Romanian Rugby

[amz]

Super Liga 7th round:

Haven't watched any game so I won't comment much.

Timisoara Saracens 52 - 20 Politehnica Iasi

It seems that Timisoara have serious trouble and can't find its form. At half time the score was 12-10 with a try in last minute of the half after there were behind against a team with 18 - 20 yo inexperienced players. The bench made the difference in the second half and Iasi kid's couldn't hold on.

CSM Stiinta Baia Mare 22 - 16 Dinamo Bucuresti

Surprisingly close. Full match here:
https://www.privesc.eu/Arhiva/78223...Mare---CS-Dinamo--Superliga-CECBank-2017-2018

CSM Bucuresti 12 - 15 Steaua Bucuresti

I didn't watched it but I heard from people who went to the match or watch it on tv that despite the lack of tries and the horrible weather it was a spectacular match

Full match here:



Highlights:

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

There is something wrong with an U21 Saffa Darren Baron flyhalf starting for one Bucharest team (presumably to become Romanian qualified) while Boldor doesn't seem to be getting much game time.

Timisoara, well, my jokes about Matt Williams and Grainger Heinkell are becoming less amusing. Even Cluj gave them a game! If they don't improve they are favourites for fifth with Dinamo.

 

[amz]

Boldor is injured but he started or come in from the bench in every game he was valid. Rumor is if he will recover well enough he may be called up in November. CSM don't have other specialist fly-half..

I think at Timisoara there is also a locker room issue and I think the staff tried to appeased it or waited to go away for too long.

 

[amz]

1. Badiu
2. Rădoi
3. Pungea
4. Popârlan
5. Drenceanu
6. Doyle
7. Morrison
8. Stewart
9. Seniloli
10. Hunt
11. Fonovai
12. Umaga
13. Tevita
14. Helu
15. Samoa

Subs:

16. Sabău
17. Mariș
18. Doge
19. Mureșan
20. Rus
21. Rupanu
22. Popa
23. Conache
24. Neculau
25. Simionescu

At the press conference participated their new forward coach, Dan Roach. Tbh I don't understand why some players start, for example young Rupanu was more composed than Seniloli and seems to be a better passer and play make to me, Popa had some very good games. Still few key players injured like Capatana, Sheenan, Fercu or Lemnaru.

 

[amz]

Since we will play only two matches in November and FRR expected a third which never come, they resurrected Romania A to play a match in October 21st. Howells, Moffat and Cuttita selected 45 players which will form two teams which will play against each other (Romania A vs President XV). There a lot of young player and also some ineligible (yet) foreign players which will be able to play for Oaks in one year.

Props:
Constantin Pristavita (CSM Baia Mare)
Alexandru Gordas (Steaua Bucuresti)
Marius Lungu (Steaua Bucuresti)
Cosmin Manole (Dinamo Bucuresti)
Alexandru Savin (CSM Bucuresti)
Vasile Balan (CSM Bucuresti)
Christo Bezuidenhout (CSM Bucuresti)

Hookers:
Ovidiu Cojocaru (CSM Baia Mare)
Cristian Melecciu (Steaua Bucuresti)
Tongia Makefu (CSM Bucuresti)

Locks:
Florian Rosu (CSM Baia Mare)
Bogdan Doroftei (Steaua Bucuresti)
Ionut Macoveanu (CSM Bucuresti)
Winter Riley (CSM Bucuresti)
Andrei Toader (Poli Iasi)
Vlad Rotar (U Cluj)

Backrows:
Andrei Bucurescu (Dinamo Bucuresti)
Silviu Gradinaru (Dinamo Bucuresti)
Marcel Rusu (Dinamo Bucuresti)
Stelian Burcea (CSM Bucuresti)
Kamil Sobota (CSM Bucuresti)
Mario Arvinte (CSM Bucuresti)
Adrian Ion (CSM Bucuresti)


Halfbacks:
Alexandru Tigla (CSM Baia Mare)
Tudorel Bratu (Dinamo Bucuresti)
Lama Sioeli (CSM Bucuresti)
Victor Dumitru (CSM Bucuresti)

