Romanian Rugby

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

That sunshine cant hurt. Good effort by volunteers and fingers crossed Spain don't do a Stade France! Spain did well on a poor pitch last week. One of the biggest games in both sides recent history coming right up. It doesn't look that cold either. Starting to think Spain have a chance, but still predict a Romania win (albeit narrow).

Hope there is a decent crowd despite the fixture being moved at late notice.

 

[dragos03]

The Oaks look very rusty and nervous. We were unable to score more points after totally dominating the first half.

 

[tommyc121]

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-unio...oodward-calls-six-nations-relegation-play-off

very intresting article. i agree. but i think georgia are the form team at the moment to come up. it will make six nations way more intresting at the bottom.

 

[dragos03]

This will happen sooner or later, I don't think they can avoid it much longer. They would open up the Six Nations in record time if a country like Germany or Spain was ready for the playoff, the problem is that Georgia is poor and small.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-unio...oodward-calls-six-nations-relegation-play-off

very intresting article. i agree. but i think georgia are the form team at the moment to come up. it will make six nations way more intresting at the bottom.

I just hope the people in charge are listening and are not totally against change. Change is good and often change is needed to progress.

 

[tommyc121]

This will happen sooner or later, I don't think they can avoid it much longer. They would open up the Six Nations in record time if a country like Germany or Spain was ready for the playoff, the problem is that Georgia is poor and small.

i dont think spain or germany are ready at all. only top side been constant is Georgia. poor or small lot of people talking about and Itlay are very poor i think is time to see what Georgia can really do in the big time. It be shame seeing Itlay going however progression of them has been poor each year there getting worst maybe good thing them coming down to next division. big lost tommorow for Itlay i think its time for change.

 

[dragos03]

Superliga news:
- CSM Bucharest has signed two more players: Romanian international number 8 Daniel Carpo (Richmond) and Fijian utility back Livinai Tuicakau (Northland Development XV)
- there will finally be some renovation work at Timisoara's home ground. Until the works are completed, the club will use the Dan Paltinisanu Stadium. According to rumours, Timisoara will announce seven new signings tomorrow.

 

[Croket66]

Some strong signings at Timisoara
- prop Marzuq Maarman (Eastern Province)
- prop Pieter Stemmet (SWD Eagles)
- backrow James Doyle (Jersey) ex Sale, Leicester - played Champions Cup
- backrow Michael Stewart (Southland)
- scrumhalf Henry Senioli (10 caps for Fiji) ex Benetton Treviso, played 2015 RWC
- flyhalf Stefano Hunt (Sydney University) ex Western Force, 1 Super Rugby cap

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I know nothing about those players, but there seem to be some decent pedigree there. Glad my concerns over their financial predicament appear to be misplaced.

 

[dragos03]

All of them seem to be decent players. Timisoara will only be able to include three in the squad for the Challenge Cup playoffs.

 

[dragos03]

Here is Romania's squad for the match vs Russia in Sochi:

1. Ionel Badiu
2. Otar Turashvili
3. Alexandru Tarus
4. Marius Antonescu
5. Johan Van Heerden
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Mihai Macovei (c)
8. Andrei Gorcioaia
9. Valentin Calafeteanu
10. Florin Vlaicu
11. Madalin Lemnaru
12. Sione Fakaosilea
13. Jack Umaga
14. Ionut Dumitru
15. Catalin Fercu

Subs: 16. Eugen Capatana, 17. Constantin Pristavita, 18. Alexandru Gordas, 19. Valentin Poparlan, 20. Lucian Muresan, 21. Florin Surugiu, 22, Jody Rose, 23. Stephen Shennan.

The FRR has failed miserably this year and we'll have to play the most important match of the qualifiers without some of our best players. The squad is even more depleted than it was vs Spain, our best three players from that match are missing (Ursache and the Lazar brothers). The worst situation is in the backrow, where 5 players are unavailable. There will be no backrow replacement on the bench.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Here is Romania's squad for the match vs Russia in Sochi:

1. Ionel Badiu
2. Otar Turashvili
3. Alexandru Tarus
4. Marius Antonescu
5. Johan Van Heerden
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Mihai Macovei (c)
8. Andrei Gorcioaia
9. Valentin Calafeteanu
10. Florin Vlaicu
11. Madalin Lemnaru
12. Sione Fakaosilea
13. Jack Umaga
14. Ionut Dumitru
15. Catalin Fercu

Subs: 16. Eugen Capatana, 17. Constantin Pristavita, 18. Alexandru Gordas, 19. Valentin Poparlan, 20. Lucian Muresan, 21. Florin Surugiu, 22, Jody Rose, 23. Stephen Shennan.

The FRR has failed miserably this year and we'll have to play the most important match of the qualifiers without some of our best players. The squad is even more depleted than it was vs Spain, our best three players from that match are missing (Ursache and the Lazar brothers). The worst situation is in the backrow, where 5 players are unavailable. There will be no backrow replacement on the bench.

How do you think the game will go? Close match in prospect?

 

[dragos03]

Yes, I expect it to be close. According to Accuweather, it will rain, the Romanian squad is built for a forward-oriented game, with kickers at 9 and 10. The question is, can the Oaks forwards dominate with so many of the regular starters missing?

