Romanian Rugby

[Croket66]

South african scrumhalf Kevin Luiters to join Timisoara (he was on the bench against Calvisano)

Luiters, born 1992, played 8 Super Rugby games in 2016 for Southern Kings. He also played for South Africa Sevens.

So there are 4 scrumhalves at Timisoara
- promising youth Gabriel Rupanu (born 1997)
- fijian international (19 caps, 2015 RWC) Henry Seniloli (ex Benetton Treviso)
- youth saffa Lotter Pretorius (ex Sharks U21)
- and now Kevin Luiters

 

[amz]

Haha yes I googled about Irn Bru! Although I didn't saw him much in SL, I watched him President XV match and he was pretty quick, he may have a chance. Not sure if he's a center or winger.

But in all honesty, I don't see the issues with carts! Sure, you may find some on secondary roads but those aren't crowded so you can just easily outstrip it. I remember the curiosity of some of my friends from UK to see some carts driven by horses when they come here. After few days in a mountainous area they were overdosed, they even spotted a cart driven by oxen.

LE: Tbh I'd drop Seniloli and Pretorius; even if the first scored some tries he's not consistent and doesn't manage the game well while the second one was better on wing than at SH.

Luiters I think is a good signing and Rupanu can learn a thing of two from him but not from the other two players.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

He sure must be confident about Timisoara's money problems only being temporary.

 

[amz]

Lineups for RC Batumi - Timisoara Saracens match:

RC BATUMI

15. Bakhva Kobakhidze
14. Aleqsandre Tuchashvili
13. David Trapaidze
12. Beka Urjukashvili
11. Giorgi Gogitidze
10. Lasha Khmaladze
9. Zurab Tutberidze

1. Zura Eristavi (C)
2. Beka Mamrikishvili
3. Tariel Donadze
4. Amiran Mikadze
5. Sandro Koiava
6. Vano Putkaradze
7. Koki Tkhilaishvili
8. Khvicha Bujiashvili

16. Irakli Kvantidze
17. Murman Jijavadze
18. Shota Gogisvanidze
19. Archil Alikadze
20. Jondi Kortava
21. Durmishkhan Jabnidze
22. Nika Ninidze
23. Nukri Perselidze

TIMISOARA SARACENS

15 Marius Simionescu
14 Madalin Lemnaru
13 Tevita Manumua
12 Jack Umaga
11 Vladut Zaharia
10 Jody Rose
9 Kevin Luiters
1 Gigi Militaru
2 Marian Sabau
3 Horatiu Pungea
4 Marian Drenceanu (C)
5 Michael Stewart
6 James Doyle
7 Vasile Rus
8 Randall Morrison

16 Andrei Radoi
18 Samuel Maris
17 Mesake Doge
19 Valentin Poparlan
20 Daniel Ianus
21 Gabriel Rupanu
22 William Helu
24 Brian Sefanaia

Live stream here tomorrow at 12 UK timezone:

https://www.facebook.com/RugbyTVGeorgia/?fref=mentions


From opposition I know well Khamaladze, Tkhilaishvili and Urjukashvili because they played for Lelos or still played.

Aleqsandre Tuchashvili played one season for Farul Constanta before going bankrupt, good speed, strength but lacking positioning in defense.

Timisoara back three is pretty young with Simionescu and Zaharia while Rupanu seems to establish himself pretty well.

 

[amz]

Live stream RC Batumi - Timisoara Saracens here:

 

[amz]

RC Batumi 20 - 17 Timisoara Saracens

Shameful defeat for Timisoara, they are probably considering themselves be in vacation already. Even if they missed a lot of players, a coach and salaries weren't paid this match was theirs to lose and congrats to Batumi for having the right attitude.

IMO Timisoara is in a very bad spot and without some sort of swift decisions, they will continue to degrade. They need some sort of shock to the team and I think management was too lenient lately with some players.

There is a however a first rumor for a player that will leave the club and apparently the first one is Brian Sefanaia (center) who's contract end at 31st December and it seems he won't continue.

 

[amz]

Some of Oaks start the physical training camp next week to prepare for REC. This does not include players from abroad and Timisoara's player who prepare Continental Shield matches vs RC Batumi.


Props:
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)

Hooker:
Florin Bardasu (Baia Mare)

Locks:
Johannes Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Andrei Iurea (Stiinta Baia Mare)

Backrow:
Cristi Chirica (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Stelian Burcea (CSM Bucuresti)
Moyake Kuselo (CSA Steaua)

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

Fly-Halves:
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua)
Tudor Boldor (CSA Steaua)

Center:
Paula Kinikinilau (CSM Bucuresti)
Sione Fakaosilea (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Florin Ionita (CSA Steaua)

Wing:
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti)
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)


Fullback:
Sabin Stratila (CSA Steaua)

Good to see young Iurea back, Ionita who was constantly good for Steaua and especially young Boldor.

 

[amz]

Continental Shield semifinals:
RC Batumi 6 - 11 Timisoara Saracens



Pitch was in really bad shape, basically they played in mud and stream has some hiccups. Not much to say about this game, Batumi certainly have strong players but this is all and lacked stamina in second half. Timisoara is continuing its crisis, despite the win. Should be a very different game in Cluj next week due to a much better pitch (with drainage and under soil heating).

