Romanian Rugby

[dragos03]

Romanian Cup semifinal results:
Baia Mare - CSM Bucuresti 18-16 (a cracking match that almost resulted in a huge upset)
RCM Timisoara - Dinamo 78-12

Other news:
- Catalin Fercu played all match for the Saracens in the LV Cup, haven't seen it but it seems he did ok.
- Tinus Linee, Superliga winner in 2012 with RCM Timisoara (he was Chester Williams' assistant) has passed away due to a serious ilness. RIP.

 

[Andre8]

Great potential for Romania and Georgia... The National Teams are in a good form, but what about the Romanian Championship? How is the level? I know there are quite a lot of foreigners..how is their level?

 

[Croket66]

Great potential for Romania and Georgia... The National Teams are in a good form, but what about the Romanian Championship? How is the level? I know there are quite a lot of foreigners..how is their level?

RCM Timisoara has 14 foreigners
Farul Constanta has 13 foreigners
CSM Baia Mare 12
Dinamo Bucharest and CSM Bucharest 11 each
Steaua Bucharest 8
and U Cluj 3

There are 23 tongans in the 2014 Super Liga, including 3 internationals : flanker Sione Vaiomo'unga (13 caps, 2 during last RWC) from Baia Mare, centre Mateo Malupo (4 caps, ex-Northland ITM Cup) from Timisoara and flanker Paula Kata (4 caps) from Dinamo Bucharest. There are also U20, 7's and A. internationals.

10 South Africans are also in the league this year. Most of them played previously in Currie Cup first division and in Vodacom Cup. The most notable south african player is probably fly half Jody Rose from Timisoara, who is a former baby bok and also played for Emerging Springbok.

There are also 9 players from New Zealand. Most of them played in ITM Cup. The former all blacks and waratahs player Sosene Anesi played for Timisoara this year.

8 fijians in the 2014 Super Liga. 5 of them are internationals, 4 of them are called up for November internationals : Timisoara's prop Manasa Saulo (14 caps), and Constanta's trio Malakai Ravulo (flanker, 27 caps), Nemia Kenatale (scrum half, 28 caps) and Jonetani Ralulu (fly half, 13 caps)

7 players from the neighboring country Moldova. Most of them are promising international players

There are also 6 australians. Most of them came from the Shute Shield while 2 young backs from Constanta played in NRL U20

3 namibians : all of them are internationals : Eugene Jantjies (scrum half/full back, 38 caps) and Renaud Van Neel (flanker, 3 caps). both from Constanta and both played last RWC. The third namibian is winger McGrath Van Wyk (9 caps) from Cluj.

3 georgians. The most notable is scrum half Bidzina Samkharadze (60 caps) from Baia Mare

1 samoan, lock Daniel Crichton (4 caps) from Constanta

1 englishman, winger Jack Cobden (U20 international) who played for Nottingham before signing for CSM Bucharest

and 1 serbian, a 19 years old promising player, from Cluj

Also, a lot of romanians came in the Super Liga after a french adventure. Some examples : Cristian Petre (lock, 92 caps) signed for Constanta as player-coach, Valentin Ivan (scrum half, 6 caps) signed for CSM Bucharest and Silviu Vasiliu, a prop selected by Bucharest Wolves, signed for Cluj after a good season in Federale1. Also, english-born winger Stephen Hihetah (5 caps for Romania) signed to Baia Mare from Blackheath and played previously for London Scottish

 

[Andre8]

Wow :O I didn't think there were so much foreigners in the Superliga!!! I know the likes of Anesi and some Fijian internationals are playing there, but I didn't think that so much players were in Romania!!
Do they get good money there? Are the clubs serious, respecting the contracts?!

 

[dragos03]

Except for Japan, the Superliga is probably the best Tier 2 league and has seen nice progress in the last few seasons.

I don't know how much players earn but I've heard that the better players get contracts comparable to the ones in Pro D2 (especially if you consider the lower costs of living in Romania). However, some of the young Tongans that have invaded the league last season are said to accept very low wages, much less than the Romanian players. I've never heard any case of clubs not respecting contracts (sometimes the payments are late though), so I guess they are serious.

In other news, winger Madalin Lemnaru will miss the first November match (against the USA) because of an injury. Lynn Howells will probably call 2-3 additional players to the squad these days.

 

[Andre8]

Thank you Dragos a really good eye opener for me!

