have more options, especially in the backs.
On the other hand, if some of the XV players would have been available for the Sevens team, we would also had even more opportunities and alternatives. This was a major issue for a small federation like ours. The decision to split our sevens programme from the main 15-aisde programme was risky and not taken lightly.”
“However, following the first half of the season we can say that the outcome was rewarding, because we have been successful with both sevens and fifteens, providing opportunities for more players to represent the country and compete at a very high level. This investment is the result of close work with the Portuguese clubs and age-grade academies.
Even with limited human and financial resources we believe that Portuguese teams, showing the right attitude and competitive spirit, could be successful against any opponent. Our playing philosophy developed for the characteristics of Portuguese players and in the spirt of amateur rugby is identical for both sevens and fifteens,” Tomaz Morais observed.
In addition to Foro a veteran of over 50 international matches, two young players, both uncapped, have joined the main Portuguese squad, flanker Alfonso Sousa and centre João Bernardo Afonso both of Cascais RFC, says Portugal press officer Andre Silva. On the German side, deprived of the services of their former Pumitas No8 Alan Kessen, side-lined with concussion, Frank Duwe, who broke a hand against Russia and their two vitally important tight forwards second-rower Robert Mohr and prop Damien Tussac there are five newcomers, who coach Kbus Potgeiter, ever the optimist, hopes they will be able to take the step to the next level.
“Kessen is a big lost for us, made more difficult by the absence of Tussac and Mohr, not to mention a question mark over the availability of Zeiler. These are four experienced forwards and it is not easy to find alternative options, but on the other hand it gives the younger players opportunities to put their hands up. On a positive note Umberto Pilla is back as well as Sean Armstrong. Kieron Manawatu is also back after a long absence, not to mention Phil Szcesny who is back after his military duty.
We hope they we hope they give us the much needed attack edge we need from the back. The New Zealand-born fullback Manawatu, who made his debut against the Czech Republic in 2012, returns for his ninth cap, having been absent for more than a season – his last match was against Sweden in 2013. Both him and the Italian-born flanker Umberto Pilla of Rugby San Dona, have been announced in the German starting line-up, with twenty-two year old Phil Szczesny of Hannover 78, prop Julius Nostadt of SO Chambéry and lock-forward Benedict Scherrer of Heidelberger TV on the bench.
“We have worked hard on our defence to make sure we can keep our defensive shape for 80min as this was the biggest problem in our last two games”, said Germany Head Coach Kobus Potgeiter.
“We also need to be more effective on attack and use our chances. We know Portugal will be a very tough game and as their result against Georgia showed last week they are a quality team. We need to execute better and play for 80min on Saturday.
After Russia we had to be very honest with ourselves and know that we let each other down. However, we will take the positives from the game also aim to change the negatives in positives this weekend. We know we are a better team than the scores indicate in the last two games but we need to prove it on the pitch,” he added
