Romanian Rugby

[dragos03]

Three additional players will join the squad after a 7s tournament:
Alexandru Porojan (winger, Steaua) - 19 year old uncapped player who has been impressive in the league this season
Stephen Hihetah (winger, Doncaster) - might be in the squad as a centre since he was used there at the club
Sabin Stratila (fullback, Steaua) - another very young player

The biggest surprise in my opinion is the inclusion of Mihai Adascalitei. It will be very interesting to see how the three foreigners will integrate in the squad and if Howells will try to change the tactics a bit because of these additions.

 

[Croket66]

Porojan deserves to be tried because he played well for Steaua. But Stratila is very overrated IMO. He never play any Super Liga game (maybe one game on the bench this season? not sure...) while Gabriel Conache is skilled, regular and a good goalkicker. Stratila is the fourth choice at Steaua, behind Niacsu, Golubenco and Neagu.

Also, I'm surprised to see Kinikinilau and Van Heerden out of the squad. Kinikinilau could create the danger that the selection needs in the backs. Van Heerden is very good and regular.

Hihetah was tried few times and wasn't so good, especially in defence if I remember well

 

[dragos03]

I haven't seen enough of Stratila to have an opinion of him. He has only played one match in the Superliga, the last round against U Cluj, when he started and scored a try. But Howells likes Stratila a lot, he must see something there.

Kinikinilau and Van Heerden might not be eligible yet? Or maybe the coach wants to see more players in action, with some of the foreign implants used in the Nations Cup and the others in the later RWC warm-up tests. Kinikinilau could help the Oaks but I don't think we need Van Heerden. He's a solid and constant player but we have better options on his position.

Hihetah is a bad defender indeed, I don't think he should be in the team.

 

[dragos03]

England Counties will play two matches in Romania, the first on June 5 against club side CSM Bucharest and the second on June 9 vs Romania U23. The second match will be live on TVR2 from 19.00.

Romania U23 is more of a Romania A side and includes several good players who didn't make the first team. I guess this match will be their chance to impress Lynn Howells and get into the RWC squad.

Romania U23: Constantin Pristavita, Alexandru Tarus, Petru Tamba, Vlad Badalicescu, Marian Capatana, Florin Bardasu, Johannes Van Heerden, Vlad Rotar, Marian Drenceanu, Andrei Deaconu, Razvan Ailenei, Valentin Mototolea, Daniel Ianus, Dorin Lazar, Razvan Iliescu, Mario Arvinte, Valentin Ivan, Eduard Ciaparii, Ovidiu Melniciuc, Daniel Statulescu, Andrei Pascu, Cristian Dinis – Vartic, Dumitru Papaiane, Paula Kinikinilau, George Iacob, Robert Neagu, Vasile Paraschiv, Marian Ispir, Ionut Niacsu, Gabriel Conache.

The squad includes a player from the second division (Papaiane) and two from French Top 14 espoirs (Arvinte, Iliescu).

 

[Croket66]

Really strong squad with 13 capped players and 2 foreign players. A lot of these players are older than 23

 

[dragos03]

Superliga Day 9:
Steaua - CSM Bucharest 23-42 (CSM starts to look like a team)
U Cluj - Baia Mare 18-39
Dinamo - Saracens Timisoara 23-34 (crazy match, Dinamo could have won at the end but fumbled a quick tap penalty in Timisoara's 22 and conceded a try from the resulting counter-attack)

 

[dragos03]

The Romanian U23 squad that will play against England Counties has been changed. It is now much weaker than the original lineup (and closer to a proper U23 squad). FRR gave no reason for this change.

