Romanian Rugby

[tommyc121]

that be good go back to basics csm be fine lose players but its all about what they said they will be doing bring up romanian talent nothing wrong with that

 

[dragos03]

Here is the Romanian squad for the match against Portugal on February 6. Lynn Howells said after the RWC that he will use the ENC as a development competition and try out new players but this is a crazy experimental team that includes 7 uncapped players and it's even weaker than the squad the Oaks usually sent to the Nations Cup. But I think Howells is right to try this, results this year are not that important, let's see some of these new players in action, especially Motoc, Ilisescu and Shennan.

Props:
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Tarus (Timisoara Saracens)
Mihai Dico (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Silviu Vasiliu (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Petru Tamba (L’Aquila)

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

Locks:
Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Marius Antonescu (Tarbes)
Adi Motoc (Racing 92 Metro)

Backrow:
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Vlad Nistor (Castres Olympique)
Andrei Gorcioaia (Valence d’Agen)
Razvan Ilisescu (Graulhet)
Stelian Burcea (Timisoara Saracens)

Scrumhalf:
Alexandru Palii (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Valentin Calafeteanu (Timisoara Saracens)
Tudorel Bratu (Dinamo)

Flyhalf:
Jody Rose (Timisoara Saracens)
Ovidiu Melniciuc (U Cluj)

Centres:
Paula Kinikinilau (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Ionita (CSA Steaua)
Florin Vlaicu (Calvisano)

Wingers:
Adrian Apostol (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Ionut Botezatu (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara Saracens)
Stephen Shennan (Timisoara Saracens)

Fullbacks:
Catalin Fercu (Saracens)
Sabin Stratila (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)

In other news, it seems that Catalin Fercu will return to Timisoara from the (London) Saracens. I think it's a good move for him, the Saracens simply have too much talent in their squad for an older player like Fercu to get a chance there. He did well in the few matches when he was used by the Sarries.

 

[Croket66]

Many absences in this squad, we can even do a XV of missing players
Lazar - Turashvili - Ion
Coste - Sirbe
Ursache - Carpo - Macovei
Surugiu - Wiringi
Dumitru - Dascalu - Gal - Manole
G.Conache


Good experience for Fercu, I hope he will play the Challenge Cup with Timisoara

 

[tommyc121]

fercu i am glad he coming back to romania get some rugby time he really good player and talented. squad of romania looks intresting. just curious question but the csm full back who good player not sure of his name and timisoara full back curious why there not in squad both stand out players in super liga.?

 

[dragos03]

Timisoara's fullback Conache is injured, he was replaced in the European matches by Shennan who is in the squad. Not sure who is the CSM fullback you speak of, Atelea Okati? He's not eligible to play for Romania.

The squad is very weak in the forwards, especially in the front row where the best 5 or so props are missing. I was also hoping that Tudor Stroe (Tarbes) or Mihai Carlescu (Carcassone) would be tested by Howells.

I like the backs who were selected, hope to see a team with Bratu - Rose - Shennan - Kinikinilau - Ionita - Lemnaru - Fercu.

Poli Iasi have signed Nicu Ignea (U Cluj) as well as six players from Stiinta Petrosani and two from RC Barlad.

 

[tommyc121]

conache tiberiu? is the name. he good player plays for csm i think. not sure tho if he one ones leaving tho? suprised he not been called up.

 

[dragos03]

I don't think Tibi Conache is good enough for the national team and he's not a young player either. He's decent at Superliga level.

 

[amz]

Three new signings for Iasi:

Florin Sasu (ex. Farul) - prop
Ruslan Dorogan, Moldova (Dinamo) - prop
Alexandru Tigla (CSM Bucuresti) - three quarter

 

[dragos03]

These are decent transfers for Iasi, Dorogan can also play hooker. U Cluj have signed Tunisian international Wajdi Belkhefi (can play winger or centre), I found no info about him.

Rob Moffat, former coach of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scotland A, will be the new backs coach of the Oaks.

 

[tommyc121]

sounds like iasi are not hanging around seem like club who want to do well in this year super liga. i wonder what others players will come in to super liga.

 

[amz]

I think Wajdi Belkhefi was a student at BB Cluj University and joined CS Manastur as an ex Tunisian U20 and only later was selected in Tunisian senior squad.

Back to National Team, this is an interesting development. My concern about Moffat is he was linked with Robinson, a coach that I disliked a lot. As far as I know Moffat doesn't have a bad reputation but he failed at Edinburgh. He tried to develop a wider game but got into trouble up the middle of the pitch. The squad was perhaps too limited to do what he wanted. I think he's an OK signing tough I would have liked to see some Romanian coaches involved too, like George Sava who trained Enisei back line under a Kiwi coach. Steaua play more with three quarters since he's come back in Romania.

I never saw a Romanian side even close of what was selected now so I've no idea how will play but I think the pack is more mobile so we may see a more wider , expansive game plan. I think the tight five will be OK, only concern is the backrow.

 

[tommyc121]

i agree more romanian coaches been great for national team. i think romania be ok back line seems more exciting new faces be intresting. still maintain tho need more romanian players its ok having all these foreigners but still young romanian coming through more in super liga all good news for romania. as for cluj sign dont no much about tunisia rugby seems intresting little odd but upto u cluj, i wonder who will come in i am intrested about csm bucharest consider what happen they said there stick young romanian side all be intresting if they will keep to there word.?