Portugal squad : Afonso Sousa GDS (Cascais), Bernardo Campelo (AEIS Agronomia), Bruno Medeiros (CDUL), Bruno Rocha (AEIS Técnico), Diogo Toorn (CDUL), David dos Reis (RC Chateaurenard), Duarte Foro (CDUL), Duarte Marques (AEIS Técnico), Francisco Fernandes (Béziers), Francisco Silva (GD Direito), Francisco Sousa (GDS Cascais), Francisco Appleton (CDUL), Francisco P. Magalhães (CDUL), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), José Almeida RC Lousã, Julien Bardy ASM Clermont, João Almeida CDUL, João Bernardo Afonso GDS Cascais, João Mateus (AA Coimbra), João Silva (GD Direito), Manuel Pereira (GD Direito), Maxime Tonieta (US Oynnax), Miguel Vilaça (CDUL), Mike Tadjer (RC Massy), Nuno P.Costa (CDUL), Nuno Taful (GDS Cascais), Pedro Ávila (AS Clermont), Rodrigo Figueiredo (CDUP), Salvador Vassalo (GDS Cascais), Tomás Appleton (CDUL), Tony Martins (Limoges), Vasco Marques (CDUP), Vasco Uva (GD Direito)
Germany: Artur Zeiler, Alexander Widiker, Samy Fuchsel, Michael Popmeier, Robert May, Kehome Brenner, Umberto Pilla, Robert Hittel, Sean Armstrong (Captain), Chroistopher Hillsenbeck, Hendrik van der Merve, Paul Bosch, Clemens von Grumbkow, Steffen Liewbig, Kieron Manawatu
Subs: Dale Garner, Julius Niostadt, Christopher Howells, Benedikt Scherrer, Anjo Buckmann, Phil Sccesny, Tim Menzel, Jeremy Te Huia
Games played between Portugal and Germany |
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| 27-Feb-10 | Germany | 00 – 69 | Portugal | |
| 21-Feb-09 | Portugal | 44 – 06 | Germany | |
| 4-Apr-98 | Portugal | 30 – 06 | Germany | |
| 14-May-95 | Germany | 16 – 26 | Portugal | |
| 17-Apr-94 | Portugal | 18 – 20 | Germany | |
| Overall Stats Portugal | Overall Stats Germany | |||
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| Games Played | 5 | Games Played | 5 | |
| *Games Won | 4 | *Games Won | 1 | |
| *Games Lost | 1 | *Games Lost | 4 | |
| Games Drawn | 0 | Games Drawn | 0 | |
| *Longest Winning Streak | 4 | *Longest Winning Streak | 1 | |
| *Longest Losing Streak | 1 | *Longest Losing Streak | 4 | |
| *Largest Points For | 69 | *Largest Points For | 20 | |
| *Largest Points Against | 20 | *Largest Points Against | 69 | |
| *Largest Winning Margin | 69 | *Largest Winning Margin | 2 | |
| *Largest Losing Margin | -2 | *Largest Losing Margin | -69 | |
| *Total Points For | 187 | *Total Points For | 48 | |
| *Avg Points For | 37.4 | *Avg Points For | 9.6 | |
| *Total Points Against | 48 | *Total Points Against | 187 | |
| *Avg Points Against | 9.6 | *Avg Points Against | 37.4 | |
| *Total Points Difference | 139 | *Total Points Difference | -139 | |
| *Avg Points Difference | 27.80 | *Avg Points Difference | -27.80 | |
| * = By Portugal | * = By Germany | |||
POSSIBLE RR World Rankings outcome on Result
POR (on 57.87 points) at home -vs- GER (on 56.21 points) Average score – Portugal 37.40 vs 9.60 Germany
| Possible Outcome | Rating Point Exchange | New POR Rating | New GER Rating | Will GER overtake POR? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If POR win by 1-15 points | 0.534 | 58.40 | 55.68 | No |
| If POR win by more than 15 | 0.801 | 58.67 | 55.41 | No |
| If result is a draw | 0.466 | 57.40 | 56.68 | No |
| If GER win by 1-15 points | 1.466 | 56.40 | 57.68 | Yes |
| If GER win by more than 15 | 2.199 | 55.67 | 58.41 | Yes |
2014-16 European Nations Cup > ENC 1A > First leg
| 1 | REPORT | 7/02/2015 | Portugal |  |
10 v 37 |  |
Romania |
| 2 | REPORT | 7/02/2015 | Spain |  |
43 v 20 |  |
Russia |
| 3 | REPORT | 7/02/2015 | Germany |  |
08.v.64 |  |
Georgia |
| 4 | REPORT | 14/02/2015 | Georgia | |
20 v 15 | |
Portugal |
| 5 | REPORT | 14/02/2015 | Romania | |
29 v 08 | |
Spain |
| 6 | REPORT | 14/02/2015 | Germany | |
22 v 46 | |
Russia |
| 7 | Preview | 28/02/2015 | Spain | |
00 v 00 | |
Georgia |
| 8 | Preview | 28/02/2015 | Russia | |
00 v 00 | |
Romania |
| 9 | Preview | 28/02/2015 | Portugal | |
00 v 00 | |
Germany |
| 10 | Not .Played | 14/03/2015 | Georgia | |
00 v 00 | |
Russia |
| 11 | Not .Played | 14/03/2015 | Portugal | |
00 v 00 | |
Spain |
| 12 | Not .Played | 14/03/2015 | Germany | |
00 v 00 | |
Romania |
| 13 | Not .Played | 21/03/2015 | Romania | |
00 v 00 | |
Georgia |
| 14 | Not .Played | 21/03/2015 | Russia | |
00 v 00 | |
Portugal |
| 15 | Not .Played | 21/03/2015 | Spain | |
00.v.00 | |
Germany |
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