Props
Silviu Suciu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Teodor Bors (CS Dinamo)
Alexandru Gordas (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Silviu Vasiliu (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)

Hookers
Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Bardasu (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Locks
Johannes Van Heerden (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Vlad Rotar (Universitatea Cluj)
Paul Ailenei (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Bogdan Doroftei (CSA Steaua),

Backrow
Razvan Ailenei (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Cristian Murgoci (Universitatea Cluj)
Daniel Ianus (Timisoara Saracens)
Dorin Lazar (Timisoara Saracens)
Razvan Iliescu (Castres Olympique)
Marian Gorcioaia (Timisoara Saracens),

Scrumhalf
Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo)
Eduard Ciaparii (Timisoara Saracens)

Flyhalf
Ovidiu Melniciuc (Universitatea Cluj)
Daniel Statulescu (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)

Centres
Cristian Dinis-Vartic (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Dumitru Papaiane (CS Navodari)
Paula Kinikinilau (Timisoara Saracens)
George Iacob (CS Dinamo)

Wingers
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)
Vasile Paraschiv (Universitatea Cluj)
Marian Ispir (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Alexandru Palii (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Fullback
Ionut Niacsu (CSA Steaua)
George Oprea (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

I wonder who will be the starters from this squad. Maybe something like this: Suciu, Capatana, Gordas, Van Heerden, P. Ailenei, Murgoci, Ianus, R. Ailenei, Bratu, Statulescu, Dinis, Kinikinilau, Neagu, Ispir, Niacsu. England Counties are quite solid, it won't be an easy match for the Romanian team.

 

[dragos03]

Superliga Day 10:
CSM Bucuresti - Dinamo 15-22 (the trend of crazy results continues this season)
Baia Mare - Steaua 36-20
Saracens Timisoara - U Cluj postponed

This was the last round of the league until the RWC. Weakened club squads (without their internationals) will continue to play in the King's Cup.

The Romanian 7s national team got relegated from the top European division last season but will stay up due to Scotland withdrawing from the competition. This lucky event offers Romania a double chance: to try and qualify for the Olympics and to use the 7s loophole to make a few capped foreigners eligible for the Oaks. The 7s squad for the Moscow Grand Prix has not been announced yet but it could include players like Sean Morrell (Baia Mare, capped by Fiji), Viliami Moala (Timisoara, capped by Tonga) or Bogdan Leonte (Bourgoin, he's Romanian but was capped by France). Stephen Hihetah (Doncaster) and Johhny Sola (CSM Bucuresti) will surely be in the team.

 

[dragos03]

Here's the Romanian sevens squad for the Moscow Grand Prix:
Alexandru Porojan (CSA Steaua)
Catalin Neacsu (CSA Steaua)
Sabin Stratila (CSA Steaua)
Valentin Rosu (Universitatea Cluj)
Cristi Boboc (RCM Galati)
Ionut Mazare (Universitatea Cluj)
Catalin Prunaru (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Alexandru Beldean (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Alexandru Tigla (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Lucian Muresan (Timisoara Saracens)
Vlad Zaharia (Timisoara Saracens)
Razvan Barbu (CS Petrosani)
Gabriel Danaila (RCM Galati)
Alexandru Bucur (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Cornel Farcas (CSU Arad)
Valentin Ivan (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)

This is a young team, I doubt they can do much in this competition. Some of the players are talented but lack 7s experience, from what I've seen the other teams are very strong because they all want to make the Olympics. Hihetah and Sola were not included, apparently because of visa issues (again!).

On Friday, CSM Bucharest will play a very strong friendly match against England Counties XV from 18.00 local time. It will be streamed live on the club's website: www.csmbucuresti.ro

England Counties Squad:
Forwards: Matthew Beesley (Wharefdale/Cheshire), David Laverick (Hull Ionians/Yorkshire), Stephen Johnson (Hull Ionians/ Yorkshire), Craig Williams (Redruth/Cornwall), Andrew Berry (Old Albanians/Hertfordshire), Brett McNamee (Old Albanians/Hertfordshire), Samuel Wilkes (Cinderford/Gloucestershire), Ben Hilton (Launceston/Cornwall), Christopher Wearmouth (Blaydon/Durham), George Oram (Blackheath/Kent), Keith Laughlin (Blaydon/Northumberland), Gavin Jones (Blaydon/Yorkshire), Evan Stewart (Fylde/Lancashire), Harry Bate (Blaydon/Northumberland), Nyle Davidson (Caldy/Cheshire).
Backs: William Crow (Dorking/Surrey), Matthew Shepherd (Launceston /Cornwall), Alexander Gallagher (Blackheath/Kent), Sebastian Rodwell (London Irish Wild Geese/Gloucestershire), James Spiers (Old Albanians /Hertfordshire), Samuel Winter (Bishop Storford /Hertforshire), Leo Fielding (Cinderford/Gloucestershire), Albert Portsmouth (Cambridge/Eastern Counties), Nevaro Codlin (Coney Hill/ Gloucestershire), Jordan Dorrington (Fylde/Lancashire), Henry Robinson (Darlington Mowden Park / Hertfordshire), Michael Wilcox (Cinderford/Gloucestershire).

