Romania dance on the pitch after stunning Canada with late fightback
After Romania defeated Canada 17-15 at the World Cup after rallying from a 15-0 deficit, coach Lynn Howells
promised to give his team a beer as a treat. The win marks Romania’s first of the competition, and if they place third
in Pool D, they will automatically qualify for the 2019 tournament in Japan.
In order to accomplish this, the Oaks must defeat Italy on Sunday at Sandy Park in Exeter, just five days after
rallying against Canada to win their first World Cup since 2007.
“They’ve earned the right for a beer,” Howells said. “There’s a limit. They’ll have a beer but it won’t be to a great
extent. It’ll be in the team room and we’ll have control over them.”
The players could be forgiven for struggling to contain their celebrations after a pulsating contest at Leicester City
Stadium, which was settled by Romania’s Florin Vlaicu kicking a penalty three minutes from time.
Canada had looked on course for victory after tries from DTH van der Merwe and Jeff Hassler gave them a
commanding lead in the second half.
Mihai Macovei scored two tries, though, bringing Romania within one point of their rivals before Vlaicu maintained
composure to triumph in spectacular fashion.
“Did I believe it was finished? “No,” Howells responded, “and I say that for one reason.” “We stated that we would
have an opportunity to play the way we desired provided we were inside 14 points heading into the last 20 minutes. I
believe you witnessed that. In the last 20 minutes, Canada’s wide game began to falter, which allowed us to play the
way Romania wants to play. I never gave up.
With an additional two days to recover, Italy will be the clear favourite to win the last match, but Romania will be
confident because they focused on these last two games.
“We’re going to play the final now that we won the semi-final,” Howells stated. Anything is possible in rugby, so
there is still a chance. The players know they are playing a top-tier team against Italy, so they need to step up their
game.
“It gives us the opportunity to get two wins and qualify automatically for Japan,” Howells continued. That is
something Romania has never experienced.
For the first time in its history, Canada has finished a World Cup campaign with four losses.
Kieran Crowley’s side took a losing bonus point from a brave performance against Italy last month but they
crumbled under pressure in the second half against a physical Romanian side.
“The guys are extremely disappointed after working so hard,” Canada’s captain, Jamie Cudmore, said.
“We came up second best against a team who I thought we were better than. The boys are extremely disappointed
and I’m just as gutted as they are.”
Manager Gareth Rees added: “”To echo Jamie’s comments, it is totally unacceptable to finish a campaign with that
performance, for 30 minutes, and to finish a game like that.
“I would like to apologise on behalf of the players that we let those people down. That’s the way it is, that’s
international rugby, we didn’t play well for a patch.” Romania’s win also had an emotional element to it after captain
Macovei said the mother of forwards coach Marius Tincu had passed away this week.
“We want to thank Marius Tincu because his mother died three days ago and he decided to stay with the team,”
Macovei added. “All of us had our thoughts and hearts with him.”.
There was no time left for a dejected Canada to respond as Romania players poured on to the pitch to celebrate a
superb victory.
Canada Jones (Pritchard 74); Hassler, Hearn, Blevins (Trainor 49), Van der Merwe; Hirayama, McRorie (Mack 49);
Buydens (Sears-Duru 45), Barkwill, Wooldridge (Ilnicki 67), Beukeboom, Cudmore, Sinclair, Moonlight (Dala 63),
Carpenter.Sin-bin Sinclair 73. Tries Van der Merwe, Hassler. Con Hirayama. Pens McRorie.
Romania Fercu; Lemnaru, Kinikinilau, Vlaicu, Botezatu; Wiringi (Gal 51), Surugiu (Calafeteanu 22); Lazar (Tarus
74), Turashvili (Radoi 65), Ion (A Ursache 45), Popirlan, Van Heerden, V Ursache, Lucaci (Carpo 77), Macovei. Sin-
bin Fercu 20. Tries Macovei 2. Cons Vlaicu 2. Pen Vlaicu.
Attendance 27,153 Referee Wayne Barnes (Eng).
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