World Rugby Nations Cup 2015

[dragos03]

This competition kicks off on June 12, all matches will be played on Arcul de Triumf Stadium in Bucharest and will probably be broadcasted live by TVR2 and streamed on www.rugbytv.ro

Schedule (all times are local):
12.06.2015 - Namibia vs Argentina Jaguars (17.00)
12.06.2015 - Romania vs Spain (20.00)
17.06.2015 - Argentina Jaguars vs Spain (17.00)
17.06.2015 - Romania vs Namibia (20.00)
21.06.2015 - Spain vs Namibia (17.00)
21.06.2015 - Romania vs Argentina Jaguars (20.00)



ROMANIA

Props
Paulică Ion (Perpignan - France)
Mihăiță Lazăr (Castres - France)
Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne - France)
Horațiu Pungea (Lyon - France)
Alexandru Țăruș (Timisoara)

Hookers
Andrei Rădoi (Ealing Trailfinders - England)
Otar Turashvili (CSM Bucharest)
Mihai Adăscăliței (Dinamo Bucharest)

Locks
Valentin Popîrlan (Timisoara)
Alin Coste (Carcassonne - France)
Marius Antonescu (Tarbes - France)
Valentin Ursache (Oyonnax - France)

Backrow
Mihai Macovei (Massy - France)
Viorel Lucaci (Steaua Bucharest)
Vlad Nistor (Castres - France)
Randall Morrison (Timisoara)
Stelian Burcea (Timisoara)

Scrumhalves
Florin Surugiu (CSM Bucharest)
Valentin Calafeteanu (Timisoara)

Flyhalves
Michael Wiringi (Baia Mare)
Jody Rose (Timisoara)
Dănuț Dumbravă (Steaua Bucharest)

Centres
Csaba Gal (Cluj)
Robert Dascălu (Steaua Bucharest)
Florin Vlaicu (CSM Bucharest)

Wingers
Florin Ioniță (Steaua Bucharest)
Ionuț Dumitru (Steaua Bucharest)
Adrian Apostol (Baia Mare)
Ionuț Botezatu (Baia Mare)

Fullback
Cătălin Fercu (Saracens - England)


NAMIBIA

Forwards: Rathony Becker (Hooker - 10 caps), Aranos Coetzee (Prop - uncapped), AJ de Klerk (Prop - Uncapped)*, Tinus du Plessis (Loose forward - 39 caps), Jaco Engels (Prop - 8 caps), Nico Esterhuyse (Lock - 31 caps), DG Wiese (Hooker - 2 caps), Thomasua Forbes (Loose forward - 4 caps), Johnny Redelinghuys (Prop - 42 caps), Callie Swanepoel (Hooker - 4 caps)*, Tjiuee Uanive (Lock - 3 caps), Leneve Damens (Loose forward - uncapped), PJ van Lill (Loose forward - 33 caps), Janco Venter (Lock - 2 caps)*, Roderique Victor (Loose forward - 2 caps), Casper Viviers (Prop - 7 caps).

Backs: Eneill Buitendag (Scrumhalf - 10 Caps), JC Greyling (Centre - 2 caps), Eugene Jantjies (Scrumhalf - 38 caps), Shaun Kazembi (Fly half - 2 caps), Theuns Kotze (Fly half - 19 caps), Conrad Marais (Wing - 4 caps), David Philander (Wing - 18 Caps ), Heinrich Smit (Wing - 6 caps), Johan Tromp (Wing - 11 caps), Danie van Wyk (Centre - 9 caps), Russell van Wyk (Fullback - uncapped)*.


SPAIN

Front row
Fernando Lopez - Massy
Francisco Blanco - Complutense Cisneros
Joe Hutchison - Bourg en Bresse
Juan Anaya - Bathco Santander
Javier Sanz - Bathco Santander
Agustin Ortiz - Nafarroa
Jon Zabala - Getxo Artea

Second and third rows
Anibal Bonan - Vannes
Victor Sánchez - Hermi El Salvador
Manuel Mora - VRAC Quesos Entrepinares
David Barrera - Tricastin
Javier de Juan - Bathco Santander
Jose Luis del Valle - Complutense Cisneros
Fran Cloppet - CRC Pozuelo
Jaime Nava - Perigueux


Halfbacks
Sebastien Rouet - Narbone
Gregory Maiquez - Bourg en Bresse
Mathieu Belie - USAP
Igor Genua - Hernani


Backs
Brad Linklater - Getxo Artea
Federico Castiglione - Bizkaia Gernika
Ignacio Contardi - Macon
Javier Carrión - Bathco Santander
Gauthier Minguillón - Burdeos
Sergi Aubanell - Aurillac
Thibaut Alvarez - Aubenas



