ROMANIA v GERMANY: REC 1A

14.03.2015

Venue: Heidelberg

Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)

Preview
Romania should have little difficulty defeating Germany Saturday. The Romanians will be smarting from their defeat by Russia two weeks ago and keen to remain close to Georgia at the top of the division.

Germany put in an impressive effort against Portugal away last weekend and could well be a handful for the Romanians early on in the match.

Other Previews
http://www.rugbyeurope.eu/article-737.htm

Previous Encounters
13.02.2010 Romania 67-5 in Constanta (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
14.02.2009 Romania 22-0 in Heidelberg (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
12.05.1994 Romania 60-6 in Bucharest (WCQ Europe)
27.03.1983 Romania 26-12 in Heidelberg (FIRA A)
04.04.1982 Romania 60-18 in Bucharest (FIRA A)

Germany and Romania have a long test rugby history. Their first encounter was 1936 when Germany won 37-9 in Hamburg.

Germany Last Five P 5, L 5 
28.02.2015 v Portugal L 3-8 in Lisbon (REC 1A)
14.02.2015 v Russia L 22-46 in Pforzheim (REC 1A)
07.02.2015 v Georgia L 8-64 in Tbilisi (REC 1A)
29.10.2014 v Namibia L 20-58 in Windhoek
24.05.2014 v Russia L 20-31 in Hamburg (WCQ Europe R5 Playoff)

Romania Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
28.02.2015 v Russia L 13-16 in Krasnodar (REC 1A)
14.02.2015 v Spain W 29-8 in Bucharest (REC 1A)
07.02.2015 v Portugal W 37-10 in Lisbon (REC 1A)
22.11.2014 v Canada W 18-9 in Bucharest
15.11.2014 v Japan L 13-18 in Bucharest

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Romania 17th, Germany 27th
Europe Table: Romania 9th, Germany 16th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Romania 67.03, Germany 54.87

Prediction: Romania by 21 points

TEAMS

Romania

1. Constantin Pristavita, 2. Andrei Radoi, 3. Paulica Ion, 4. Valentin Popirlan, 5. Marius Sirbe, 6. Viorel Lucaci, 7. Vlad Nistor, 8. Stelian Burcea, 9. Florin Surugiu, 10. Danut Dumbrava, 11. Ionut Botezatu, 12. Florin Vlaicu, 13. Csaba Gal, 14. Adrian Apostol, 15. Sabin Stratila

Rezerve: 16. Otar Turashvili, 17. Mihai Dico, 18. Alexandru Tarus, 19. Marius Antonescu, 20. Daniel Ianus, 21. Valentin Calafeteanu, 22. Robert Dascalu, 23. Dorin Manole

Head Coach: Lyn Howells

Test debut: Sabin Stratila

http://frr.ro/2015/03/12/sabin-stratila-isi-face-debutul-printre-stejari/

Germany Squad

Club affiliations First

Aberdeen Scotland (SCO): Matthias Schösser
CA St. Etienne (F): Chris Howells
Hannover 78: Phil Szczesny
Heidelberger RK: Sean Armstrong, Kehoma Brenner, Anjo Buckman, Samy Füchsel, Robert Hittel, Steffen Liebig, Pierre Mathurin, Robert Mohr, Hendrik van der Merwe, Clemens von Grumbkow, Arthur Zeiler
Heidelberger TV: Benedikt Scherrer
M-Three Rugby San Dona (I): Umberto Pilla
R.C. Strasbourg (F): Mika Tyumenev
San Isidro Club (ARG): Alan Kessen
SC Frankfurt 1880: Janis Läpple, Kieran Manawatu
SC Neuenheim: Sam Harris, Marten Strauch
Stourbridge RFC (ENG): Dale Garner
TV Pforzheim: Robert May, Carlos Soteras-Merz, Jeremy Te Huia, Timo Vollenkemper
USAP Perpignan (F): Tim Menzel

Head Coach: Kobus Potgieter