Romanian Rugby

[dragos03]

The Oaks have been welcomed to England and have started training.

King's Cup final highlights (made by Timisoara and only showing their tries):

 

[amz]

Ovidiu Tonita have a broken fingers so he was replaced in Romanian RWC squad by Vlad Nistor (Castres)

 

[dragos03]

I'm back from the RWC, what an amazing experience, especially being part of the record crowd at Romania vs Ireland on Wembley. We lost both matches so far as expected but our real World Cup only starts with the games vs Canada and Italy. From what I've seen so far, I'd say that we have a 50% chance against Canada and maybe 25% vs Italy.

Some news:
- the FRR has offered a new contract to Lynn Howells, he will decide after the competition.
- On Sunday at 18.30, Timisoara Saracens will play against Steaua in Iasi in the final of the Romanian Cup. Steaua is a surprise finalist after beating Baia Mare in the semifinals. This is the first important rugby match to be played in Iasi after many years and the main football stadium in the city will be used.

 

[dragos03]

Ovidiu Tonita have a broken fingers so he was replaced in Romanian RWC squad by Vlad Nistor (Castres)

Awesome way to retire for Oaks legend Ovidiu Tonita. "The bus" (his nickname in the French press) has played in a record 5 World Cups, with a total of 72 caps for Romania. In his last match he played for the whole 80 minutes vs Ireland and has scored a try against one of the best teams in the world, breaking the line one final time, despite his broken finger. He got to retire on a legendary stadium, in front of over 89000 fans, the RWC all-time record crowd.

 

[Jayatron]

I have to say I have massively impressed with the Oaks. They look and played the part of a top rugby team, certainly in and around 10 in the rankings. But that is all subject to the iRB splitting RWC money evenly.

I read that T1 nations get 7 million and T2 get est. 4 million. Imagine if Romania got regular T1 exposure, a team into the ECCC automatically - not the wolves but winner of Super Liga - and fair share of the money pot.

That is a complete pipe dream. Though all the T2 nations performing so well may force the iRB's hand.

 

[amz]

I'm back from the RWC, what an amazing experience, especially being part of the record crowd at Romania vs Ireland on Wembley. We lost both matches so far as expected but our real World Cup only starts with the games vs Canada and Italy. From what I've seen so far, I'd say that we have a 50% chance against Canada and maybe 25% vs Italy.

I am back home too, it was indeed an awesome experience, especially last match on Wembley; As far as I know there won;'t be played more games there so most likely the record of attendance to a RWC will stay at least until next one as none of the other stadiums is as big as Wembley. And a great retirement for Tonita, although I would have liked to see him scoring a winning try with Canada or Italy

I have to say I have massively impressed with the Oaks. They look and played the part of a top rugby team, certainly in and around 10 in the rankings. But that is all subject to the iRB splitting RWC money evenly.

I read that T1 nations get 7 million and T2 get est. 4 million. Imagine if Romania got regular T1 exposure, a team into the ECCC automatically - not the wolves but winner of Super Liga - and fair share of the money pot.

That is a complete pipe dream. Though all the T2 nations performing so well may force the iRB's hand.

It's actually worse with new European Cup system. If before we at least had a franchise to develop players against pro teams from 6N system leagues now we will play some Italian, Russian and Portuguese semi pro sides. Which isn't bad, there is some International exposure but not at the level we were used before.

I think actual European Cup system is a huge step back for Tier 2 nations; there are indeed 2 places to fill trough a qualification system but really, Euro Cups are neglected by 6N nations club who fight to avoid relegation so why not have there a champion team who wants to be in that competition?

Also test schedule must be reworked, Romania did not played any Tier 1 opposition between RWC 2011 and RWC 2015 and than had 2 in 4 days.

 

[dragos03]

Here's the Romanian team against Canada:
1. Mihaita Lazar
2. Otar Turashvili
3. Paulica Ion
4. Valentin Poparlan
5. Johannes Van Heerden
6. Valentin Ursache
7. Viorel Lucaci
8. Mihai Macovei (cpt)
9. Florin Surugiu
10. Michael Wiringi
11. Ionut Botezatu
12. Florin Vlaicu
13. Paula Kinikinilau
14. Madalin Lemnaru
15. Catalin Fercu

Subs:
16. Andrei Radoi
17. Andrei Ursache
18. Alexandru Tarus
19. Daniel Carpo
20. Stelian Burcea
21. Valentin Calafeteanu
22. Adrian Apostol
23. Csaba Gal

I linke the squad selected by Howells, the Surugiu-Wiringi combo might finally fire up the Romanian backs. I hoped to see Ionita start instead of Botezatu though (he is not even on the bench) and no reason was given for the absence of Horatiu Pungea (he must be injured).