 

[dragos03]

Romania vs USA, November 8, Bucharest, Arcul de Triumf Stadium
18.30 local time, live on TVR2 and TVR international
Legal streams: http://www.tvrplus.ro/live-tvr-international and www.rugbytv.ro

Romania
1. Mihaita Lazar (Castres)
2. Otar Turashvili (Farul Constanta)
3. Ion Paulica (Perpignan)
4. Marius Sirbe (Blagnac)
5. Alin Coste (Carcassonne)
6. Mihai Macovei (Massy) - captain
7. Ovidiu Tonita (Aix-en-Provence)
8. Daniel Carpo (RCM Timisoara)
9. Valentin Calafeteanu (RCM Timisoara)
10. Dorin Manole (Orthez)
11. Robert Neagu (Farul Constanta)
12. Florin Vlaicu (Farul Constanta)
13. Csaba Gal (Baia Mare)
14. Adrian Apostol (Farul Constanta)
15. Catalin Fercu (Saracens)

16. Andrei Radoi (Ealing Trailfinders)
17. Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne)
18. Horatiu Pungea (Lyon)
19. Valentin Popirlan (RCM Timisoara)
20. Vlad Nistor (Castres)
21. Florin Surugiu (CSM Bucuresti)
22. Robert Dascalu (Steaua)
23. Florin Ionita (Steaua)

USA
1. Nicholas Wallace
2. Phillip Thiel
3. Olive Kilifi
4. Tai Tuisamoa
5. Louis Stanfill
6. Todd Clever
7. John Quill
8. Matthew Trouville
9. Mike Petri
10. Adam Siddall
11. Tim Stanfill
12. Andrew Suniula
13. Seamus Kelly
14. Takudzwa Ngwenya
15. Folau Niua

16. Tom Coolican
17. Benjamin Tarr
18. Matekitonga Moeakiola
19. Gregory Peterson
20. John Cullen
21. Kyle Sumsion
22. Shalom Suniula
23. Roland Suniula

At the press conference, Lynn Howells said he considers these autumn tests to be the start of the RWC 2015 preparation. That's why he decided to experiment a bit with the team. Young winger Robert Neagu will debut for the Oaks in this match, the inclusion of Tonita, Manole or Apostol in the starting lineup is also surprising.

From now on, the winner of the matches between Romania and the USA will also win the Pershing Cup. The name comes from a multi-sports tournament organised in 1919 in Paris by US general John Pershing for the Allied nations in the Great War. The game against the USA on 22 June 1919 is considered the first official match of the Oaks. The Pershing Cup will be carried to the pitch by a combined military squad made of soldiers from the 2nd US Marines Regiment and the Romanian Guards Regiment.

 

[dragos03]

Some news:
- Canada U18 will again travel to Bucharest to play three tests against Romania's U18 and U19 sides. The matches are scheduled on November 16, 19 and 22, the last one will be an opener for the senior sides game that day. All three matches will be streamed live on www.rugbytv.ro
- Oaks winger Ionut Botezatu is getting married this weekend, this explains his absence from the squad against the USA. For various reasons, Romania will face the Eagles without the three best wingers at the moment (Lemnaru, Dumitru and Botezatu).
- RCM Timisoara owner Dan Dinu has met with the leaders of the FRR this week and a larger meeting involving representatives of all Superliga clubs will take place tomorrow. Hopefully Dinu's conflict with the union will be over soon. The FRR has halved the suspension of Timisoara's vice-president Dusan Filipas and probably the one of head coach Grainger Heikell will be reduced as well.

 

[dragos03]

Moldova vs Ukraine live here if anyone wants to watch our little brothers in action:
http://www.trm.md/ro/tv-on-line/

Five Superliga players are starters for Moldova: hooker Ruslan Dorogan (Dinamo), lock Andrei Mahu (RCM Timisoara), centre Ion Cavcaliuc (Dinamo), winger Andrei Cebotari (RC Grivita) and fullback Mihai Golubenco (Steaua). Hooker Igor Orghianu (Steaua) is on the bench and Moldova also has a Romanian head coach (Mircea Paraschiv).

 

[dragos03]

Romania vs USA 17-27 highlights:


A poor result for Romania tonight. The Oaks had most of the territory and posession but looked hopeless in attack. The USA had few chances but scored every time. Romania's wingers were very poor in defense and all three tries were scored after they missed tackles or were out of position. Vlaicu also had a bad match with the boot, hitting the bars twice from easy positions and sending a third kick from long range way off. Our starting scrum half Calafeteanu was very poor as well, with slow distribution and countless aimless kicks that just gave the ball to the opposition. The only positives could be Manole's decent performance at fly half and the fact that Howells now knows that some of the players tested are not up to the task while others (Carpo) are past their best and have to be replaced. From the visitors, I liked Ngwenya (rarely got the ball but looked dangerous every time, scored a great solo try), Siddall (all three conversions were from very difficult positions) and Clever. Congratulations to the USA for winning the match and the Pershing Cup.

 

[dragos03]

It appears that Lynn Howells might rotate the squad a bit in the next two matches, since Ionut Dumitru and Petru Tamba are visible in this photo of a video training session posted on the FRR Facebook:

 

[rusty_lock]

What kind of squad do you expect that Canada will see next week?

 

[dragos03]

I don't know but probably it won't be a full-strength squad. It seems that Howells wants to use these three matches for testing purposes. Tamba's inclusion makes me suspect that some of the French-based players (like A. Ursache) might be recalled by their clubs.

