WORLD CUP TEST RUGBY: Romania and Uruguay Fight out Last Spot

13.11.2010
Romania v Uruguay in Montevideo (WCQ Repechage Final, 1st leg)

Venue: Estadio Charrúa

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)

More successful days for Romania, v Georgia 2006. Image thanks to http://www.foto-magazin.ro/weblogap/archives/2006/10/

Preview
The final spot at the 2011 Rugby World Cup is up for grabs. Romania and Uruguay, who have both been at Rugby World Cup Finals will start the contest for the last place Saturday. Played over two legs, the first is in Montevideo. The second will be in Bucharest in two weeks time. The team with the best aggregate tally will go to New Zealand.

Uruguay has, like Romania, worn a weary path to this position. The journey began in April-May last year with a playoff against Brazil and Chile. Uruguay passed these easily enough and then faced the USA in a Round Two playoff. The winner would go direct to The World Cup Final. USA won both matches thus pushing Uruguay further away from the finals. The next stage was a one off repechage playoff against the second Asian team Kazakhstan. Uruguay won this easily in Montevideo 44-7. Now they face Romania.

The Romanians have had a worrying time trying to qualify for the Finals. Firstly Georgia and Russia pushed them into 3rd place in the 2008-10 European Nations Cup Competition. This meant a playoff against Ukraine, which Romania won easily followed by a one-off playoff against Tunisia (Africa 2) in Romania, also won easily. So now to Uruguay for the last playoff.

Uruguay has a useful enough team. It includes the return of Matias Arocena to the pivot position plus a small number of Argentina or France-based players. Compared to their opponents they look decidedly under strength.

Romania has called upon a number of experienced campaigners for this test match. They have a strong bench, especially forward, and I suspect they will attempt to out muscle the South Americans. A win away would give the Romanians a great advantage for the return test at home. The 'Oaks' have trained in Buenos Aires for a week prior to moving to Montevideo.

Previous Encounters
12.06.2009 Romania 17-11 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)
11.06.2008 Romania 10-6 in Bucharest (IRB Nations Cup)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Romania 19th, Uruguay 22nd

IRB Rankings
Romania 65.10 (19th), Uruguay 61.38 (21st)

Prediction: Romania by 8 points

Teams

Romania
15. Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucaresti)
14. Catalin Fercu (Arad)
13. Csaba Gal (Baia Mare)
12. Ionut Dimofte (Baia Mare)
11. Madalin Lemnaru (Arad)
10. Danut Dumbrava (Steaua Bucaresti)
9. Lucian Sirbu (Millau, France))
8. Alexandru Manta (Lyon, France)
7. Ovidiu Tonita (Perpignan, France)
6. Stelian Burcea (Arad)
5. Valentin Ursache (Baia Mare)
4. Sorin Socol, Capt. (Lourdes, France)
3. Dragos Dima (Blagnac, France)
2. Marius Tincu (Perpignan, France)
1. Bogdan Balan (Lyon, France)
Replacements
16. Cezar Popescu (Macon, France)
17. Andrei Radoi (Baia Mare)
18. Mihai Lazar (Aix En Provence, France)
19. Petre Cristian (Saint Etienne, France)
20. Daniel Carpo (Farul Constanta)
21. Valentin Calafeteanu (Arad)
22. Iulian Dumitras (Lourdes, France)
Head Coach: Steve McDowall

http://www.rugby.ro/articol/cei-xv-stejari-cu-care-romania-intra-maine-in-teren-pentru-meciul-cu-uruguay-15316/

Uruguay
15. Ivo Dugonjic (Pucarú-Stade Galuois)
14. Leandro Leivas (Old Christians)
13. Martín Crosa (Old Boys)
12. Juan De Freitas (Champagnat)
11. Gastón Mieres (Los Lobos Rugby)
10. Matias Arocena (Old Christians)
9. Manuel Martínez (Old Christians)
8. Santiago Vilaseca (Old Boys)
7. Nicolás Brignoni (Oyonnax, France)
6. Mathias Braun (Pucarú-Stade Galuois)
5. Diego Magno (Montevideo Cricket Club)
4. Matías Fonseca (Los Cuervos)
3. Mario Sagario (Dax, France)
2. Carlos Arboleya, Capt. (Trébol Rugby)
1. Alejo Corral (San Isidro, Argentina)
Replacements
16. Juan Pedro Rombys (Trébol Rugby)
17. Martin Espiga (Old Christians)
18. Pablo Lemoine (Valence D’Agen, France)
19. Juan Ignacio Tabarez (Belgrano, Argentina)
20. Juan Manuel Gaminara (Old Boys)
21. Emiliano Caffera (Champagnat)
22. Nicolas Morales (Trébol Rugby)
Head Coach: Gonzalo Camardón

http://www.uru.org.uy/noticias/603/la_c ... el_partido

Missing from 22 v Kazakhstan in July
Alfredo Giuria (Los Cuervos)
Edgardo Benítez (Trébol Rugby)
Juan Carlos Bado (Valence D’Agen, France)
Juan Pablo Horta (Old Christians)
Juan Martin Llovet (Old Christians)
Santiago Gortari (Old Boys)
Also, no Rodrigo Carpo who plays in France