ROMANIA v BELGIUM World Cup Qualifier Europe R5; ENC 1A

09.03.2012

Lots of free plugs here, not intended.

Venue:The Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels

Top rugby in Brussels. Racing Metro v Saracens, October 2012.
Image thanks to www.xpats.com

Referee: Andrew Ireland (Scotland)

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	BT	BL	PT
GEORGIA	3	3	0	0	65	34	31	0	0	12
ROMANIA	3	3	0	0	73	42	31	0	0	12
PORTUGAL	3	1	0	2	43	56	-13	0	1	5
BELGIUM	3	0	1	2	46	56	-10	0	1	4
RUSSIA	3	1	0	2	36	61	-25	0	0	4
SPAIN	3	0	1	2	45	59	-14	0	1	3

Preview
There is very little rugby history between these two European nations. Only one full rugby test match has ever been played between these two teams and that was 16 years ago. Today they square off due to the recent and rapid improvement of Belgian rugby.

The clash all followers of this level of test rugby are eagerly waiting is the Georgia-Romania clash. If both Georgia and Romania remain undefeated after this round then next weekend’s final round match will be a cracker. In the mean time Romania has to see off a Belgian side that has not been outclassed this season. At home I expect Belgium to be a very difficult nut to crack.

Previous Encounters
04.10.1997 Romania 83-15 in Brussels (ECQ Europe, Pool 2, Rnd B)
20.04.1996 Romania ‘A’ 83-5 in Bucharest (FIRA A2)

Belgium Last Five P 5, W 2, D 1, L 2 
23.02.2013 v Portugal L 12-18 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1B)
09.02.2013 v Spain D 21-21 in Brussels (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1B)
02.02.2013 v Georgia L 13-17 in Brussels (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1B)
08.12.2012 v United Arab Emirates W 94-3 in Dubai (Emirates Cup of Nations)
14.12.2012 v Hong Kong W 24-12 in Dubai (Emirates Cup of Nations)

Romania Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
23.02.2013 v Spain W 25-15 in Gijon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
09.02.2013 v Russia W 29-14 in Bucharest (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
02.02.2013 v Portugal W 19-13 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
24.11.2012 v United States L 3-34 in Bucharest
16.11.2012 v Japan L 23-24 in Bucharest

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Romania 16th, Belgium 23rd
Europe Table-Romania 8th, Belgium 15th

IRB Ranking Points
Romania 64.94, Belgium 59.63

Prediction: Romania by 8 points

TEAMS

Romania

15		Catalin Fercu	RCM Timisoara
14		Adrian Apostol	RC Farul Constanța
13		Robert Dascalu	Steaua Bucharesti
12		Florin Vlaicu	Steaua Bucharesti
11		Dorin Manole	US Orthez, France
10		Ionut Dimofte	Stade Rouen, France
9		Florin Surugiu	CSM Bucaresti
8		Daniel Carpo	RCM Timisoara
7		Mihai Macovei (Capt.)	Sporting Nazairien, France
6		Viorel Lucaci	Steaua Bucharesti
5		Marius Sirbe	Tarbes, France
4		Valentin Ursache	Oyonnax, France
3		Paulica Ion	London Welsh, England
2		Andrei Radoi	CSM Baia Mare
1		Mihai Lazar	Castres, France
16		Eugen Capatana	RCM Timisoara
17		Petru Tamba	Cardiff Blues, Wales
18		Horatiu Pungea	RCM Timisoara
19		Alin Coste	Bourg-en-Bresse, France
20		Alexandru Mitu	CSM Bucaresti
21		Ciprian Caplescu	Dinamo Bucaresti
22		Csaba Gal	CSM Baia Mare
23		Ionut Niacsu	CSM Baia Mare
		HEAD COACH: Lyn Howells

Belgium

15		Alan Williams	Montluçon, France
14		Fred Rongé	Kituro
13		Guillaume Piron	Montpellier, France
12		Guillaume Brébant	Boitsfort
11		Eliott Van Trappen	Boitsfort
10		Carlos Fierro	Nice, France
9		Julien Berger	Stade Rochelais, France
8		Thomas De Molder	Lyon U21, France
7		Andrew Neill	Tournefeuille, France
6		Mika De Molder	Boitsfort
5		Cyril Nana	Anderlecht
4		Bertrand Billi	Soignies
3		Alain Miriallakis	Boitsfort
2		Raphaël Olive	Périgueux, France
1		Norman Wende	La Voulte, France
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
		HEAD COACH: Richard McClintock

Belgium has named 11 replacements to be trimmed to 8 before the match, due to fitness uncertainty

Remplaçants (11, en raison de joueurs incertains) : Alexis Cuffolo (Carcassonne), Sep Debacker (Boitsfort), Maxime Jadot (Pau), Bastian Vermeylen (Boitsfort), Julien Hanchir (St Affrique), Denis Eppe (Boitsfort), Julien Morelli (Bastia), Corentin Lecloux (Boitsfort), Sébastien Guns (Boitsfort), Kevin Dams (Boitsfort), Thibaut André (Soignies)

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