July 2024 Tests: Canada vs Romania – ARN Guide

An enticing battle will take place in Ottawa on Friday. Canada play host to Romania in the ninth rugby test match between the countries. It is two of the traditional teams of the sport; both featured at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and have played in all but one tournament ever since.

Romania enter the match on the back of an upset win over the USA. The Stejarii (Oaks) were 22-20 winners over an inaccurate USA Eagles in Chicago. The Eastern Europeans now prepare to face Canada, a team that was put to the sword by Scotland this past weekend.

The first two test matches between Canada and Romania were at Rugby World Cup. Romania won 19-11 in 1991 and 26-3 in 1995. Canada has not tasted victory against Romania in the six test matches since. Romania has won some close battles during this period including by margins of only point on one occasion and two points on two others.

The most recent match between Canada and Romania was in 2018. Romania were impressive 25-8 winners over the Canucks in Edmonton, Alberta. The result is Romania’s biggest ever win over Canada. It was also the first time that the teams played a test match against each other in Canada.

STARTING LINE-UP CHANGES

12 Talon McMullin replaces Mitch Richardson (No13 vs Scotland)

identical starting XV

NOTES

• Kingsley Jones has named an unchanged Canadian pack, with the only alteration to the run-on side in the backs… Talon McMullin, who debuted against Scotland, earns his first start at inside center
• four uncapped players are on the Canadian bench… Dallas Jackals hooker Dewald Kotze, Old Glory prop Cali Martinez, Free Jacks flanker Ethan Fryer, and Pacific Pride flyhalf Mark Balaski
• 11 starting Canadian players play Major League Rugby, with another 5 on the bench
• David Gérard has backed the same group of players that beat the USA… the only change in the 23 is on the bench, where uncapped winger Corrado Stetco takes the place of concussed loose forward Kamil Sobota… Fonovai Tangimana, normally a center, provides emergency flanker cover
• the Oaks have defeated Canada in six consecutive tests, with their most recent meeting in Edmonton seven years ago… the Maple Leafs last beat Romania at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa
• Tevita Manumua wears the No11 shirt again for the Oaks, but it was on the right wing where the 116kg (255lbs) powerhouse terrorized the Eagles with captain Marius Simionescu lining up on the left

PREDICTION

A significantly smaller crowd is expected this week which diminishes home advantage somewhat. The Oaks have already proven their ability to win on Canadian soil, however, and are up against a Maple Leafs side that is well short of momentum and star power. While they weren’t world-beaters against the USA, the Oaks were combative up front and in Alin Conache they have a talented goal kicker whose profile is on the rise. Romania are favorites by 10 points on the road.

LINE-UPS

CANADA
1 Liam Murray, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Conor Young, 4 Conor Keys, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Talon McMullin, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Cooper Coats

Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze, 17 Cali Martinez, 18 Cole Keith, 19 James Stockwood, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Mark Balaski, 23 Takoda McMullin

ROMANIA
1 Iulian Hartig, 2 Ștefan Buruiana, 3 Vasile Balan, 4 Yanis Horvat, 5 Andrei Mahu, 6 Vlad Neculau, 7 Dragos Ser, 8 Nicolaas Immelman, 9 Alin Conache, 10 Hinckley Vaovasa, 11 Tevita Manumua, 12 Jason Tomane, 13 Mihai Graure, 14 Marius Simionescu (capt.), 15 Paul Popoaia

Replacements: 16 Rob Irimescu, 17 Alexandru Savin, 18 Cosmin Manole, 19 Marius Iftimiciuc, 20 Fonovai Tangimana, 21 Gabriel Rupanu, 22 Corrado Stetco, 23 Daniel Plai

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Friday, July 12
Venue: TD Place Stadium, Ottawa
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 02:00 Saturday Romania)
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy. 28 Celsius. Wind SW 11 km/h
Broadcasts: TSN2

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Luke Rogan (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (8): Romania 6, Canada 2, STREAK Romania +6
2017-06-17 – Canada 9, Romania 25 (Edmonton, CA)
2016-11-19 – Romania 21, Canada 16 (Bucharest, RO)
2015-10-06 – Romania 17, Canada 15 (Leicester, UK)
2014-11-22 – Romania 18, Canada 9 (Bucharest, RO)
2013-11-16 – Romania 21, Canada 20 (Bucharest, RO)
2005-11-19 – Romania 22, Canada 20 (Bucharest, RO)
1995-05-26 – Canada 34, Romania 3 (Port Elizabeth, SA)
1991-10-09 – Canada 19, Romania 11 (Toulouse, FR)