ARGENTINA JAGUARS


[TABLE="width: 550"]
[TR]
[TD]Gerónimo Albertario[/TD]
[TD]200[/TD]
[TD]114[/TD]
[TD]Pucará[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Segunda Línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bautista Ãlvarez[/TD]
[TD]165[/TD]
[TD]75[/TD]
[TD]Hindú Club[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Wing[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Franco Baldoni[/TD]
[TD]200[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[TD]BAC&RC[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Segunda Línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tomás Baravalle[/TD]
[TD]183[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[TD]Jockey Club (Rosario)[/TD]
[TD]Rosario[/TD]
[TD]Hooker[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gonzalo Bertranou[/TD]
[TD]174[/TD]
[TD]72[/TD]
[TD]Los Tordos RC[/TD]
[TD]Cuyo[/TD]
[TD]Medio scrum[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Marcos Bollini[/TD]
[TD]172[/TD]
[TD]83[/TD]
[TD]Newman[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Medio scrum[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Facundo Bosch[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]100[/TD]
[TD]CUBA[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Hooker[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ignacio Brex[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]97[/TD]
[TD]San Cirano[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Centro[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Juan Cappiello[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]93[/TD]
[TD]Pucará[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Centro[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tomás Carrió[/TD]
[TD]181[/TD]
[TD]84[/TD]
[TD]Duendes RC[/TD]
[TD]Rosario[/TD]
[TD]Wing[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Martín Chiappesoni[/TD]
[TD]193[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[TD]Atlético del Rosario[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Tercera línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Franco Cuaranta[/TD]
[TD]176[/TD]
[TD]85[/TD]
[TD]Tala RC[/TD]
[TD]Cordobesa[/TD]
[TD]Wing/FB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Santiago García Botta[/TD]
[TD]183[/TD]
[TD]110[/TD]
[TD]Belgrano Athletic[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Pilar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Augusto López[/TD]
[TD]172[/TD]
[TD]75[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán RC[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán[/TD]
[TD]Wing[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lucas Maguire[/TD]
[TD]185[/TD]
[TD]97[/TD]
[TD]CUBA[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Tercera línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lucas Martínez[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]128[/TD]
[TD]Lomas Athletic[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Pilar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nicolás Mirande[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]121[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán RC[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán[/TD]
[TD]Pilar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cristian Nacassian[/TD]
[TD]170[/TD]
[TD]76[/TD]
[TD]Tala RC[/TD]
[TD]Cordobesa[/TD]
[TD]Apertura[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Juan León Novillo[/TD]
[TD]177[/TD]
[TD]86[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán RC[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán[/TD]
[TD]Apertura[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Brian Ormson[/TD]
[TD]181[/TD]
[TD]90[/TD]
[TD]Pucará[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Centro[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Aníbal Panceyra Garrido[/TD]
[TD]194[/TD]
[TD]106[/TD]
[TD]Tala RC[/TD]
[TD]Cordobesa[/TD]
[TD]Segunda línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gonzalo Paulín[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[TD]Tala RC[/TD]
[TD]Cordobesa[/TD]
[TD]Tercera línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Joaquín Paz[/TD]
[TD]182[/TD]
[TD]94[/TD]
[TD]Córdoba Athletic[/TD]
[TD]Cordobesa[/TD]
[TD]Centro[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Manuel Plaza[/TD]
[TD]195[/TD]
[TD]109[/TD]
[TD]Jockey Club (Salta)[/TD]
[TD]Salta[/TD]
[TD]Segunda línea[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Guido Randisi[/TD]
[TD]184[/TD]
[TD]111[/TD]
[TD]Duendes RC[/TD]
[TD]Rosario[/TD]
[TD]Pilar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Roberto Tejerizo[/TD]
[TD]180[/TD]
[TD]105[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán Lawn Tennis[/TD]
[TD]Tucumán[/TD]
[TD]Pilar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Miguel Urtubey[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]106[/TD]
[TD]Newman[/TD]
[TD]URBA[/TD]
[TD]Octavo[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Croket66]

The romanian squad is strong, maybe the favorites?
Good to see Eugene Jantjies back with Namibia. I also expected to see Van Neel, who was better than Rodrigues when both played for Constanta...
Mathieu Bélie from Perpignan in the spanish squad, good inclusion for them
The argentinian squad doesn't look so strong...

 

[dragos03]

On paper, Romania should win the tournament. But the results here are not important, probably Howells will focus on experimenting ahead of the RWC. Van Neel is a good player but he has a terrible discipline record, I guess that's why he wasn't selected. Argentina Jaguars could be decent opposition, some of those youngsters are talented.

