Romanian Rugby

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I don't know how strong a side each team is fielding but I was hoping Baia Mare would do well in the Kings Cup after reading that they have the strongest age group sides.

The hope for Timisoara in the CC has to be that Edinburgh are a complete shambles at the moment. Bunch of new backs who are changed each week and haven't gelled, coach fired and replaced by assistant who is not considered to be any good, and fly half out with a broken jaw (although that may be a blessing). Edinburgh are very strong up front but have no threat at all in the backs. Timisoara seem strong in the forwards so if they can handle Edinburgh there they might have a chance of a big upset in Romania. They will need more than three points though!

 

[dragos03]

Both clubs used close to their strongest lineups. Timsioara was awful up front, their forwards were completely overpowered by the Baia Mare ones. It's a very strong group for Timisoara but I think the best chance for an upset win is the home match vs Stade Francais. French clubs usually send their reserves to this competition and Stade almost got beaten last time they played against Bucharest Wolves in Romania (they won by one point after a late penalty). But even in that match, the Stade "reserves" included players like Morne Steyn, Digby Ioane or Jonathan Danty.

 

[dragos03]

One year ago, Romania defeated Canada at the Rugby World Cup, after the biggest ever comeback in the history of the competition.

 

[dragos03]

King's Cup day 4:
Steaua - Baia Mare 16-8 (big win for the hosts)
Poli Iasi - U Cluj 6-6
CSM Bucharest - Dinamo 40-39 (insane match, Dinamo missed a conversion right at the end)

 

[amz]

some nice results, Iasi - Cluj the most surprising probably Sava rotated a lot.

CSM - Dinamo was indeed insane

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Go Steaua! Good that Timisoara get an extra week of rest. Really bad timing for them as Edinburgh just had their only convincing performance of the season on Friday and won handsomely, so they might actually have some confidence after being very poor. Their reserve Welsh fly-half Tovey also seems to be playing very well too and actually bringing the backs into the game. It'll be interesting to see what strength of side Edinburgh select, but I'd make them bigger favourites now than I would have last week. If Timisoara can keep in touch with them for the first 30mins then the old low confidence might quickly resurface though.

 

[dragos03]

The Edinburg wider squad for the Challenge Cup is very strong, basically their full team. I don't think Timisoara can do much against them, especially since there might be poor weather, favouring the side with stronger forwards (Timisoara's ones look weak, they were overpowered by Baia Mare). The big problem at Timisoara is the long injury list, several key experienced players are unavailable.

However, I hope Timisoara can get a better result against Edinburgh than Treviso did. I'd be happy if they manage to keep it competitive, even if it ends in defeat.

 

[amz]

What worries us most is Timisoara's poor form and lack of discipline. They are missing some key players (Shennan, Kinikinilau) who are injured and it doesn't look so far that they adapted to this situation.

I am very curious to see how it will go, it is so far terra incognita for us too

 

[dragos03]

Good news: the match will be broadcast by Digi Sport 1 and available on the usual streaming sites.

Michael Doneghan, the only Scot in the Superliga, about the match:
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...-to-take-timisoara-saracens-lightly-1-4253965

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I might end up watching this on Romanian internet then! A nice perspective from Doneghan although I'm always sceptical when a player speaks about their current coach, club or league. They'd never say, "my coach isn't as good as the last one" or "my league isn't as strong as the last one" because that is a bad career move. But hopefully he is offering an honest assessment of the relative quality of the Romanian league. If so, we may well have a contest depending on Edinburgh's team selection. Hopefully Timisoara's recent dip in form is some players playing within themselves to try and avoid getting more injuries for their big match.

Unfortunately someone needs to tell Doneghan that as Baia Mare aren't in the ECC Qualifiers they sadly can't play in the Challenge Cup next season. As I understand it, if Timisoara don't win their playoff against the ECCQ Group winner then there cannot be any Romanian side in the Challenge Cup next year.

 

[dragos03]

Of course, rugby players are polite and won't say bad things about their current club. To be honest, they are usually polite about former clubs as well. But hey, if he thought Baia Mare was a crap team, he wouldn't have signed and stayed with them, so I guess there's some truth in his comments. Anyway, his perspective is unique, being the only Scottish player in the Superliga.

I don't expect the match to be much of the contest, it's Timisoara's first opponent at this level and it will be difficult for them to adapt. I expect the club to become better after a few rounds, when they will harden up and raise their level.

 

[amz]

Timisoara's XV for match vs Edinburgh:

1 Militaru
2 Căpățînă
3 Pungea
4 Popârlan
5 Drenceanu
6 Ianuş
7 Rus
8 Burcea (Cpt)
9 Calafeteanu
10 Rose
11 Shennan
12 Umaga
13 Sefanaia
14 Tangimana
15 Fercu

16 Rădoi
17 Aholelei
18 Mariş
19 Mureşan
20 Morrison
21 Conache
22 Manumua
23 Zaharia

Bench added, I didn't realize I didn't posted

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A fairly strong Edinburgh side despite the headline, particularly in the backs although this combination has never played together. Barely a Scot in the backs, but possibly the best offensive combination they have in my limited opinion although possible issues defensively with the pair at centre.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby...rst-starts-in-edinburgh-euro-opener-1-4258525

Half back pair is decent, Scholes at fullback is a decent talent with a lot to prove as he has been ignored since moving to Edinburgh. The young lad Kinghorn on the bench is the one to watch when he comes on, usually at fullback. Tofalau also an entertaining runner. If Timisoara are under strength I think this could be a decent victory for Edinburgh.

A shame the young wing (Simonescu?) isn't starting. He's looked like a good prospect.

 

[amz]

Well, it's the other young player that make a name for himself but in Cup at the beginning of the season. I am sure Simionescu will have his chance

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

More from Doneghan about today's game and life in Romania. Sounds like he is enjoying it so much he wants to become an Oak.

https://theoffsideline.com/2016/10/11/michael-doneghan-have-boots-will-travel/

 

[dragos03]

I think the prospect of playing for Romania and being selected for a future World Cup is a hidden reason why some of this foreign players accept Superliga contracts (I suspect it's true for Jack Cobden as well). There are many decent players who don't have any chance to be selected by their national sides, so becoming eligible for Romania offers a path to glory, more money and a chance to get noticed by a strong club in their country.

This is a more honest interview than the first one.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

As we've discussed before, I think it is a good thing for Romania to make use of these residency rules to strengthen their national side, as long as they commit to bringing on young Romanian talent in all positions (which to an outsider like me, it appears they are). You would have no chance of closing the gap to tier 1 if only tier 1 countries exploited these rules and the Superliga may help you get towards the top of Tier 2 in five years time (although the US / Canadian involvement in a PRO league will provide stiff competition for foreign players).

It is, as you say, a more honest interview, but what is good about that is that probably lends a little more reliabilty to his comparison about the level of the Superliga to other leagues. Also, he must consider the league well run enough and with good enough training, that he can potentially develop as a player there and get a bigger move in the future.

Anyway, I'm off to search for a feed for this game, hopefully in English! Fingers crossed it is competitive and entertaining.

 

[amz]

http://www.digisport.ro/Pages/TV/DigiSport+1

try this please

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Thanks, I found that but sadly Hola VPN doesn't appear to work for Romania. Doesnt surprise me when you see the hilarious mess they make of Google Translate for Romanian sites.

 

[amz]

Try this : http://tvrohdonline.com/digi-sport-1/