 

[amz]

Nothing about Morrell, Leonte or Moala. Maybe they aren't aware about the loophole?

later edit: Hihetah and Johnny Sola did not received visas from Russia. This become a nasty habit tbh, I wonder how much will take before Russia will get some sort of sanction.

 

[dragos03]

Romania U23 - England Counties 20-28

This was a strange and badly promoted match. The FRR hasn't announced the U23 match squad at all and some of the players included were not on the earlier list. The U23 were poor in defense but very strong in the scrum (even if all the props are reserves at their clubs). I was very impressed with young flanker Razvan Ilisescu (who plays for Castres espoirs), he scored a try and was very active in both attack and defense. He was probably the man of the match. The video ref was the worst I've seen, validating two tries for the visitors after obvious mistakes (even their players were laughing while watching the replays on the stadium screen) but at least this was just a friendly match and the final score doesn't matter anyway.

Other news:
- young number 8 Adrian Motoc (Steaua U19) has signed with Racing Metro
- Baia Mare has released five players: prop Catalin Pastrama, lock Ionut Hristache, flanker Cristian Stoica, scrumhalf Nigel Genia and centre Sioeli Nau
- as expected, Romania 7s finished last in the Moscow Grand Prix. The good news is that some of the youngsters in the team played really well and have great potential, in particular wingers Porojan (Steaua) and Zaharia (Timisoara).

 

[Skofic brothers]

are there any lineup's for today Nations cup matches?

 

[amz]

Only Namibia for now, on their Union Facebook page:

The Namibian XV to face Argentina's Jaguars Friday night in Bucharest is :
15. Johan Tromp
14. Russel van Wyk
13. Danie van Wyk
12. JC Greyling
11. David Philander
10. Theuns Kotzè
9. Eugene Jantjies
8. PJ van Lill (Capt)
7. Janco Venter
6. Thinus du Plessis
5. Nico Esterhuyze
4. Uanive Tjiuee
3. Johannes Coetzee
2. DG Wiese
1. Casper Viviers.
Replacements :
16. Rathony Bekker
17. Johnny Redelinghuys
18. AJ de Klerk
19. Leneve Damens
20. Thomasua Forbes
21. Eneill Buitendag
22. Shawn Kazemi
23. Heinrich Smit

For Romania, considering the teasing from Union page, Jody Rose might make his debut.

 

[dragos03]

Here are the other teams (the Romanian lineup is unofficial, it hasn't been announced yet):

Argentina XV
1- Roberto Tejerizo, 2- Facundo Bosch, 3- Guido Randisi; 4- Franco Baldoni, 5- Gerónimo Albertario; 6- Lucas Maguire, 7- Gonzalo Paulín, 8- Aníbal Panceyra Garrido; 9- Gonzalo Bertranou (C), 10- Juan León Novillo; 11- Augusto López, 12- Joaquín Paz, 13- Juan Cappiello, 14- Franco Cuaranta; 15- Tomás Carrió.
Reserves: Santiago García Botta, Tomás Baravalle, Nicolás Mirande, Manuel Plaza, Martín Chiappesoni, Lucas Alcácer, Juan Ignacio Brex.

Romania
1. Mihai Lazar
2. Otar Turashvili
3. Andrei Ursache
4. Valentin Poparlan
5. Marian Drenceanu
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Mihai Macovei (c)
8. Stelian Burcea
9. Valentin Calafeteanu
10. Danut Dumbrava
11. Ionut Botezatu
12. Florin Vlaicu
13. Csaba Gal
14. Adrian Apostol
15. Catalin Fercu

Reserves: 16. Andrei Radoi 17. Constantin Pristavita 18. Vlad Badalicescu 19. Marius Antonescu 20. Vlad Nistor 21. Florin Surugiu 22. Jody Rose 23. Florin Ionita.