 

[dragos03]

Argentina XV - Namibia 30-10
Romania - Spain 35-9

Two routine wins. I know that Namibia is missing a number of key players but they will be trashed in all of their RWC matches based on yesterday's performance.

Romania is also playing without some of the best players, who were not released by their clubs: Paulica Ion (Perpignan), Horatiu Pungea (Lyon) and Valentin Ursache (Oyonnax). They were replaced by Constantin Pristavita (Baia Mare), Vlad Badalicescu (CSM Bucuresti) and Marian Drenceanu (Timisoara Saracens). South African fly half Jody Rose made his debut for the Oaks.

 

[dragos03]

Matches today:
Argentina XV vs Spain (17.00 local time)
Romania vs Namibia (20.00)

Both will be live on TVR2 and www.rugbytv.ro

Match squads (again the Romanian one hasn't been announced yet):

Argentina XV
1.- Santiago García Botta, 2.- Tomás Baravalle, 3.- Lucas Martínez; 4.- Manuel Plaza, 5.- Gerónimo Albertario; 6.- Lucas Maguire, 7.- Miguel Urtubey, 8.- Aníbal Panceyra Garrido; 9.- Lucas Alcácer (cap), 10.- Cristian Nacassian; 11.- Bautista Ãlvarez, 12.- Brian Ormson, 13.- Juan Ignacio Brex, 14.- Franco Cuaranta; 15.- Tomás Carrió.
Subs: 16.- Roberto Tejerizo, 17.- Facundo Bosch, 18.- Nicolás Mirande, 19.- Franco Baldoni, 20.- Martín Chiappesoni, 21.- Gonzalo Bertranou, 22.- Juan Cappiello, 23.- Augusto López.

Spain
1. Fernando López 2. Juan Anaya 3. Fco Javier Sanz 4. Tomás Urbaitis 5. Anibal Bonán 6. David Barrera 7. José Luis Del Valle 8. Jaime Nava (c) 9. Gregory Maiquez 10. Marcos Puig 11. Ignacio Contardi 12. Thibaut Ãlvarez 13. Bradley Linklater 14. Antoine Sánchez 15. Sergi Aubanell
Subs: 16. Fco Blanco 17. Johnathan Phipps 18. Joe Hutchinson 19. Manuel Mora 20. Javier de Juan 21. Facundo Munilla 22. Pierre García 23. Gauthier Minguillón

Namibia
1. Johnny Redelinghuys, 2. Callie Swanepoel, 3. Casper Viviers, 4. Janco Venter, 5. Nico Esterhuizen, 6. Thomasau Forbes, 7. Leneve Damens, 8. PJ van Lill (captain), 9. Eugene Jantjies, 10. Shawn Kaizemi, 11. Conrad Marais, 12. JC Greyling, 13. Danie van Wyk, 14. David Philander, 15. Johan Tromp.
Subs: 16. DG Wiese, 17. Jaco Engels, 18. AJ de Klerk, 19. Tjiuee Uanivi, 20. Victor Rodrigues, 21. Eniell Buitendag, 22. Theuns Kotze, 23. Heinrich Smit.

Romania (unofficial)
1. Mihai Lazar
2. Andrei Radoi
3. Andrei Ursache
4. Marius Antonescu
5. Marian Drenceanu
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Randall Morrison
8. Mihai Macovei (cap)
9. Florin Surugiu
10. Danut Dumbrava
11. Ionut Botezatu
12. Csaba Gal
13. Robert Dascalu
14. Florin Ionita
15. Catalin Fercu

Subs: 16. Otar Turashvili, 17. Constantin Pristavita, 18. Vlad Badalicescu, 19. Dorin Lazar, 20. Vlad Nistor, 21. Valentin Calafeteanu, 22. Florin Vlaicu, 23. Stephen Hihetah.

If the unofficial Romanian team is correct, Morrison will play his first match for the Oaks.

 

[dragos03]

Results:
Argentina Jaguars - Spain 15-6 (full match: http://www.tvrplus.ro/editie-rugby-344215)
Romania - Namibia 43-3 (full match: http://www.tvrplus.ro/editie-rugby-344217)

Romania played really well last night. The Oaks played some fast attacking rugby at times, probably the best match of our backs in years. Fercu was the best player on the pitch, carving Namibia at will, all the other backs also played well, in particular Surugiu and Botezatu (who also shined as fullback after Fercu was replaced). Even Hihetah was impressive when he came on. Morrison scored a try in his first match for the national team. As for Namibia, I'm afraid they will be trashed at the RWC if they keep playing like this.

