Match Preview – Romania vs Brazil

History will be made on Saturday when Romania plays host to Brazil. The Tier 2 vs Tier 3 fixture is to be the first ever between the countries. It has been brought about as a result of Brazil’s rapid rise in the Americas Rugby Championship.

For Romania it is the one-and-only home international this month. The Oaks returned home from a two-match tour to Japan and Canada, a tour in which they pushed the 2019 World Cup hosts and toppled the North Americans.

In preparing to face Brazil Romania added three players to the roster. Head Coach Lynn Howell called in the two-time-capped Timisoara lock Ionut Muresan and two uncapped players in Baia Mare hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru and Dinamo loosehead prop Bogdan Neascu.

None of the three will start against Os Tupis. Instead Howell has largely opted for continuity. At hooker veteran Andrei Radoi will earn his 64th cap. He replaces the suspended Otar Turashvili. Marius Antonescu replaces Valentin Poparlan and Andrei Gorcioaia starts in place of Viorel Lucaci at lock and flanker respectively.

In the backs Howell has moved Luke Samoa from fullback to fly half. This sees Marius Simionescu starting at the back. He made his debut last weekend against Canada. Elsewhere Jack Cobden comes in for Ionut Dumitru on the left wing.

Brazil did not play last week. The previously scheduled test match against Chile was called-off. This saw Os Tupis’ June Internationals reduced from three to two test matches. The previous match was on June 10 with Brazil stunning Portugal in São Paulo.

Twelve of the starters from São Paulo. The changes see  Pedro Bengaló taking over from Matheus Rocha at tighthead prop. In the back-row João Luis Da Ros starts at flanker with André Arruda moving to No 8.

In the backs both wingers have been changed. De Wet van Niekerk takes over on the left wing from Lucas Tranquez. On the other side Laurent Bourda-Couhet replaces Stefano Giantorno.

Brazil’s previous test matches against European opposition have come in the form of Germany and Portugal. Of them Portugal has appeared in one Rugby World Cup while Germany is yet to do so. Romania has played in every World Cup and has won matches against Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Portugal, USA and Zimbabwe.

In World Rankings Romania is 16th and Brazil is 29th. In other words, although the teams have never met before Romania enters the match as heavy favorites. With form, history and home advantage all favoring the Eastern Europeans Brazil will do well to be competitive.

ROMANIA
1 Ionel Badiu, 2 Andrei Radoi, 3 Andrei Ursache, 4 Johan van Heerden, 5 Marius Antonescu, 6 Andrei Gorcioaia, 7 Vlad Nistor, 8 Mihai Macovei (capt.), 9 Florin Surugiu, 10 Luke Samoa, 11 Jack Cobden, 12 Sione Faka’osilea, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 14 Fonovai Tangimana, 15 Marius Simionescu

Replacements: 16 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 17 Constantin Pristavita, 18 Alex Gordas, 19 Valentin Poparlan, 20 Viorel Lucaci, 21 Tudorel Bratu, 22 Florin Vlaicu, 23 Ionut Dumitru

BRAZIL
1 Jonatas Paulo, 2 Yan Rosetti (capt.), 3 Pedro Bengaló, 4 Cléber Dias, 5 Gabriel Paganini, 6 João Luiz da Ros, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 De Wet van Niekerk, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Laurent Bourda-Couhet, 15 Daniel Sancery

Replacements: 16 Endy Willian, 17 Lucas Abud, 18 Matheus Rocha, 19 Matheus Wolf, 20 Nick Smith, 21 Matheus Daniel, 22 Robert Tenório, 23 Guilherme Coghetto

Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kickoff: 19:00 local (13:00 Brasilia)
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
Assistants: tba (FRR) & tba (FRR)
Broadcasts: Live Stream