Fly-halves:
Gheorghe Oprea (CSM Baia Mare)
Darren Baron (CSM Bucuresti)
Daniel Plai (Poli Iasi)

Centers:
Michael Doneghan (CSM Baia Mare)
Alexandru Bucur (CSM Baia Mare)
Florin Ionita (Steaua Bucuresti)
Ionut Balaban (Dinamo Bucuresti)
Maliepo Moa Mua (CSM Bucuresti)
David Scheepers (Poli Iasi)

Wingers:
Mihai Lamboiu (CSM Baia Mare)
Alexandru Porojan (Steaua Bucuresti)
Robert Neagu (Steaua Bucuresti)
Eduard Bencea (Steaua Bucuresti)
Fili Lomani (Dinamo Bucuresti)
George Iacob (Dinamo Bucuresti)

Fullbacks:
Damian Stratila (Steaua Bucuresti)
Tuicakau Livinai (CSM Bucuresti)
Vaovasa Hinckley (CSM Bucuresti)


Head coaches of SL clubs are invited: Danut Dumbrava (Steaua), Cristian Hildan (Dinamo), Eugen Apjok (CSM Bucuresti), Cosmin Ratiu (Poli Iasi), Horea Himpea (U Cluj)

Howells :this is a project designed for the 2019 Cup and what will follow after this competition, a project that gives young players the chance to show their potential. We have to think now that we need to grow these players, to take into account that the team can get injuries at any time and that's why it is important to have young people able to be the solution for what we need. Already we have to think about 2023, to grow the young players for the national team from now on. We also have experienced players in this batch of 45 because it is important that the younger have models, learn from them. I thought this training as a new experience for coaches, that is why they will be with us and SuperLiga coaches, will be basically a continuation of what we did this year, including the visits we made to the clubs and that I attended their training. In fact, the players that make up this extended lot of Romania A are also the proposals of the Super League coaches, as well as the players we have noticed during our clubs' training sessions. It is important for these young people to understand that it takes a lot of work and seriousness and most importantly, to want to perform, to develop internationally where the requirements are other

 

[amz]

Moffat and Cuttita tormenting U18 kids:



Romania A scrum:



Romania A training sessions with invited coaches from SL squads:

 

[amz]

Tomorrow 15:00 Romanian local time, probably on rugbytv.ro

Romania A:

1. Alexandru Savin
2. Ovidiu Cojocaru
3. Alexandru Gordas
4. Ionut Rusu
5. Florian Rosu
6. Mario Arvinte
7. Winter Riley
8. Stelian Burcea
9. Tudorel Bratu
10. George Oprea
11. Vladut Zaharia
12. Michael Doneghan
13. Alexandru Bucur
14. Robert Neagu
15. Hinkley Vaovasa.

Subs:
16. Andrei Toader
17. Cristian Melecciuc
18. Damian Stratila
19. Silviu Gradinaru
20. Victor Dumitru
21. Mihai Lamboiu
22. Eduard Bencea
23. George Iacob

Coaches: Robert Moffat, Danut Dumbrava, Cosmin Ratiu, Horea Himpea


President XV

1. Constantin Pristavita
2. Tongia Makefu
3. Vasile Balan
4. Vlad Rotaru
5. Kamil Sobota
6. Adrian Ion
7. Moyake Kuselo
8. Andrei Bucurescu
9. Alexandru Tigla
10. Darren Barron
11. Fili Lomani
12. Maliepo Moa Mea
13. Ionut Balaban
14. Alexandru Porojan
15. Lama Sioeli

Subs:
16. Cristo Bezuidenhout
17. Cosmin Manole
18. Adrian Chiper
19. Bogdan Doroftei
20. Ionut Macoveanu
21. Adrian Ballok
22. Daniel Plai
23. Livianu Tuicakau
24. Michael Scheppers

Coaches: Massimo Cuttitta, Cristian Hildan, Eugen Apjok

 

[amz]

Rugbytv broadcast confirmed:

https://www.rugbytv.ro/2017/10/20/21-octombrie-ora-1500-romania-vs-xv-le-presedintelui.html

 

[amz]

Highlights from Romania A 36 - 35 President XV

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Howells really does not like Plai! Putting Oprea as starter for one side and ineligible Baron as starter in the other. Plai's international prospects died with the failure for him to get a move to Dinamo and losing Sava as coach.

