Baia Mare are very active on facebook lately, much more active than they used to be. Good communication by them, I like this new approach. Back to local rugby, this round had a very good match between CSM Bucuresti and Timisoara and too easy wins by favorites.
CSM Bucuresti 28 - 16 Timisoara Saracens
This is a tough one for the visitors because they have so many players injured like Oaks Badiu, Fercu, Capatana, Sheenan, Umaga, Samoa or players who are making it into first XV pretty often like Simionescu, Conache, Doyle or Hunt.
CSM scrum dominated the match and made Timisoara's one to look terrible. Doge Mesake have a bad day at the office, he conceded most of the penalties given against his team from various infringement in the scrum. When Pungea and Militaru entered from the bench, the situation was somehow more balanced.
Apjock's style is started to be noticed as CSM, they managed to pin Timisoara in their own half with long kicks followed by effective chasing of the ball. One of the tries come following a ball fumbled by Seniloli and recovered by one of CSM players and generally most important attack situations come following scrums or lineouts in visitors half.
Vlad Popa played out of position at 15 and he did it well, he also attacked well few times and put up good tackles in situation of last defending player but probably with Fercu . However, Timisoara's defense seems unprepared for kicking play CSM put on them. Rose and especially Seniloli had an average performance. The former especially, although is lethal when is given some space is very limited as player in other aspects. He doesn't seem to have any concern on managing his game, passing is average and become really bad after he fumbled the kicked ball for CSM try by passing near the level of the ground repeatedly. I noticed this few times and it seems when he makes mistakes he lose his confidence and concentration and his passing become dangerous for his colleagues. Pretorius (injured) is also below par so imo best bet for Timisoara is young Rupanu who imo have much more potential than Seniloli or Pretorius, also Timisoara should have tried to convert Conache there, as they did in last matches from last season than sign these two players, wasted money imo on both and I'd add here Doge Mesuke but for now I give him the benefit of a doubt since he only come here from one month or so.
Again, the issue of ruck/breakdown made Timisoara to give away many easy penalties and Mr. Williams will have a lot of work to do in this area.
CSM looked very composed, they followed their game plan well. Frontrow and scrum generally was really strong, lineout worked well but it wasn't easy against two top players like those from Timisoara locks. Backrow was outstanding and managed to push back Timisoara on their attack and pin them down in their field. Lots of experience there from long time Oaks like Carpo and Burcea or from captain Adrian Ion who shouldn't be overlooked by Howells despite his age.
I am especially thrilled by Calafeteanu's come back after a long term injury. His form was poor before this kidney injury (which puts in danger his career) but now he looks sharper and much more accurate in passing and kicking, probably less burnt out and with more appetite for playing. CSM fly-half is a very interesting player, he was accurate with kicking and very dangerous with ball in hand, being able to drag CSM backs attacking line in very good positions to attack.
Overall a very good match, good entertainment too, which looked at times at test level. Feeling was that Williams was outplayed by Apjock who seem to play a less conservative style than we were used to. Probably it was good for him to get out of comfort zone after 12 years at CSM.
CSA Steaua Bucuresti 45 - 8 Universitatea Cluj
Easy one for Steaua, 7 to 1 tries, young Boldor was entrusted with kicking tee duty this time and he did his job well and he was named man of the match. Cluj had on bench 5 players 18 yo.
CS Dinamo Bucuresti 70 - 5 CS Politehnica Iasi
After a strong start, the limited squad of Iasi start to show its limits. Especially in last minutes, the bench which was made of mostly 18 yo wasn't able to stop Dinamo, 4 tries being scored after the young players entered the pitch. Stil, few of the young players seem to adapt well to the new environment and I am thinking here to backrow Chiriac (injured this time but played in first two matches really well), scrum-half Lupu, frontrow Cretu.
Man of the match: Dinamo's scrum-half Tudorel Bratu
Conclusion:
It looks like we will have 5 contenders for the play off, Dinamo looking strong enough to challenge any other team from top 4. Iasi and U Cluj will probably try to avoid the wooden spoon but if they will manage to get some finances to strengthen their squads (because bench is the main issue) they might put up a much better opposition.
Anniversary:
On 8 September we celebrate first rugby match played in Romania which happened in 1913 on the same field where is now based Romanian Rugby Federation and Arcul de Triumf national stadium:
https://frr.ro/2017/09/08/104-ani-de-la-momentul-zero-al-rugbyului-romanesc/
