OFFENBACH, GERMANY - MARCH 04: Players of Germany celebrate after the Rugby Europe Championship match between Germany and Belgium at Sparda-Bank-Hessen-Stadion on March 4, 2017 in Offenbach, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
7. The Germans could end up facing the All Blacks at next year’s Rugby World Cup. If they lose to Samoa, they have another chance to qualify through a repechage, with the winners landing in the same pool as NZ, South Africa and Italy.
8. They are currently ranked 29th in the world. Their biggest-ever win was 108-0 over Serbia-Montenegro in 2005. Their biggest-ever loss was 89-6 against Russia in 2000.
9. The team are currently coached by former England international Mike Ford, however, they’ve never played the old enemy at rugbyin their history.
10. Germany’s first-five Hagen Schulte was born in Christchurch and played provincial rugby for Buller, before moving to the Glasgow Hawks and then Heidelberger RK. Captain Sean Armstrong is Australian-born.