This match was a reasonable initiative by the FRR but I remain embarrassed that it came to this.

 

[amz]

Certainly playing for a team that wants to avoid last place and is filled with academy players won't help him. In the first match of SL I remember how Iasi nearly beat CSM away and he was certainly the man of the match and he does very well when he plays for the team. However, he is looking on many occasions for personal solutions and he look reckless so I presume from here it comes the reluctance of Howells to select him.

However, I think he deserve a new chance. He entered in second half, started badly with an attack where he risked too much but than pull himself together and played very well for the team, creating good attack phases and help it to come back on score board, he certainly revived his team in second half. Howells said 6-7 players from this match will certainly be on the team for November, I am really curious who see who'll make it.

 

[amz]

Howells announced the squad for match vs Samoa (expected changes for squad vs Tonga):

Props:
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare), Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua), Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne), Ionel Badiu (Timisoara Saracens), Mihaita Lazar (Castres)
Hookers:
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens), Ovidiu Cojocaru (Baia Mare)
Locks:
Johannes Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare), Marius Antonescu (Colomiers), Ionut Muresan (Timisoara Saracens)
Backrow:
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua), Cristi Chirica (Stiinta Baia Mare), Vlad Nistor (Albi), Mihai Macovei (Colomiers), Stelian Burcea (CSM Bucuresti)
Scrum-Halves:
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua ), Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo), Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bucuresti)
Fly-halves:
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua), Samoa Luke (Timisoara Saracens), Daniel Plai (Politehnica Iasi)
Centers:
Jack Umaga (Timisoara Saracens), Paula Kinikinilau (CSM Bucuresti), Sione Fakaosilea (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Wing:
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua), Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti), Tangimana Fonovai (Timisoara Saracens), Fili Lomani (Dinamo)
Fullback:
Sabin Stratila (CSA Steaua), Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens)

STAFF: Lynn Howells (Head Coach), Massimo Cuttitta (Forwards coach), Rob Moffat (Backs coach), Olivier Rieg (fitness coach)

I'm surprised F. Ionita (center/wing, Steaua) and V. Popa (center, Timisoara) aren't in the team, they were in good form in Super Liga, I rate it Popa as in better form than Umaga and overall a better player at this moment.

It become official that Marius Tincu isn't in the staff anymore.

Glad to see Plai in the team, he was the best fly-half at the trial match between Romania A - President XV, better than Barron (CSM's Saffa's fly-half) or Oprea from Baia Mare.

 

[amz]

Two changes in Oaks' squad:

Lucaci is out with a heavy injury (knee ligaments) and is expected to be out for 8 months

Plai is also injured but not so serious, however seriously enough to miss these two games.

Were called up Poparlan (second row, Timisoara Saracens) and Andrei Gorcioaia (Eightman, Massy, France)

 

[amz]

News from Moldova:

New national team coach is Constantin Vlad who was until this year to Bucovina Suceava, team that won National Senior Division (2nd tier competition). He is a very experienced coach.

About players, there are new faces in the team but Vadim and Maxim Cobâlaş refused to play again for Moldovan national team, Victor Arhip and Andrei Mahu are not allowed by their clubs to come to play and Prepelita is injured.

https://www.publika.md/ultimele-pre...-rugby-va-juca-sambata-cu-olanda_2986128.html

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Argh! The curse of Plai.

 

[amz]

Yeah, so much bad luck

https://www.rugbytv.ro/

Timisoara - Baia Mare live in Romanian Cup at 11:00 local timezone (starts in 5 minutes)

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Lookout the Samoa highlights against Scotland Amz and be afraid, very afraid.

 

[amz]

Lookout the Samoa highlights against Scotland Amz and be afraid, very afraid.

Highlights don't say much

 

[amz]

Romania 17 - 13 Samoa


First half:


Second half:


Highlights:

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I think Romania must have overtaken Tonga to go 14th. Beat them next week and Italy lose to the Boks and we swap places and Romania will be 13th, and Italy will have two REC sides above them.

Gulp!