 

[dragos03]

Russian hospitality at its best, in past years the Oaks were forced to warm up in public parks or in parking lots. This year, they had to do it on the street in front of the hotel:
https://www.facebook.com/rugbyromania/videos/10155101451528270/

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Russian hospitality at its best, in past years the Oaks were forced to warm up in public parks or in parking lots. This year, they had to do it on the street in front of the hotel:
https://www.facebook.com/rugbyromania/videos/10155101451528270/

Good grief. It's not like you didn't warn us. Should make the Oaks even more hungry for the win though.

 

[dragos03]

Oaks squad for Belgium:

Props:
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Tarus (Beziers)
Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)
Ionel Badiu (Carcassonne)
Vasile Balan (Politehnica Iasi)
George Iacob (Rovigo)

Hookers:
Marian Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)
Ovidiu Cojocaru (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Locks:
Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Ionut Muresan (Timisoara Saracens)
Marius Antonescu (Tarbes)

Backrow:
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua)
Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy)
Mihai Macovei (Colomiers)
Cristian Chirica (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Dorin Lazar (Timisoara Saracens)

Scrum half:
Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bucuresti)
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua )
Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo)

Fly half:
Jody Rose (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua)

Centre:
Jack Umaga (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Vladut Popa (Timisoara Saracens)
Sione Fakaosilea (CSM Baia Mare)
Ionut Balaban (Dinamo)

Wingers:
Stephen Shennan (Timisoara Saracens)
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara Saracens)
Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti)

Fullback:
Catalin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)

I hoped for a stronger squad than against Russia but the opposite happened, we lost a few players and the only reinforcements are 6 uncapped (or barely capped) players. I've heard Vlaicu is injured as well, while Chirica was called from the U20 team to have another option in the backrow.

We travel with a depleted squad again and I hope we won't underestimate Belgium, they have nothing to lose.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Oaks squad for Belgium:

Props:
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Tarus (Beziers)
Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)
Ionel Badiu (Carcassonne)
Vasile Balan (Politehnica Iasi)
George Iacob (Rovigo)

Hookers:
Marian Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)
Ovidiu Cojocaru (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

Locks:
Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Ionut Muresan (Timisoara Saracens)
Marius Antonescu (Tarbes)

Backrow:
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua)
Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy)
Mihai Macovei (Colomiers)
Cristian Chirica (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Dorin Lazar (Timisoara Saracens)

Scrum half:
Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bucuresti)
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua )
Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo)

Fly half:
Jody Rose (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua)

Centre:
Jack Umaga (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Vladut Popa (Timisoara Saracens)
Sione Fakaosilea (CSM Baia Mare)
Ionut Balaban (Dinamo)

Wingers:
Stephen Shennan (Timisoara Saracens)
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara Saracens)
Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti)

Fullback:
Catalin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)

I hoped for a stronger squad than against Russia but the opposite happened, we lost a few players and the only reinforcements are 6 uncapped (or barely capped) players. I've heard Vlaicu is injured as well, while Chirica was called from the U20 team to have another option in the backrow.

We travel with a depleted squad again and I hope we won't underestimate Belgium, they have nothing to lose.

Belgium have surprised me with their performances so far. They certainly won't roll over against the Oaks so it's a potential banana skin for Romania here especially with a less experienced side than we usually see from them.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Belgium have surprised me with their performances so far. They certainly won't roll over against the Oaks so it's a potential banana skin for Romania here especially with a less experienced side than we usually see from them.

Agreed. It is great that each game in the REC now carries a degree of unpredictability. I get the impression that wasn't always the case. Great to see Popa on the list, hopefully he makes the cut. I too was shocked to see the belly on Jody Rose. He has no right being selected in that physical condition and it sends out a bad signal to the squad about conditioning.

Still, one more solid but unspectacular performance to go and Romania can finally relax a little.

 

[dragos03]

With Luke Samoa and Vlaicu both injured, I'm afraid Rose will start in Belgium even if he is extremely unfit and he was awful in all the matches so far. Despite his belly, Rose showed good speed and anticipation at that last phase though. I actually suspect that he made that clownish swan dive out of relief, he knew he had a terrible match again and got a stupid yellow card, but that try redeemed his performance.

I guess Howells could use Umaga at 10 and start Popa as centre. Happy to see a young Iasi player in the squad, even if he won't make the final cut probably.

 

[dragos03]

Romanian squad for the Belgium match:
1. Ionut Badiu (Carcassonne)
2. Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
3. Alexandru Tarus (Beziers)
4. Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
5. Marius Antonescu (Tarbes)
6. Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua)
7. Mihai Macovei (cpt)(Colomiers)
8. Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy)
9. Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bucuresti)
10. Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua)
11. Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti)
12. Sione Fakaosilea (Stiinta Baia Mare)
13. Jack Umaga (Timisoara Saracens)
14. Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara Saracens)
15. Catalin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)

16. Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)
17. Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
18. Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)
19. Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
20. Dorin Lazar (Timisoara Saracens)
21. Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua)
22. Jody Rose (Timisoara Saracens)
23. Stephen Shennan (Timisoara Saracens)

Former England U20 international Jack Cobden will play his first match for the Oaks, after Ionut Dumitru joined the long list of key players unavailable due to injury.

Florin Vlaicu will become the first Romanian player to reach 100 caps. "The American" is a hard worker who never complained and always adapted to play on various positions in order to patch the holes in the Romanian backline. In many matches, Vlaicu's kicking has made the difference between victory and defeat.