SPAIN
1. Fernando López 2. Joe Hutchinson 3. Fco. Javier Sanz 4. David Barrera 5. Anibal Bonan 6. Javier de Juan 7. Adam Newton 8. Jaime Nava (c) 9. Gregory Maiquez 10. Bradley Linklater 11. Pierre García 12. Thibaut Ãlvarez 13. Federico Castiglioni 14. Ignacio Contardi 15. Sergi Aubanell.
Reserves: 16. Fco. Blanco 17. Juan Anaya 18. Ãngel Durango 19. Manuel Mora 20. José Luis Del Valle 21. Facundo Munilla 22. Marcos Puig 23. Gauthier Minguillon.

 

[dragos03]

Romania 7s plays in the Lyon Grand Prix this weekend, with a very weak squad. Some of the better players from the Moscow Grand Prix have been replaced, I don't think they can avoid finishing bottom again. It's worth noting that the squad has not been announced on the union website, FRR's media department is really going downhill.
Catalin Neacsu (Steaua)
Valentin Rosu (Universitatea Cluj)
Cristi Boboc (RCM Galati)
Catalin Prunaru (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Alexandru Beldean (CSM Olimpia Bucuresti)
Lucian Muresan (Timisoara Saracens)
Vlad Zaharia (Timisoara Saracens)
Razvan Barbu (Stiinta Petrosani)
Alexandru Bucur (Baia Mare)
Cornel Farcas (CSU Arad)
Andrei Alin (RC Barlad)
Robert Neagu (Steaua)

 

[amz]

Romanian RWC jersey available now:
http://www.blksport.com//romania-rwc-replica-jersey-primary-mens-2015-rmjr402gld
http://www.blksport.com/romania-rwc-replica-jersey-alternate-mens-2015-rmjr406wht?nav=9747

I think both are very beautiful; alternate one is simply stunning.

 

[RedruthRFC]

Prefer the "home" strip personally, but they're both decent looking shirts. I'm not sure if the credit should go the BLK or to the organisers who aren't permitting them to be covered on gaudy sponsor's logos.

Changing the subject, did any of you Romanian supporters catch either of the England Counties matches played in Romania recently? I posted a link to a stream of the second one, but not long before the match so it didn't receive any love.

 

[dragos03]

The reserve white jerseys looks really strange but I like the yellow ones.

I have seen both matches of the England Counties. The first one (against club side CSM Bucharest) was fast, open and really spectacular, I think Counties were very lucky to win. The second one (against a selection of mostly fringe players designated for some reason as Romania U23) was more of a grind, Counties dominated most of it and deserved the victory. I was impressed by their defense in both matches (but especially in the first).

 

[RedruthRFC]

Unfortunately I missed the first match (forgot it was on and wasted my time watching crappy early evening TV instead ). Apparently the second game was meant to be against Romania U23, but for whatever reason they couldn't raise a side, so it was re-badged as against Romania "A". The Romanian boys certainly gave the Counties a torrid time up front, but in the loose, their penalty count let them down and their backs showed little danger. Even so, for the first 15 minutes or so, I thought that sheer brute force would be enough to win it for them. I was really pleased with how the counties backs gelled and the style of rugby they played, they had an interesting mix of power in the centres and pace to burn in the back three and took full advantage of it.

When you say that the side that played in the second match was made up of "fringe players", do you mean that they're on the fringes of the Romanian team (i.e. the side that will play in the World Cup)?

 

[dragos03]

It was not even close to Romania A. By fringe I mean that most of them are reserves (some of them rarely used) at their Romanian clubs. They have some potential, so the coach wanted to see them in action against a foreign team. Two foreigners will will soon be eligible for Romania were also added to the squad, as well as a 19-year old player from a French Top 14 academy team (who was the best Romanian player in my opinion) and one guy who plays in the second division. I'd say that maybe 4 players have a small chance to make the Romanian squad for the RWC (the two foreigners, Capatana and Dorin Lazar).

England Counties played some good rugby in both matches, it would be great if they toured Romania every year to play against club sides and various select squads.