Test Match Preview – Brazil vs Romania

An exciting fixture sees a rugby test match between Brazil and Romania for the first time in South America on Saturday. Both countries have aspirations of appearing in RWC 2023, and their match in Jundiaí is to be an early indicator of their respective tasks as the RWC 2015-2019 cycle concludes.

Brazil have named their strongest line-up since the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC). Returning are top players Moisés Duque, and Felipe Sancery. They are straight back into the starting line-up and will play alongside one-another in the mid-field.

Their return means that de Wet van Niekerk moves from inside center to the right wing with Lucas Tranquez dropping out. It is unfortunate for Tranquez who was used out of position at fly half in the recent Sudamérica 6 Naciones A.

Moisés Duque will play inside center with Felipe Sancery outside him. Joining Tranquez in missing out on facing Romania is Lorenzo Massari who makes way for Felipe Sancery.

Brazil were competitive against Spain last weekend while Romania were given a minor scare by Chile. This has not seen many changes and the Oaks alterations are similar to those made by Brazil.

The Eastern Europeans have gone for three changes. At fly half Daniel Plau will start in place of Tudor Boldor; Ionut Muresan replaces Johan can Heerden in the engine room; while Ovidiu Cojocaru comes in for Eugen Capatana at hooker.

The match will be historic as it will mark Romania’s first ever appearance in Brazil for a test match. The countries have played one prior match with Romania completing a comprehensive 56-5 home victory in 2017.

Brazil will do very well to come away with a similar scoreline as that from last weekend against Spain. Los Leones did not play well yet won by six points. Added to this is that Romania are a superior side to that of Spain. The Europeans go into the game as favorites to win by 25 points.

 

TEAMS

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Matteo Dell’Acqua, 5 Luiz Vieira, 6 Cléber Dias, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery (capt.), 14 de Wet van Niekerk, 15 Daniel Sancery

Replacements: 16 Yan Rosetti, 17 João Talamini, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Lucas Piero, 21 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 22 Moisés Duque, 23 Robert Tenório

ROMANIA

1 Alexandru Savin, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 3 Alexandru Gordas, 4 Ionut Muresan, 5 Marius Antonescu, 6 Mihai Macovei (capt.), 7 Adrian Ion, 8 Cristi Chirica, 9 Florin Surugiu, 10 Daniel Plau, 11 Nicolas Onutu, 12 Florin Vlaicu, 13 Taylor Gontineac, 14 Mihai Lamboiu, 15 Dorin Manole

Replacements: 16 Constantin Pristavita, 17 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 18 Cosmin Manole, 19 Ionut Muresan, 20 Marius Iftimicuic, 21 Gabriel Rupanu, 22 Tudor Boldor, 23 Robert Neagu

Date: Saturday June 15
Kick-Off: 7:30pm (Local)
Venue: Estádio Jayme Cintra, Jundiaí
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)