In other news, some foreigners who play in the Superliga have done well for their national teams this weekend. Ruslan Dorogan and Ion Cavcaliuc (both from Dinamo) have scored tries for Moldova in their 29-15 win against the Ukraine while three Fijians (Manasa Saulo and Jonetani Ralulu were starters with Ravulo Malakai coming from the bench) played against France. I think Fijian tighthead Manasa Saulo (RCM Timisoara) did well in particular since their scrum managed to match the French one.

 

[dragos03]

Here's the Romanian team against Japan:
1. Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne)
2. Andrei Radoi (Ealing Trailfinders)
3. Paulica Ion (Perpignan)
4. Marius Sirbe (Blagnac)
5. Valentin Popirlan (RCM Timisoara)
6. Ovidiu Tonita (Aix-en-Provence)
7. Mihai Macovei (Massy) - captain
8. Daniel Carpo (RCM Timisoara)
9. Valentin Calafeteanu (RCM Timisoara)
10. Florin Vlaicu (Farul Constanta)
11. Ionut Botezatu (Baia Mare)
12. Robert Dascalu (Steaua)
13. Csaba Gal (Baia Mare)
14. Dorin Manole (Orthez)
15. Catalin Fercu (Saracens)

16. Otar Turashvili (Farul Constanta)
17. Mihaita Lazar (Castres)
18. Horatiu Pungea (Lyon)
19. Alin Coste (Carcassonne)
20. Stelian Burcea (RCM Timisoara)
21. Grigoras Diaconescu (Steaua)
22. Florin Ionita (Steaua)
23. Robert Neagu (Farul Constanta)

Lynn Howells has rotated the squad after the match against the USA, there are many changes among the starters and on the bench. It's interesting that both wingers have been replaced, with Manole moved from fly half to the wing. Also, two front row starters have been replaced. However, Calafeteanu retains his starting position even if he was (in my opinion) one of our worst players in the previous match.

 

[Croket66]

7. Mihai Macovei (Massy) - captain

a little correction

 

[dragos03]

Corrected, thank you

Here's a short clip with the Oaks preparing for the Japan match:

 

[dragos03]

And here's the Japanese lineup:
1. Masataka Mikami (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
2. Takeshi Kizu (Kobe Steel)
3. Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath)
4. Shoji Ito (Kobe Steel)
5. Shinya Makabe (Suntory Sungoliath)
6. Hendrik Tui (Suntory Sungoliath)
7. Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
8. Amanaki Lelei Mafi (NTT Communications Shining Arcs)
9. Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory Sungoliath)
10. Kosei Ono (Suntory Sungoliath)
11. Akihito Yamada (Panasonic Wild Knights)
12. Male Sau (Yamaha Jubilo)
13. Kotaro Matsushima (Suntory Sungoliath)
14. Karne Hesketh (Munakata Sanix Blues)
15. Ayumu Goromaru (Yamaha Jubilo)

16. Keita Inagaki (Panasonic Wild Knights)
17. Hiroki Yuhara ( Toshiba Brave Lupus)
18. Hiroshi Yama****a (Kobe Steel)
19. Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
20. Hayden Hopgood (Kamaishi Seawaves)
21. Yuki Yatomi (Yamaha Jubilo)
22. Harumichi Tatekawa (Kubota Spears)
23. Toshiaki Hirose (Toshiba Brave Lupus)

The match will start at 16.00 locat time and will be broadcasted live by TVR. Legal streams:
http://www.tvrplus.ro/live-tvr-international
www.rugbytv.ro

 

[dragos03]

On Thursday November 20, U Cluj will play a friendly match on Cluj Arena against the Hungarian national team, to celebrate 65 years since the founding of the rugby club.

 

[dragos03]

Moldova vs Poland live here, the match has just started:
http://www.trm.md/ro/tv-on-line/

Dumitru Arhip (Ospreys) is back for Moldova after 2 years but they are missing Vadim Cobilas (Sale Sharks) who got injured in the previous match.

Edit 31-13 HT, 5 tries for Moldova in the first half.
48-25 FT, Moldova's number 8 Oleg Prepelita scored 4 tries.

 

[dragos03]

Romania - Japan 13-18 highlights:


Full match here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjwJDL1ITYY&list=UUr9zhnwmEgwHR6QW3onmVOQ

The Oaks played better than in the USA match, especially in defense. It was a close match that Romania could have won but we've made several bad choices in key moments (such as Sirbe's stupid yellow card, kicking penalties from easy position to touch while attempting to convert hard ones, giving away the ball in the final action of the match, etc.). The ref was awful as well, I actually met him in a pub after the match where we were watching Scotland vs All Blacks, I asked him if he was happy with his performance today, he laughed and replied that it was maybe not his finest. Anyway, I expected more from Japan, a team ranked #9 on the world that has progressed a lot in the last few years.

Eddie Jones was boasting before the match that Japan's scrum is now one of the top 5 in the world, I wonder if he will now reconsider that statement.