Romanian forwards trample Brazil

Brazil were given a brutal lesson in forward power on Saturday as Romania pulverised the South Americans by a score of 56-5 at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest. Eight tries were scored by the home side, all converted, while the visitors did at least manage to get one over the line.

There was neither surprise nor subtlety in the way Romania went about their business. The Oaks smashed ahead with their much larger forwards and dominated the set piece and tight phases. Within 10 minutes Andrei Gorcioaia had crossed twice, the first from a rolling maul and the second from sheer brute force.

Andrei Radoi was the next to score, the hooker diving over in the corner again from lineout drive. The next try came from a quick tap penalty off a scrum, with Mihai Macovei charging through the line to touch down. Radoi got his second before the break, and like a broken record it was the maul again that proved unstoppable from close range.

The second half started with more optimism. Both teams were reduced to 14 men after Marius Antonescu and João Luiz da Ros had been yellow carded just seconds before the halftime whistle, and the extra space allowed Brazil to use their superior speed and handling skills. The ball went wide and found André Arruda loitering on the wing and the loose forward barged his way through three defenders, somehow managing to stay in the field of play to touch down for a fine individual effort.

That would be the end for Brazil, however, and the final quarter of the match saw Romania score three more tries. Gorcioaia got his hat trick from a dominant scrum and then Radoi claimed his third at the bottom of a maul. The last would come as Paula Kinikinilau burst clean through the line to put Valentin Poparlan over for a long-range effort.

The two teams have now completed their June international schedule and return home to their clubs for the domestic season. For Brazil this has been a learning experience and a confirmation that stronger forwards will be required to move further up the World Rugby Rankings.

 

SCORING

ROMANIA 56
Tries – A. Gorcioaia 3 (4’, 10’, 57’), A. Radoi 3 (16’, 30’, 69’), M. Macovei (23’), V. Poparlan (78’)
Cons – L. Samoa 7/7 (5’, 11’, 17’, 24’, 31’, 58’, 70’), F. Vlaicu 1/1 (79’)
Yellow cards – M. Antonescu (40’)

BRAZIL 5
Tries – A. Arruda (45’)
Cons – M. Duque 0/1
Yellow cards – J. da Ros (40’)

 

TEAMS

ROMANIA
1 Ionel Badiu (17 Constantin Pristavita 46’), 2 Andrei Radoi (16 Ovidiu Cojocaru 72’), 3 Andrei Ursache (18 Alex Gordas 35’-72’), 4 Johan van Heerden (19 Valentin Poparlan 66’), 5 Marius Antonescu, 6 Andrei Gorcioaia, 7 Vlad Nistor, 8 Mihai Macovei (capt.) (20 Viorel Lucaci 70’), 9 Florin Surugiu (21 Tudorel Bratu 53’), 10 Luke Samoa (22 Florin Vlaicu 75’), 11 Jack Cobden (23 Ionut Dumitru 62’), 12 Sione Faka’osilea, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 14 Fonovai Tangimana, 15 Marius Simionescu

BRAZIL
1 Jonatas Paulo (17 Lucas Abud 35’), 2 Yan Rosetti (capt.) (16 Endy Willian 79′), 3 Pedro Bengaló (18 Matheus Rocha HT), 4 Cléber Dias, 5 Gabriel Paganini (19 Matheus Wolf 59’), 6 João Luiz da Ros (20 Nick Smith 70’), 7 Arthur Bergo (21 Matheus Daniel 59’), 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque (22 Robert Tenório 59’), 10 Josh Reeves, 11 De Wet van Niekerk, 12 Moisés Duque (23 Frederico Costa 79′), 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 15 Daniel Sancery