Romanian Rugby

[amz]

Yes, I do feel we do need 3-4 more experienced forwards. Ironically, missing Fercu, Surugiu, Lemnaru suddenly isn't such a big issue considering last matches. To me it looks like the final squad, I doubt more players will be added.

 

[dragos03]

Ironically, missing Fercu, Surugiu, Lemnaru suddenly isn't such a big issue considering last matches.

I disagree, all of their replacements are terrible defenders. A player like Botezatu can look good against the Germans but he will be badly exposed in Tbilissi. The Georgian backline isn't very effective but they do have a few strong runners.

 

[amz]

I am afraid that without Fercu we don't have many solutions now. Who to call at FB, Conache? Can't wait to see Luke Samoa in, will reduce our dependence on Fercu and will add depth to the other positions as he's an utility player.

 

[dragos03]

Well, there was also Stratila who's injured as well. I'd rather have Stratila start instead of Botezatu, at least he's a prospect player who can learn something from the experience. I don't rate Luke Samoa much either, he's quite old and yet untested against serious opposition. Another fullback option is Shennan (he did well for his club in the European games) but we're short of decent wingers anyway.

The problem with Botezatu is that Lemnaru and Surugiu (both good defenders) will be missing as well. That means that if a Georgian gets past Apostol or Calafeteanu, it's unlikely that he will be stopped by Botezau who is a poor tackler and had bad positioning. Nothing personal against him btw, he's a decent player at Superliga level and against weaker teams and I think he's a pretty nice guy as well (he saved someone's life last year).

And I know that Fercu also defended poorly during the RWC but that was against another level of opposition - 3 Tier 1 teams and Canada who also has some world-class backs.

 

[amz]

Stratila is injured as well; he would have been anyway better in attack and not as a defenders if he would have been available. Samoa is a solid defender and proved himself for Bucharest Wolves. Also in Super Liga he was man of the match on a number of occasions. He's 27 years old now which means he'll be around 31-32 in 2019 which means he'll be in his prime so his age is hardly an issue.

I do agree Surugiu is a better defender and he probably would have been helpful at Tbilisi but maybe we will see Bratu starting, who knows, he is a fairly good defender. I don't rate Lemnaru as a good tackler, unfortunately all our wingers except Dumitru and Sheenan have issues in defense. Maybe we will see a backthree like Dumitru, Sheenan and Apostol, this would be very interesting. However, I am more worried with depth in forwards, I feel that some better experienced players should be added to the squad (M.Lazar, Ursache brothers, Paulica, Macovei)

 

[dragos03]

Yeah, forwards are the biggest issue, I also hope at least a few of our players from France will join the squad.

 

[dragos03]

Romania - Germany 61-7 highlights:

 

[dragos03]

FRR President Harry Dumitras said that Italy, Scotland and France might play tests in Romania in the following years.

Full transfer list at Dinamo, as usual almost their entire squad was changed:

In:
Costin Neacșu (prop, Steaua)
Bogdan Neacșu (prop/hooker, Timișoara)
Samuel Cira (prop, Timișoara)
Cătălin Beca (hooker, CSM Bucuresti)
Aisake Aholahi Tuifaletahi (lock, Tonga, no info)
Laurențiu Melinte (flanker, CSM Bucuresti)
Eduard Ciaparii (scrum half, Timișoara)
Valentin Ivan (scrum half, CSM Bucuresti)
Ionuț Balaban (centre, CSS Bârlad - apparently a big prospect, selected in the training squad of the national team)
Cătălin Neacșu (centre, Steaua)
Simote Liueli (fly half/fullback, Tonga A, I think he was also capped at senior level)
Pascuale Bernardo (winger, Italy, ex-Cavalieri Prato, strange transfer)
Marius Lăcătuș (winger, Stejarul Buzău)

Out: Flavius Dobre, Teodor Borș, Damien Buffard, Iliuță Bratu, Ciprian Căplescu, Andrei Cristea, Ruslan Dorogan, Hausia Alfred, Iketau Tevita, Ion Nicolae, Eugene Janties, Cristian Mușat, Siotame Manu, Tănase Silviu.