 

[dragos03]

I think Moffat has a pretty solid CV, I't even quite strange that he accepted to be just an assistant coach. I also like Sava but it was about time a decent foreign coach was appointed to take care of our backs. Btw, Sava was dismissed by Steaua (Cristi Petre is their new head coach). Maybe Sava will be named as manager of the youth teams, the position is advertised on the FRR website. He implements a very modern gameplan so he could be very useful in training the next generation of Romanian backs.

Last night there was a rugby talk show on TVR. Federal coach Daniel Mitrea seemed quite negative when asked about the prospects of a Tier 1 test for Romania, he dodged a clear answer but said there could be one maybe in 1-2 years but only if the Oaks get some very consistent results until then. He also said that the Nations Cup in June will revert to the old (and absolutely retarded) format of 6 teams in 2 groups of 3, each team playing against those from the opposite group.

Sadly, I fear the Argentina test could be just a rumour. We won't get any decent test, only an expanded Nations Cup that nobody cares about. The "consistent results" requirement from World Rugby is pure bull**** since nations with a worse record at the RWC like Canada or Tonga get multiple Tier 1 matches this year.

Regarding the first ENC match, I think Portugal have an unique chance to get a prestige win against this second string Oaks squad. But that's ok, this entire season, including the November tests, should be used for experiments even if we risk losing a few games.

 

[amz]

Hah, I missed the TV show but sounds bad, really...

I'd like to see Sava manager of youth teams, I'm quite surprised he was released by Steaua.

 

[lynx54321]

To me Fercu and Kinikinilau are by far the Oak's best backs and given both are in the squad perhaps Moffat will be attempting to build a more adventurous back line around the pair.

 

[amz]

To me Fercu and Kinikinilau are by far the Oak's best backs and given both are in the squad perhaps Moffat will be attempting to build a more adventurous back line around the pair.

Well, I think you need more than backs for a proper wide expansive game plan. Pack should present more usable ball and Romanian one is suited for a tighter play so if one wants to improve the back play than the pack should be built in a certain manner, looking at speed of play,how the ball is made available, that the intent is to make the ball available,and then being able to support such game plan. What is helpful is that some tight five players can move the ball pretty well (Pristavita, Antonescu, Capatana).The being able to support is a real problem now it's such a fast game. Even NZ havegone off piste with that in the last few years, often sending Read wide.

Once the pack has maybe 2-3 changes in selection and a different mindset you need to look at centres who can not just do their job but also be good over the ball. Kinikinilau is good at this, Ionita is certainly one for the future and I am confident he'll improve greatly in next years. Centres are basically the easiest way to improve a back row. But then comes the problem, even if you can do all that, and it's not a given, you then need to find some decision makers at 9, 10 who can handle the expanded game. I think we should look at more options at 10. Fine, I get it that Howells don't like Manole but there's also Florea in Fed 1 who plays week in week out, I feel he deserve a chance. So is Conache but he needs time at fly-half at Timisoara.

 

[dragos03]

I think the squad selected for the Portugal match shows the intentions of Lynn Howells. The weakness of the forwards will basically force the Oaks to go against their instincts and play a wider game, it's great that a dedicated backs coach with a solid CV is now in charge.

Romanian backs are not as bad as everyone thinks. Every time they got the ball during the RWC, the backs actually did pretty well (for example at the end of the match against Italy). A backline with Rose, Kinikinilau, Lemnaru, Shennan and Fercu can do a lot of damage, especially if the foward pack will include some mobile players like Antonescu, Ilisescu, Motoc or Burcea. From the selected props, Pristavita, Tamba and Dico are all good runners. I also like the selection of young backs like Palii or Melniciuc.

A player who could have a big impact if selected is Timisoara's Tangimana Fonovai. I think he becomes eligible in a few months and he's basically a younger and stronger version of Kinikinilau.

 

[tommyc121]

i no this is two way talking point of view. but personally do you think its little dangerous foreigners taking over and get selected for national side i understand one or 2 3 but as you can see by france selection and world cup last year six nations they were poor made french team lot worst then has for years so. i mean that what i think but i understand why they get selected. just i think to many is little worrying.

 

[amz]

I think these players will be available this year for selection of course if they'd want to play for Oaks:

Stephen Ross Shennan (24 yo) - Timisoara Saracens - wing
Luke Samoa (27 yo) - CSM Baia Mare - fullback/flyhalf
Moyake Kuselo (28 yo) - CSM Baia Mare - flanker
Tangimana Fonovai (26 yo) - Timisoara Saracens - wing/center
Jack Umaga (32 yo) - Timisoara Saracens - fly-half/center
Jack Cobden (26 yo ) - CSM Bucuresti - wing/center

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i no this is two way talking point of view. but personally do you think its little dangerous foreigners taking over and get selected for national side i understand one or 2 3 but as you can see by france selection and world cup last year six nations they were poor made french team lot worst then has for years so. i mean that what i think but i understand why they get selected. just i think to many is little worrying.

French bad performance doesn't have anything to do with foreign players in national team or too many foreigners playing in TOP 14 but with management of the team which was bad.

 

[tommyc121]

i think in france they were thinking players werent good enough. this why coach has gone with more young french players for six nations