A bit of history: Romania has played against Italy 41 times, winning 16 games, with 3 draws and 22 Italian wins. The biggest Romanian win was in 1977, when Italy was defeated 69-0 in Bucharest.
Last 3 matches:
2002 - Italy vs Romania 25-17 (Parma, RWC qualifier)
2004 - Romania vs Italy 25-24 (Bucharest, test match) - last time Italy played against the Oaks outside the RWC
2007 - Italy vs Romania 24-18 (Marseille, RWC 2007)
Two players from the squad that won the match in 2004 are still in the team: flanker Vali Ursache (who will be the captain after the ridiculous suspension of Macovei) and prop Paulica Ion.
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Romania:
1. Mihaita Lazar
2. Otar Turashvili
3. Paulica Ion
4. Valentin Poparlan
5. Johannes Van Heerden
6. Valentin Ursache (cpt)
7. Viorel Lucaci
8. Daniel Carpo
9. Valentin Calafeteanu
10. Michael Wiringi
11. Ionut Botezatu
12. Florin Vlaicu
13. Paula Kinikinilau
14. Madalin Lemnaru
15. Catalin Fercu
16. Andrei Radoi, 17. Andrei Ursache, 18. Horatiu Pungea, 19.Marius Antonescu, 20. Stelian Burcea, 21. Tudorel Bratu, 22. Csaba Gal, 23.Adrian Apostol
Italy:
1. Matias Aguero
2. Andrea Manici
3. Lorenzo Cittadini
4. Quentin Geldenhuys (captain)
5. Josh Furno
6. Francesco Minto
7. Simone Favaro
8. Alessandro Zanni
9. Edoardo Gori
10. Tommaso Allan
11. Giovanbattista Venditti
12. Tommaso Benvenuti
13. Michele Campagnaro
14. Leonardo Sarto
15. Luke McLean
16. Davide Giazzon, 17. Alberto De Marchi,18. Dario Chistolini, 19. Valerio Bernabò, 20. Samuela Vunisa, 21. Guglielmo Palazzani, 22. Carlo Canna, 23. Enrico Bacchin