 

[amz]

Oaks squad for REC, for first match vs Germany:

Props:
Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne)
Ionel Badiu (Timisoara Saracens)
Mihaita Lazar (Castres)
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Tarus (Sale Sharks)

Hookers:
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Bardasu (Baia Mare)
Marian Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)

Locks:
Johannes Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Marius Antonescu (Colomiers)
Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
Alin Coste (Carcasonne)

Backrow:
Vlad Nistor (Albi)
Mihai Macovei (Colomiers)
Stelian Burcea (CSM Bucuresti)
Valentin Ursache (Oyonnax)
Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy)

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

Fly-halves:
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua)
Tudor Boldor (CSA Steaua)

Centers:
Jack Umaga (Timisoara Saracens)
Paula Kinikinilau (CSM Bucuresti)
Sione Fakaosilea (Stiinta Baia Mare)

Wings:
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Tangimana Fonovai (Timisoara Saracens)
Stephen Shannan (Timisoara Saracens)

Fullback:
Catalin Fercu (Timisoara Saracens)
Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens)

STAFF:
Lynn Howells - Head Coach
Massimo Cuttitta - Forwards coach
Rob Moffat - Backs coach
Olivier Rieg - Conditioning

Few players who could have made it into the squad are injured: Turashvili, Cojocaru, V. Popa, Samoa

 

[amz]

Oaks meets supporters in November 2017 before tests

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

How has Boldor gone from nowhere to being backup flyhalf? Surely it would make more sense to blood him in November or June rather than in RWC qualifying matches. No matter, he can handle it.

No Popa either? In Howells we trust!

 

[amz]

Popa was injured in the first leg vs Batumi and he didn't recovered yet. Probably we will see some shuffles there until the end of REC.

Boldor wasn't available for November matches because of injury, he wasn't fully recovered and in June I think he didn't played enough to grant a call. I am surprised by Ionita missing again, he had good matches for Steaua. I know is odd but Howells is doing this, he surprised us all in 2016 with Popa starting vs Canada and USA, last November with Simionescu so I am tempted to trust his judgment on such decisions. Keep in mind that players from local championship only finished a 1 week preparation period with Howells and rest of staff.

In other news, Stejarul Buzau 2n league team seems to take a serious option to promote as they signed veteran frontrow Adascalitei (Dinamo) and scrum-half Dumitru (ex. CSM, ex. Timisoara) and eyeing to sign other players too until season kick off.

Iasi is having trouble with money and they might not be able to continue. Butnariu (hooker) and Plai (fly-half) already signed for Steaua. I am especially confused why Steaua signed Plai since they have Boldor, ex.-U20 FH Melinte (7s national squad) and Vlaicu. Butnariu is good for Steaua, they needed depth there. Rumors are other players from Iasi will leave soon and if they won't be able to continue the season they'll be relegated in 3rd league.

I think it's a statement, to call up the best team available and to have two veterans from Pro D2/Top 12, Vali Ursache and Coste.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Plai and Boldor only makes sense to me if Vlaicu plans on retiring - which surely he won't with a RWC on the horizon. At least Plai will get an opportunity behind a decent pack but surely Dinamo would have been screaming out for him and give him more game time.

And yes, I wasn't joking. In Howells we trust! He said he'd retire in 2017 but he has done such a good job and presumably is having so much fun that he has changed his mind.

 

[amz]

An interview with Rob Moffat, in English:

https://www.mariusmatache.ro/rob-moffat-interviu/

 

[amz]

Politehnica Iasi retired from Super Liga due to financial issue, now it is official. FRR granted them a place in second division.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Politehnica Iasi retired from Super Liga due to financial issue, now it is official. FRR granted them a place in second division.

A damn shame, not least because it removes professional rugby from one of your main cities. Hopefully they find a seventh side for next season.

 

[Brigantine]

The Oaks this weekend get their reply to that Offenbach game last year... a worrying prospect for a Germany fan!

What's the expectations from the Romanian camp? How much do you think you'll win by?

Looks like rain forecast... Is the game on a narrow field?

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Romania by 20 I'm going for sadly. I was looking at the fixture list for Germany and i feel it could be a long tournament for them. Spain are Romania's only real challengers for top spot (excluding Georgia) so that's the game to watch i say. Spain did seem to have taken a step back in the autumn and June internationals and their results were a little underwhelming at least to me with losses to the likes of Uruguay and Namibia who will be RWC teams.
I think a thread for the ERC needs to be created, I'll post my predictions on there for the tournament. Will the games be streamed free online again this year?

 

[Osezno]

Spain didn't lose to Namibia last June and it's a bit of a custom to send a depleted squad to Nations Cup, in fact it was a pretty good tournament for our standards. What concerns everybody in Spain is the way the team disconnected for 20 minutes against Canada last November. Most among those who thought we could qualify for RWC are now taking a step back.

Romania are heavy favourites anyway, bonus points will be key and having three home games this year will be of huge help.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Spain didn't lose to Namibia last June and it's a bit of a custom to send a depleted squad to Nations Cup, in fact it was a pretty good tournament for our standards. What concerns everybody in Spain is the way the team disconnected for 20 minutes against Canada last November. Most among those who thought we could qualify for RWC are now taking a step back.

Romania are heavy favourites anyway, bonus points will be key and having three home games this year will be of huge help.

Sorry my bad.
The Canada loss was a tough one to take seeing as they'll be repechage rivals should Spain get there.