Romania U18 squad for the European Championships:
Props: Costin Dumitru (CS Dinamo), Robert Babanau (ACS Tomitanii Constanta), Laurentiu Nica (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare), Iulian Hartig (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare)
Hookers: Sebastian Sarbu (Timisoara – Saracens), Adrian Tala (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare)
Locks: Mihai Dumitru (CT Dinicu Golescu), Vladut Anghel (CSS Barlad), Gabriel Valentin Lungu (CTTV Galati)
Backrow: Teodor Andrei (ACS Tomitanii Constanta), Andrei George Mitrea (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare), Dragos Ser (CSM Olimpia), Gabriel Ciorbac (LPS Constanta), Dragos Lucan (CT Dinicu Golescu), Andi Cristian Radu (CS Dinamo)
Scrumhalf: Emanuel Grigore ( CT Dinicu Golescu), Andrei Dinu (CS Dinamo),
Fly half: Luca Nichitean (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare), Alexandru Tudose (SCM Pitesti)
Centres: Codrin Bercu (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare), George Mitroi (CSO Pantelimon), Cosmin Iliuta (CSS Barlad)
Wingers: Ionut Dumitru Vatafu (LPS Constanta), Paul Herman (CSS2 CNE Baia Mare), Sebastian Ionescu (Timisoara Saracens)
Fullback: Marius Chiriac (CN Aurel Vlaicu)

 

[psychic duck]

FRR President Harry Dumitras said that Italy, Scotland and France might play tests in Romania in the following years.

Will very likely be another to add to his long track record of being totally wrong when it comes to predicting major tests for Romania.

 

[amz]

Will very likely be another to add to his long track record of being totally wrong when it comes to predicting major tests for Romania.

When did he predicted wrong? I don't remember.

 

[psychic duck]

When did he predicted wrong? I don't remember.

A match against Argentina, 'certain' Tier 1 test next November, chance to play France regularly etc

 

[amz]

- match vs Argentina was just internet folklore
- certain tier 1 test November , I really don't remember
- chance to play France regularly was just a possibility , he mentioned that.

 

[psychic duck]

- match vs Argentina was just internet folklore
- certain tier 1 test November , I really don't remember
- chance to play France regularly was just a possibility , he mentioned that.

The 'possibilities' he has mentioned rarely have come to pass. Lazar an Macovei may go their entire careers never playing a Tier 1 side outside a RWC.

 

[amz]

Don't you think WR have a contribution here?

 

[tommyc121]

this convo will always go on as outsider. i do think romania and georgia are ready for step up to six nation be good test for sure something to play in six nations. just feel itlay just going down road of no hope looked good against france after that be quite easy clubs in itlay poor to. seem situation in france team is totally out of pockets i did say here year go someone said down to bad managment rubbish clearly down to team who backs players from other countries look out sort dont understand what french national team of france is about how they want to play rugby. they been so poor both teams six nations. england will hammer them in there back yard i never thought i would say that. whilest that georgia romania fighting out for tier cup really just pointless there not getting anything out of it i see on this site people complain for chance i think time is now. all for this six nation and romania georgia to step up like to see relgation because clearly itlay have had chance gone down massivley. time for fresh pick maybe get itlay good to come down get confdence back. if i was minster rugby of romania and georgia i would pushing so hard for this. it can be done..

 

[dragos03]

Even if sources from the Uruguay union claim they will play a test in Bucharest in November, Harry Dumitras has only confirmed the matches against Fiji and Japan. He said the third opponent will be decided at the World Rugby congress in April. He also named the squads that will play in the Nations Cup in June: Romania, Argentina XV, Italy A, Uruguay, Namibia and a European team based on the WR ranking (Russia or Spain).