 

[lynx54321]

Hello I've enjoyed watching Romania at this world cup and become quite interested in their rugby. They seem quite different to Georgia who they're often stereotyped to be the same as. Although the strong scrum is one simularity they share!

Are there any other players who were unlucky to miss out on the world cup squad? Also who are the best youth prospects for Romanian rugby? Any good ones in France?

 

[dragos03]

There are a few players who are unlucky to miss out from the RWC squad. Flanker Vlad Nistor (Castres) wasn't part of the initial team but got called to replace the injured Tonita. Young winger Ionut Dumitru (Steaua) should have been there in my opinion, as well as lock Alin Coste (Carcassonne). Props Vlad Badalicescu and Constantin Pristavita did really well in the Nations Cup but the competition on this position is just too strong.

Some of the prospects who play in France, besides Vlad Nistor: Adrian Motoc (lock, Racing Metro), Razvan Ilisescu (flanker, Castres) or Radu Ludosan (fly half, Bourg-en-Bresse).

Some of the best young players at Romanian clubs are (in my opinion): Pristavita (prop, Baia Mare), Alex Oancea (hooker, Baia Mare), Andrei Bucurescu (lock or no8, Dinamo), Sabin Stratila (fullback, Steaua, he is in the RWC squad), Ionut Dumitru (winger, Steaua) or Daniel Zaharia (winger, Timisoara Saracens).

In other news, Timisoara Saracens has won the Romanian Cup after extra time, in a dramatic final against Steaua (17-14 was the final score). Solid attendance on the stadium in Iasi, I think the national team should play there sometimes.

 

[lynx54321]

Hi Dragons thanks for the reply that's brilliant. Much is being made of how good Georgia's future looks but I haven't heard anything else about Romania. After reading this thread I'd say the domestic league is stronger than that of Georgia but there isn't that conveyor belt of forwards heading to France which the Georgian have. What do you think the future holds for Romanian rugby?

 

[dragos03]

The Romanian league is much stronger than the Georgian one so Romanian players are less likely to move to France (Superliga wages are said to be comparable to the ones in French Pro D2).

It's hard to say what the future will be. If the current locked system of international rugby remains in place, Romania (as well as Georgia) can't grow any further, the only possible outcomes are stagnation or decline. The Oaks haven't played a Tier 1 team since the last World Cup and now were forced to play agaist France and Ireland in 4 days. Something has to change, even one guaranteed Tier 1 test every year for all Tier 2 nations would be a good start. Romania and Georgia can't close the gap between us and Italy/Scotland if we continue to play meaningless matches every year against the likes of Spain or Germany, on muddy or frozen pitches in front of a man and his dog.

I keep hearing the same arguments not to open up the Six Nations:
- Rom/Geo are not good enough and would be trashed. Well, Romania played vs France and Ireland at this World Cup and didn't do worse than Italy usually does against these teams. In the 2015 6N, Italy lost 0-29 against France and 3-26 against Ireland, both at home, without scoring a single try. Romania lost 11-38 to France and 10-44 to Ireland in front of huge hostile crowds, scoring tries in both.
- the inclusion of Rom/Geo wouldn't be economically viable and fans wouldn't buy tickets to watch them. Guess what, the Ireland vs Romania match had the biggest attendance in the history of the RWC, 89267 tickets were sold.

 

[psychic duck]

In the 2015 6N, Italy lost 0-29 against France and 3-26 against Ireland, both at home, without scoring a single try. Romania lost 11-38 to France and 10-44 to Ireland in front of huge hostile crowds, scoring tries in both.

... and played one of those matches with 3 days rest, having no experience of playing top 8 nations and with a fraction of the funding Italy get.

 

[lynx54321]

It's such a shame that the 6N refuses to be opened up. You can just see that Georgia and Romania are fighting against the odds to grow the game and getting the same chance as Italy received could see them cracking on at pace.

