Rugby Test: Romania In Italy

13.11.2009
Romania v Italy 'A' in Piacenza

Venue: Stadio Beltrametti

Referee:

Preview
Romania's last test match was also against Italy 'A' in Bucharest, playing for the IRB Nations Cup. Italy 'A' won 24-19 in a close game.

Romania will take the opportunity to prepare for their vital ENC 1 and World Cup qualifying games in February-March. There are a number of experienced France-based players selected. This continues the trend to rely again of these experienced players and ending the era of including only local players. That experiment didn't work and has almost cost the Romanians a place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup finals. They will need to win all their ENC 1 second round games.

Romanians training in Italy. Image thanks to www.rugby.ro

The Italians have included a number of players with test experience. The performance of the 'A' side is crucial in building up Italy's reserve players so they can step into top team positions if needed during the 6 Nations tournament in February and March next year.

Previous Encounters
21.06.2009 Italy 'A' 24-19 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
10.06.2007 Romania 19-8 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

Romania lost to the full Italian side 18-24 at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In 2004 Romania defeated the full Italian side 25-24 in Bucharest.

GWC Rugby Rankings do not apply

Prediction: A close game. Romania by 2 points

Teams

Italy A
15 Paolo Buso (Futura Park Rugby Roma), 1 test cap for Italy
14 Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton Treviso)
13 Roberto Quartaroli (Rugby Parma 1931), 3
12 Andrea Pratichetti (Femi-CZ Rovigo)
11 Michele Sepe (MPS Viadana), 2
10 Riccardo Bocchino (Femi-CZ Rovigo)
9 Fabio Semenzato (Benetton Treviso)
8 Manoa Vosawai (Rugby Parma), 5
7 Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova), 1
6 Francesco Minto (Rugby Parma 1931)
5 Valerio Bernabo, Capt. (Futura Park Rugby Roma), 13
4 Antonio Pavanello (Benetton Treviso), 3
3 Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso), 1
2 Davide Giazzon (Rugby Parma 1931)
1 Michele Rizzo (Benetton Treviso), 2
Replacements
16 Tommaso D’Apice (Futura Park Rugby Roma)
17 Massimiliano Ravalle (Femi-CZ Rovigo)
18 Plinio Sciamanna (MPS Viadana)
19 Mantvydas Tveraga (Rugby Parma 1931)
20 Tommaso Reato (Femi-CZ Rovigo), 9
21 Edoardo Gori (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato)
22 Enrico Patrizio (Petrarca Padova), 4
Head Coach: Gianluca Guidi

Thanks to ‘Quentin’ from http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3266, and to http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=678:nazionale-qaq-domani-a-piacenza-il-match-con-la-romania&catid=110:italia-a&Itemid=416 , but adapted.

Romania Squad
Ionuţ Botezatu (Baia Mare), Age 22
Stelian Burcea (Dinamo Bucaresti), 26
Teodor Buzatu (Baia Mare), 25
Valentin Calafeteanu (Dinamo Bucaresti), 24
George Cătună (Baia Mare), 20
Gal Csaba (Dinamo Bucaresti), 24
Robert Dascălu (Steaua Bucaresti), 25
Dragoş Dima (Oloron, France), 30
Iulian Dumitraş (Albi, France), 27
Dan Dumitru (Oyonnax, France), 27
Florin Eva (Baia Mare), 25
Cătălin Fercu (Arad Farul Constanta), 23
Silviu Florea (Montauban, France), 31
Paulică Ion (London Irish, England), 26
Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare), 23
Cristian Petre (Beziers, France), 29
Augustin Petrichei (Beziers, France), 29
Andrei Rădoi Baia Mare), 32
Vasile Rus (Steaua Bucaresti), 26
Lucian Sîrbu (Dinamo Bucaresti), 33
Marius Tincu (Perpignan, France), 30
Petrişor Toderaşc (Brive, France), 29
Ovidiu Toniţă (Perpignan, France), 29
Sergiu Ursache (Venezia, Italy), 21
Valentin Ursache (Baia Mare), 24
Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucaresti), 23

Head Coach: Serge Lairle

Thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3266, and http://www.frr.ro/video/nationala-romaniei/3312-Stejarii-pregtesc-Italia.html (adapted)