 

[dragos03]

The last matches of the tournament will be played today (times are local, will be broacasted live on TVR3 and www.rugbytv.ro);
Spain vs Namibia (17.00)
Romania vs Argentina XV (20.00)

Spain
1. Fco Javier Sanz 2. Juan Anaya 3. Fernando López 4. David Barrera 5. Anibal Bonan 6. Javier de Juan 7. Adam Newton 8. Jaime Nava (c) 9. Facundo Munilla 10. Bradley Linklater 11. Pierre García 12. Thibaut Ãlvarez 13. Federico Casteglioni 14. Ignacio Contardi 15. Sergi Aubanell Subs: 16. Fco Blanco 17. Jonathan Phipps 18. Joe Hutchinson 19. Tomás Urbaitis 20. Fco Cloppet 21. J.L. Del Valle 22. Antoine Sánchez 22. Gauthier Minguillon

Namibia
1. Casper Viviers 2. DG Wiese 3. Johannes Coetzee 4. Janco Venter 5. Tjiuee Uanivi 6. Thomsua Forbes 7. Thinus Du Plessis 8. P. J. Van Lill (c) 9. Eneil Buitendag 10. Theuns Kotze 11. Russel Van Wyk 12. JC Greyling 13. Danie Van Wyk 14. David Philander 15. Johan Tromp
Subs: 16. Callie Swanepoel 17. Johnny Redelinghuys 18. AJ De Klerk 19. Shaun Esterhuyse 20. Leneve Damens 21. Eugene Jantjies 22. Heinrich Smit 23. Conrad Marais

Argentina XV
1.- Roberto Tejerizo, 2.- Facundo Bosch, 3.- Guido Randisi; 4.- Gerónimo Albertario, 5.- Aníbal Panceyra Garrido; 6.- Lucas Maguire, 7.- Gonzalo Paulín, 8.- Martín Chiappesoni; 9.- Gonzalo Bertranou (cap), 10.- Juan León Novillo; 14.- Franco Cuaranta, 12.- Joaquín Paz, 13.- Juan Cappiello, 14.- Augusto López; 15.- Tomás Carrió.
Subs: Santiago García Botta, Tomás Baravalle, Nicolás Mirande, Franco Baldoni, Miguel Urtubey, Lucas Alcácer, Brian Ormson, Bautista Ãlvarez.

Romania (as usual lately, this is not official yet)
1. Mihai Lazar
2. Otar Turashvili
3. Vlad Badalicescu
4. Marius Antonescu
5. Marian Drenceanu
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Vlad Nistor
8. Mihai Macovei
9. Valentin Calafeteanu
10. Michael Wiringi
11. Ionut Botezatu
12. Florin Vlaicu
13. Csaba Gal
14. Adrian Apostol
15. Catalin Fercu

Subs: 16. Andrei Radoi 17. Constantin Pristavita 18. Alex Gordas 19. Dorin Lazar 20. Stelian Burcea 21. Florin Surugiu 22. Danut Dumbrava 23. Florin Ionita

This will be the first match at the national team for fly half Michael Wiringi and young prop Alex Gordas. Argentina XV have a pretty strong pack, it will be interesting to see guys like Badalicescu, Antonescu or Nistor against them. The winner of this match will also win the tournament.

 

[dragos03]

Results:
Spain - Namibia 20-3
Romania - Argentina XV 23-0

This was a good tournament for the Oaks. Winning the trophy isn't important but Romania was quite solid in all matches, won them easily without conceding a try and Howells got to see some new players (including the foreign implants) and try a more open gameplan that worked surprisingly well (against Namibia). The scrum was very dominant vs Argentina, even when the debutant Gordas came in at tighthead. Wiringi did not impress but the rainy weather did not allow him to do much. Catalin Fercu (Saracens) was named player of the tournament.

What now for Romania? Of all RWC nations, we are the only country not to have any official test until the World Cup begins. There are rumours of a match against Tonga and maybe 1-2 more vs the Scottish Pro 12 clubs but even if all of them happen, more tests are needed. I'm sure Romania could match Italy at the RWC if we got some proper training games before the tournament. But perhaps that's exactly what World Rugby wants to avoid.

A very poor tournament for Namibia, they will give an easy and free win to everyone in their group.

The FRR has posted some full matches from the Nations Cup on Youtube:
NAM vs ARG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX3mIm3mseM
ROM vs SPA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6MZEguznoM
ARG vs SPA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEtAtIdTLHs
ROM vs NAM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL-Qi9EA6LQ