Romania 7s will meet for a training stage, it looks like a selection of youngsters aiming to build a team for the future:
Marius Simionescu (Timisoara)
Vladut Zaharia (Timisoara)
Catalin Neacsu (CS Dinamo)
Ionel Melinte (CSA Steaua)
Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)
Alexandru Porojan (CSA Steaua)
Cristian Chirica (CSM Baia Mare)
Alexandru Palii (CSM Baia Mare)
Alexandru Beldean (CSM Bucuresti)
George Croitoru (CSM Bucuresti)
Richard Plopeanu (CSM Bucuresti)
Florin Tandea (CSS Petrosani)
Remus Zaharescu (CSS Petrosani)
Vasile Paraschiv (CSU Cluj)
Ionut Balaban (RC Barlad/ Dinamo/ CNOT)
Cristi Boboc (RCM Galati/ CNOT)
Costel Manolache (RCM Galati/CNOT)

 

[dragos03]

The Romanian squad against Georgia has been announced and it's a crazy selection. I have always supported our coach but this time I think he makes a huge mistake. This is the weakest squad fielded by Romania for at least five years and it's weaker than the one used against Germany or Portugal. I'm all for experiments in this year's ENC but not so many at the same time when the Georgians called up all of their top players. Is Tbilissi really the place to put a 21-year old debutant tighthead of the bench?

I guess that Howells wants to continue to play an open game, especially since the power of rolling mauls will be decreased this summer. Out back play did improve a lot this year but will it work tomorrow with 4 of our starting backs missing? We'll see. I don't mind losing this match but this squad is so weak that it could lose by a big margin and that would only fuel the Georgian propaganda that they are so much better than anyone else in the ENC. Of course, the people hyping them won't mention the strange selection of the Romanian team.

Here is the Oaks squad, just for fun I tried to rank the players used:
1. Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare) (3rd choice)
2. Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens) (3rd choice)
3. Paul Rusu (Stiinta Baia Mare) (5th choice)
4. Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens) (1st choice)
5. Johan Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare) (1st choice)
6. Stelian Burcea (Timisoara Saracens)(C) (2nd choice)
7. Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua Bucuresti) (1st choice)
8. Andrei Gorcioaia (Valence d’Agen) (3rd choice)
9. Valentin Calafeteanu (Timisoara Saracens) (2nd choice)
10. Jody Rose (Timisoara Saracens) (1st choice?)
11. Adrian Apostol (Stiinta Baia Mare) (2nd choice)
12. Florin Vlaicu (Calvisano) (1st choice)
13. Paula Kinikinilau (Timisoara Saracens) (1st choice)
14. Florin Ionita (Steaua Bucuresti) (2nd choice)
15. Ionut Botezatu (Stiinta Baia Mare) (3rd choice)

16. Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens) (1st/2nd choice)
17. Mihai Dico (Stiinta Baia Mare) (5th choice)
18. Cosmin Manole (CS Dinamo) (7th choice? hard to rank this guy)
19. Marius Antonescu (Tarbes) (2nd choice)
20. Vlad Nistor (Castres) (2nd choice)
21. Tudorel Bratu (Dinamo) (3rd choice)
22. Ovidiu Melniciuc (U Cluj) (3rd choice)
23.Marian Ispir (CSM Bucuresti) (? debutant)

Only 6 of the starters that won against Canada at the RWC will play tomorrow.

 

[Croket66]

Very surprising team... I expect an easy win for Georgia.

It seem that Fahiua, Okati and tongans from U23 team stay at CSM.
And the team signed Petre Neacsu from Steaua.
They can't win the league, but CSM can field a XV able to reach semi finals despite a weak front row...
Popovici - Tongia - Iacob ; Neacsu - Sobota ; Ion - Vasile - Mitu ; Fahiua - Statulescu ; Ispir - Beldean - Sola - Conache ; Okati
bench : Ailincai - Savin - Tooa - Mitroi - Taufui ; Croitoru - Lama - Plopeanu

 

[dragos03]

Yes, the CSM squad doesn't look that bad but as you say they have a weak front row. They have no depth either, as soon as a few players will get injured, they will be replaced by 19-year olds.

Timsioara, Baia Mare and Steaua will be in the semifinals but any of the other clubs has a chance for the 4th spot. My bet is on Dinamo.

 

[FrankHeaven]

How many of Georgia's France-based players will feature?