PORTUGAL v ROMANIA: WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A

01.02.2014

Venue: Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca


Image thanks to ‘4N’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4473

Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)

Preview
Romania has always struggled against Portugal even though on paper they have listed far stronger.This year Romania has brought one of its strongest sides in recent years for this game. Portugal will not only have to contend with extreme cold (-10 forecasted) but a very strong Romanian side.

Comments from FIRA-AER forum
”I've gotta say, this Romania team looks to be the strongest on paper than any other ENC team that are playing this weekend, especially their pack. Personally, I can't see the Oaks having any troubles against the Lobos.”
Powking

“We [Romania] always have troubles against the Lobos. They have a weak pack but they move the ball wide and they have fast players which we always have a hard time stopping.” iul86

“Portuguese chances were remote to begin with but no Bardy hurts big time.” 4N

“Portugal has always been a tough opponent for us for some reason, we are the favorites but this will not be easy. I like our team, not sure if Lemnaru is fit enough to be a starter but gotta trust Howells on this one.” dragos03

“There's streaming for all games outside of Russia these days. I will try to post a direct link tomorrow, but this is a pretty good source for working ENC and 6N streams: http://lelostream.blog.com/” 4N

“You can also try the official TVR streaming, it's not supposed to work outside Romania but sometimes it does:
http://www.tvrplus.ro//live-tvr-1” dragos03

Previous Encounters
02.02.2013 Romania 19-13 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1A)
04.02.2012 Romania 15-7 in Bucharest (ENC 1A)
05.02.2011 Portugal 24-17 in Lisbon (ENC 1A)
20.03.2010 Romania 20-9 in Lisbon (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)
21.03.2009 Portugal 22-21 in Bucharest (WCQ Europe R5; ENC 1)

GWC Rugby Rankings 
World Table: Romania 16th, Portugal 20th
Europe Table: Romania 8th, Portugal 16th

IRB Ranking Points
Romania 67.47, Portugal 59.37

Prediction: Romania by 11 points

Teams

15		Catalin Fercu	RCM Timisoara
14		Madalin Lemnaru	RCM Timisoara
13		Csaba Gal	CSM Baia Mare
12		Florin Vlaicu	RCJ Farul Constanta
11		Ionut Dumitru	Steaua Bucuresti
10		Valentin Calafeteanu	RCM Timisoara
9		Florin Surugiu	CSM Bucaresti
8		Stelian Burcea	RCM Timisoara
7		Mihai Macovei (Capt.)	Sporting Nazairien, France
6		Viorel Lucaci	Steaua Bucharesti
5		Valentin Poparlan	RCM Timisoara
4		Marius Sirbe	Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby, France
3		Paulica Ion	USA  Perpignan, France
2		Andrei Radoi	Ealing RFC, England
1		Mihaita Lazar	Castres Olympique, France
16		Eugen Capatana	RCM Timisoara
17		Andrei Ursache	US Carcassonne, France
18		Horatiu Pungea	Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
19		Cristian Munteanu	U S Romans et Peageoise, France
20		Alexandru Mitu	CSM Bucaresti
21		Dorin Manole	US Orthez, France
22		Florin Ionita	Steaua Bucharesti
23		Cristian Dinis-Vartic	CSM Baia Mare
		HEAD COACH: Lyn Howells

Portugal

15		Antonio Aguilar	GD Direito
14		Gonçalo Foro	CD University Lisboa
13		Pedro Bettencourt Avila	CD Universitário do Porto
12		Jose Lima	RC Narbonne Méditérranée, France
11		Carl Murray	CD University Lisboa
10		Diogo Miranda	CF "Os Belenenses"
9		Francisco Pinto Malgahaes	CD University Lisboa
8		Jacques Le Roux	Coventry RFC, England
7		Aurelien Beco	US Colomiers, France
6		Vasco Uva	GD Direito
5		Gonçalo Uva	RC Narbonne Méditérranée, France
4		Eric dos Santos	Biarritz Olympique, France
3		Anthony Martins	U S A Limoges, France
2		João Correia (Capt.)	GD Direito
1		Francisco Fernandes	AS Béziers Hérault
16		Jorge Segurado	GD Direito
17		Michael Tadjer Barbosa	RC Massy, France
18		Bruno Rocha	Aeistecnico
19		Fernando Almeida	AEIS Agronomia
20		Rui D’Orey	GD Direito
21		Luis Salema	GD Direito
22		Emmanuel Rebelo	Stade Dijon Cote D Or, France
23		Francisco Appleton	CD University Lisboa
		HEAD COACH: Errol Brain