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Argentina face Romania in Bucharest on Saturday. The test match is the first for Los Pumas in 2021 and the first visit to Romania in 29 years. The countries have a long history; they first played each other in 1973. Yet, the number of test matches is small at eight.
Romania have played in all but one RWC. They qualified for RWC 2019 only to be disqualified for breaching player eligibility laws. Belgiumgate also saw consequences for Belgium and Spain. Ultimately, Russia took the place of Romania who had featured at all prior RWCs.
Romania is an important country for rugby. Prior to the fall of communism, the Stejarii (Oaks) were a force. Romania defeated France, Italy, Scotland, and Wales in the 1980s. The level dropped away thereafter but Romania did defeat Scotland in 1991.
A lot has changed in the subsequent thirty years. Italy and Georgia have overtaken Romania while matches against elite opposition are very rare. In short, Romania vs Argentina is a much welcomed fixture.
When the teams met at RWC 2011 Romania had eight players based in France. This continues to be the case; albeit, the players are not Top 14 names and few also remain in the Pro D2. Romania’s match-day 23 contains eight players based in France and fifteen in Romania.
Prop Alexandru Țăruș; Second-rower Adrian Moțoc; back-rower Mihai Macovei and center Taylor Gontineac play in the Pro D2. The others play in lower divisions.
The match marks the start of a new era; Julián Montoya will lead Los Pumas for the first time. He has the full support of former captain Pablo Matera and the entire roster. Former Jaguares captain Jerónimo de la Fuente will also start.
Ledesma’s line-up features nine changes from the most recent test match. Julián Montoya, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Emiliano Boffelli, Jerónimo De la Fuente, and Nicolás Sánchez are those retained from the draw against Australia in Sydney.
The team is global in terms of where players play. The team sheet contains players attached to teams from Argentina, Australia, England, France, Scotland, and Wales. Moreover, Matera will join the Crusaders for Super Rugby 2022 and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro has departed Bristol for Benetton.
Montoya will start alongside fellow UK-based players Facundo Gigena and Enrique Pieretto. Gigena’s prior representative duty has been for the Argentina XV meaning he is uncapped. Pieretto will play his first test since facing the USA at RWC 2019.
Tomás Lavanini also makes his test comeback. Hie last appearance saw him red carded as Argentina were eliminated by England at the World Cup. He will lock the scrum against Romania alongside Marcos Kremer. The formation enables Ledesma to start an additional flanker. It sees Francisco Gorrissen earning his first test start as well as the naming of two replacement back-rowers, Facundo Isa and the uncapped Juan Martín González.
In addition to Lavanini and Pieretto there is also a first test cap for another player since RWC 2019. Matías Moroni will start outside de la Fuente. Two backs are returning names from the RWC 2011 match between Argentina and Romania. Nicolás Sánchez and Juan Imhoff were replacements that day. They start on Saturday in Bucharest.
Following the naming of his team Mario Ledesma commented:
“Our challenge is to play better rugby, being humble. We need to build confidence and identity.”
Argentina are unbeaten against Romania. Their matches include two tests in the 1970s; none in the 1980s; four in the 1990s; one in the 2000s; and one in the 2010s. Their two most recent fixtures were pool matches at RWCs 2003 and 2011.
Los Pumas are heavily favored to win on Saturday. The roster is completed professional and consists of names from elite rugby clubs from around the world. Romania’s side consists of local SuperLiga players. ARN projects an Argentine win by 45 points.
ROMANIA
1 Alexandru Savin (CSA Steaua) 2 Eugen Căpățînă (SCM Timișoara), 3 Alexandru Țăruș (Rouen, FR), 4 Florian Roșu (CSM Știința Baia Mare), 5 Adrian Moțoc (Stade Aurillacois, FR), 6 Cristi Chirică (Sporting Club Appameen, FR), 7 Cristi Boboc (ACS Tomitanii), 8. Andre Gorin (Hyères-Carqueiranne-La Crau, FR – capt.), 9 Gabriel Rupanu (SCM Timișoara), 10 Daniel Plai (CSA Steaua), 11 Nicolas Onuțu (CS Vienne, FR), 12 Alexandru Bucur (CSM Știința Baia Mare), 13 Taylor Gontineac (Rouen, FR), 14 Ionuț Dumitru (CSA Steaua), 15 Ionel Melinte (SCM Timișoara)
Replacements: 16 Florin Bărdașu (CSA Steaua), 17 Ionel Badiu (Valence Romans, FR), 18 Vasile Bălan (CSA Steaua), 19 Marius Antonescu (Bourg en Bresse, FR), 20 Mihai Macovei (Colomiers, FR), 21 Vlad Neculau (SCM Timișoara), 22 Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua), 23 Robert Neagu (CSA Steaua)
ARGENTINA
1 Facundo Gigena (London Irish, UK), 2 Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers, UK – capt.), 3 Enrique Pieretto (Glasgow Warriors, UK), 4 Marcos Kremer (Stade Français, FR), 5 Tomás Lavanini (Clermont, FR), 6 Pablo Matera (Crusaders, NZ), 7 Francisco Gorrissen (Jaguares XV), 8 Rodrigo Bruni (Vannes, FR), 9 Tomás Cubelli (Biarritz, FR), 10 Nicolás Sánchez (Stade Français, FR), 11 Juan Imhoff (Racing 92, FR), 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan, FR), 13 Matías Moroni (Leicester Tigers, FR), 14 Bautista Delguy (Perpignan, FR), 15 Santiago Cordero (Bordeaux)
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch (La Rochelle, FR), 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Benetton, IT), 18 Santiago Medrano (Western Force, AU), 19 Facundo Isa (Toulon, FR), 20 Juan Martín González, (Jaguares XV) 21 Gonzalo Bertranou (Dragons, UK), 22 Domingo Miotti (Glasgow Warriors, UK), 23 Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse, FR)
Date: Saturday, July 03
Kick-Off: 9:00pm (Bucharest); 3:00pm (Buenos Aires)
Venue: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kickoff: 17:00 local (19:00 Central, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wales) & Adam Jones (Wales)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Broadcasts: ESPN
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2011-09-17 – Argentina 43, Romania 08 (Invercargill, New Zealand)
2003-10-22 – Argentina 50, Romania 03 (Sydney, Australia)
1998-08-08 – Argentina 68, Romania 22 (Rosario, Argentina)
1997-10-18 – Argentina 45, Romania 18 (Armagnac Bigoree, France)
1995-10-14 – Argentina 51, Romania 16 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
1992-10-31 – Romania 18, Argentina 21 (Bucharest, Romania)
1973-09-15 – Argentina 24, Romania 03 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
1973-08-09 – Argentina 15, Romania 09 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
OVERALL RESULTS
Argentina 8 Wins
Romania 0 Wins
