Lynn Howells, who was assistant coach to Wales under Graham Henry at the 1999 World Cup, has announced his 31-strong Romania squad for next month's Rugby World Cup.
The Romanians, in Ireland's pool, have drawn globally with four players, Kiwi playmaker Michael Wiringi, Tongan centre Paula Kinikilau, South African second-row Johannes van Heerden and Georgian-born prop Otar Turashvili, qualifying under the three-year residency rule.
Wiringi made his international debut in the first game of the World Rugby Nations Cup 2015 against Argentina Jaguars when he helped his side reclaim the title.
Howells explained: “We’ve not got any injuries so we’ve picked the 31 top players in Romania. The way we want to play has dictated selection more than anything else. Michael reads the game very well and is very instinctive and decisive in his decision-making which is what we need in order to develop our attacking game. He’s done really well since coming into the set-up.”
Celebrated number eight Ovidiu Tonita is set to play in his fourth Rugby World Cup after winning an international recall. Tonita, who turned 35 earlier this month, played at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 tournaments and was also a non-playing squad member for the Oaks' RWC 1999 campaign. The Aix-en-Provence forward played the last of his 70 tests in an 18-13 defeat to Japan in Bucharest back in November.
The Romania squad will face Tonga in a warm-up match on September 5th in Bucharest. Ranked 17th in the world, Romania are alongside France, Ireland, Canada and Italy in Pool D, with their first game of the tournament against France at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on September 23rd. They play Ireland in their second match.
Romania have never beaten any of their Pool D rivals in seven previous attempts at a Rugby World Cup. Howells admitted: “Our players won’t have experienced anything like that before. Playing in front of 80,000 spectators at the Olympic Stadium is something we want them to enjoy and embrace.”
This will be the eighth Rugby World Cup for the Oaks, who will be looking for their sixth tournament victory, the last of which came in 2007 against Portugal.
Romania RWC 2015 squad: Forwards: Paulica Ion, Mihaita Lazar, Andrei Ursache, Alexandru Tarus, Horatiu Pungea, Andrei Radoi, Otar Turashvili, Eugen Capatana, Valentin Popirlan, Johannes van Heerden, Marius Antonescu, Valentin Ursache, Mihai Macovei, Viorel Lucaci, Stelian Burcea, Ovidiu Tonita, Daniel Carpo. Backs: Florin Surugiu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Tudorel Bratu, Danut Dumbrava, Michael Wiringi, Paula Kinikilau, Florin Vlaicu, Csaba Gal, Adrian Apostol, Ionut Botezatu, Florin Ionita, Madalin Lemnaru, Catalin Fercu, Sabin Stratila.