Italy were for years a team with a strong pack and weak backs and it's probably debatable whether they're any different now. I'd argue that Georgia and Romania have packs that would be expecting parity at the very least against the Italians, and are eithers backs really that much worse?

 

[amz]

Romania

1. Lazar
2. Turashvili
3. Paulica
4. Poparlan
5. Van Heerden
6. V. Ursache
7. Lucaci
8. Macovei
9. Surugiu
10. Wiringi
11. Botezatu
12. Vlaicu
13. Kinikinilau
14. Lemnaru
15. Fercu

On Bench:
16. Radoi
17. A. Ursache
18. Tarus
19. Carpo
20. Burcea
21. Calafeteanu
22. Apostol
23. Gal

Canada:
15 Harry Jones
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Ciaran Hearn
12 Nick Blevins
11 DTH van der Merwe
10 Nathan Hirayama
9 Gordon McRorie
8 Aaron Carpenter
7 John Moonlight
6 Jebb Sinclair
5 Jamie Cudmore (c)
4 Brett Beukeboom
3 Doug Wooldridge
2 Ray Barkwill
1 Hubert Buydens.

Replacements:
16 Benoit Piffero
17 Djustice Sears-Duru
18 Jake Ilnicki
19 Kyle Gilmour
20 Nanyak Dala
21 Phil Mack
22 Conor Trainor
23 James Pritchard.


It will be a close match and a more powerful Romanian pack will try to shut down a better Canadian three-quarters.

 

[lynx54321]

Are the Romanian backs really as limited as some say? I don't know much about Wiringi or Kinikinilau but I've read a lot about how Gal, Vlaicu and Dascalu who didn't make the squad are solid but limited centres and the wingers are very poor.

 

[dragos03]

Romanian backs are limited but not as bad as people think. It's just the decision of the head coach to focus on the team's strenghts and play a forward-powered game. In the few matches in the last few years when the backs were given the ball, they weren't that bad. Romania has an amazing fullback, Catalin Fercu.

Some of the wingers are poor defenders and have shown their weakness at this RWC (in particular Apostol and Botezatu). This also comes from a lack of experience though, since Romania never got any proper tests to prepare for the competition. These players have never faced a world-class opponent like Fofana or Tommy Bowe before.

The halfback combo chosen for the Canada match (Surugiu-Wiringi) might signal that Lynn Howells wants to attack with the backs more than usual today. But I expect Canada's backs to be much better than ours and stopping their excellent wingers will be key.

 

[lynx54321]

Great result! Shame about the short turn around before the Italy game which might hamper the Oaks chances of an upset. Thanks for the reply also Dragos, what would be your first choice back line?

Surugiu, Wiringi, Lemnaru, Vlaicu, Kinikinilau, Dumitru, Fercu.

 

[vasysm]

Great thread.

Also, last Sunday the Romanian Cup Final was decided in overtime. A cracker of a match, with lots of drama and controversy, Timisoara vs. Steaua.

http://www.rugbytv.ro/2015/10/04/timisoara-saracens-steaua-bucuresti-finala-cupei-romaniei.html

 

[dragos03]

Great result! Shame about the short turn around before the Italy game which might hamper the Oaks chances of an upset. Thanks for the reply also Dragos, what would be your first choice back line?

Surugiu, Wiringi, Lemnaru, Vlaicu, Kinikinilau, Dumitru, Fercu.

Well, Dumitru is not in the squad. Wiringi was quite poor against Canada, so I'd move Vlaicu to 10, Kinikinilau at 12 and Gal at 13. Assuming everyone is fit (I fear Surugiu might be unavailable), I'd go with:
Surugiu - Vlaicu - Lemnaru - Kinikinilau - Gal - Ionita/Botezatu - Fercu

If Surugiu is unavailable, Howells will be forced to start with Calafeteanu who is an useless player in my opinion and would severely decrease our chances. Starting the 3rd scrum half, the unexperienced Tudorel Bratu, would be a huge risk in a match like this.

 

[tommyc121]

hi. just want to say i watch france game live and canada one. romania have played well through out this tournment pack has been outstanding. personally i think now is time for six nations to change and that does mean romania and georgia coming up and team at bottom of six nations to come down into tier 2 it be good for six nation but also will mean georgia or romania will play against good teams and only get better. both of these teams have been good shows as georgia got 3rd place last night. good luck against itlay hoping romania can win get 3rd place as well means automatic for japan 2019. good times ahead