Romania travel with weakened squad

Not unexpectedly, Romania's squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Ireland and Georgia has been hit by the failure to obtain the release of several of their French-based players - with their front five being their biggest casualty.

The most notable absentee is their experienced lock and customary captain, Tiberu Brinza of Narbonne. Other front-line players missing are his Narbonne team-mate, prop Gabriel Vlad, the hooker Marac Radoi of Olympique Lyon (who are coached by Murray Kidd), the 10-time capped Brive lock Sarin Socol, Auch's Sandu Ciorascu. Out-half Ionut Tofan is also missing.

Due to the cash-strapped nature of the Romanian domestic game, French clubs are now home to over 100 of their players. Although, for public consumption, the French clubs agreed to release their players, word has it that privately they warned their players that losing them for three weeks might have long-term consequences.

Whatever, Romania are clearly going to be some way short of full-strength.

Romania play Georgia at Lansdowne Road next Wednesday. Before that, Ireland play host to Georgia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and Romania a week later, on November 21st, both of which, due to the consternation of the commentators and analysts, will be televised live on RTE.

The IRFU are providing a group package of £25 for tickets to all three games, with other special deals for groups of children accompanied by adults. The union's ticket telephone line is 6684601.

Romania (Squad): Forwards - C Stan (Dinamo Bucharest, 20 caps), S Mocanu (Steaua Bucharest, 3), F Marioara (Dinamo Buch, 2), D Niculae (Aurillacois, 9), P Balan (Dinamo Buch, 4), R Mavrodin (Steau Buch 2), M Dragomir (Steau Buch 4), V Doja (Dinamo Buch 0), O Slusariuc (Dinamo Buch 21), C Draguceanu (Steau Buch, 23), A Manta (Aurillacois, 2), A Girbu (US Oyonnax, 14), F Corodeanu (Steau Buch, 4), E Septar (Farul Constanta, 6).

Backs - C Dragnea (Stinta Petrosani, 3), P Mitu (Steau Buch, 8), R Vusec (RC Strasbourg, 0), M Ciolacu (Farul Constanta, 1), R Gontineac (Aurillacois, 18), G Brezoianu (Univ Timisoara, 5), C Lupu (Dinamo Buch, 1), G Solomie (Aurellacois, 28), R Fugigi (CSM Sibiu, 6), C Hildan (Dinamo Buch, 3), M Vireanu (Univ Timisoara, 4), V Maftei (Univ Cluj, 6).

Georgia (Squad): Forwards - M Mtiulishvili (Revel, 12 caps), I Tchikava (Kochebi, 9), A Giorgadze (Air SD, 4), L Javelidze (Gumari, 1), L Tsabadze (Narbonne, 11), G Chvelidze (SKA, 0), G Ruskin (Toulouse, 11), V Nadiradze (La Teste, 2), Z Mtchedlichvili (Millau, 7), I Zedgenidze (Mauguio, 1), Z Lejava (Aurillac, 10), A Kobaxidze (Corebi, 7), G Labadze (Prenza, 9), K Kobakhidze (Kochebi, 7).

Backs - C Djanlidze (Gumari, 7), I Giorkhelidze (Kochebi, 0), E Dzagnidze (Datvebi, 5), B Tefnadze (Kochebi, 3), A Kavtarachvili (Padova, 11), G Bugianachvili (Gumari, 5), V Katsadze (Mauguio, 4), P Gimcheladze (Gumari, 10), B Khamasuridze (AIA, 3), M Urdjukachvili (Toulouse, 4), V Abachidze (Gumari, 2), K Matchitidze (Kochebi, 16).