Well, the scoreline says that France dominated. And they did. But, certainly in the first half, they were a mess and they did not really get it going terribly well in the second either. Having said that, this was a team with 13 changes from that one that faced Italy, so perhaps that rustiness can be excused as they learned how to operate with one another. They can argue that they got the job done too: a win and a bonus point sets them up very nicely in Pool D.
Romania will be delighted by their try and their grunt in the first half. They had a few flashes it will be interesting to see how they play against Italy: they could well give them a game. Thanks for reading, I’m off.
Updated
FULL TIME: France 38-11 Romania
France have suddenly woken up, first La Roux, then Guitoune burst up the pitch as they seek another try. It’s a bit late for that now. And with that, Peyper puts this out of its misery.
TRY AND CONVERSION! France 38-11 Romania (Fickou + Kockott)
78 min: Quick ball from a French lineout on the Romania 22 works its way at speed to Fickou, he steps inside catching the entire Romania line off guard and he nips through to score under the posts. For a team that haven’t been on form, France can be pretty chuffed with the scoreline.
Updated
75 min: Guitoune is denied a hat-trick. He races up the left wing, chips the ball over the try line then catches it on the bounce. But he is unable to fully touch the ball down as he struggles not to go over the deadball line. Unlucky, he’s had a good game in the midst of a patchy French display tonight.
TRY! France 31-11 Romania (Ursache)
74 min: Hang on: where did that come from? Romania kick a penalty to touch in the corner and as France pack the middle of the lineout, expecting Romania to drive through from there, a small raiding party peel off the front and whizz over the tryline.
Updated
72 min: Well, if Romania weren’t done and dusted already, they are now. France, though, are slightly flattered by this scoreline. They have not been at their best and can probably expect some more hot talk from Saint-Andre in the changing room afterwards.
TRY AND CONVERSION! France 31-6 Romania (Fofana + Kockott)
70 min: Kockott replaces Parra for France, and his impact is immediate. He sets up an attack from which Dulin can offload to Fofana, who bumps and bursts his way over the tryline. No doubt about him grounding that one. France are scoring tries in bursts tonight, and will be delighted to have got the bonus point. Kockott takes over kicking duties too, and places the conversion through the posts.
Updated
TRY AND CONVERSION! France 24-6 Romania (Guitoune + Parra)
68 min: It looks as if Guitoune is stopped short, then gets the ball over the line with a double, it not triple movement. Not that the TMO cares. He gives the try. Parra slots another conversion over. Possibly a contentious one there.
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66 min: Is this a try? France run again from the back of a scrum, but after some slick interplay, Parra gets caught. He’s up to the Romania 22 and the forwards take over. They batter their way a few yards forward and then France spread the ball out to the right wing. Guitoune, from 10 yards out, wriggles and writhes his way to the line. He thinks he’s over. Peyper doesn’t and goes to the TMO.
63 min: Being honest, this is not a game featuring much in the way of quality. Still, France are trying to run it now. They break up the right but get held back. Then break up the left, offloading willy nilly for the first time in the match. Parra attempts to play Fofana in down the blindside but the ball goes down and that’s the end of that brief surge.
60 min: Turashvilli rumbles off, Andrei Radoi replaces him at hooker for Romania. Romania get on the front foot and for a moment Ursache then Van Heerden look as though they are going to break through the French line. But France win the ball back and find a halfway line touch.
58 min: They blow it though. From the maul after the lineout, two players run into each other and Peyper blows up for a Romania penalty for obstruction, which is wellied well up the pitch.
56 min: Finally France do a bit or running and would do well to take notice of the fact that it works: in various fits and bursts they get to the Romania 22. Parra passes to Fickou, who darts into a tackle, and France ruck and maul it forwards now. Mas goes now but the referee brings the ball back for a penalty. From in front of the posts, France kick for touch as they look for tries for a bonus point.
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53 min: Romania lose their own lineout on the 22 and France hoof long. After a bit of gadding about, Romania kick it back at them. So France kick it back. There’s another maul, then Romania kick it back. It’s not a wonderful game, this.
52 min: There’s more shoddy handling in the French backs, the ball just not going to hands, their moves breaking down. They look out of touch and rusty, to be honest. Romania win a scrum, which turns and the penalty goes against the French.
50 min: Parra lofts a ball over the try line but Fercu gets across to, just about, make the ball safe. There is some grumbling in the French centre that they were blocked by some Romanian arms from running through and claiming Parra’s chip. The ref tells them he saw nothing.
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49 min: Vlaicu is now playing fly half for Romania, and his team work through a series of phases but keep getting knocked back. They eventually conceded a penalty and, to a cheer, France kick for touch rather than for goal. Keyser, Mas and Chouly come on for France, Szarzewski, Antonio and Picamoles trot off.
Updated
46 min: From a promising position on the French 22, the ball pops forward from a Romanian hand - Turashvilli, I think - and France are happy to welly the ball long down the pitch. From the lineout, it’s France’s turn to drive the Romanian pack. They run the ball, throwing it wide down the left but no one in the French backline is willing to take a risk and cut inside to break the Romania line. The Romania fly half Dumbrava is hooked, Csaba Ga replaces him. Dumbrava is unchuffed.
43 min: The France scrum are not going to accept being shoved about quite so much here, so Romania get the ball out quickly and chuck it around a bit. They drive forwards and over the 22, but France are not overcommitting men to the mauls so as to have more defensive cover.
Peep, peep!
The second half is under way: The French are still looking sheepish, Saint-André is still looking furious in his little booth. Romania get us going and a certain amount of kick tennis ensues. It ends with a scrum to Romania in the middle of the pitch, 30 metres from the France line. A good position from which to attack.
A stat for you:
0 - #FRA have never lost a @rugbyworldcup game in which they have led by more than one point at half-time. Confident.
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 23, 2015
I say they will be relieved to be in the dressing room, but that’s before I saw camera footage of Saint-Andre going absolutely bananas at his team. He’s standing in the middle of the dressing room, waving his hands, and screaming his head off. His team are all looking sheepishly at their feet.
France will be a lot more relieved than they might have been. For half an hour, they were in danger of being ground down by Romania. But those two quick tries have put them back to where they would have expected to be. Paulica’s period in the sin bin has allowed them to find a route back into the game and the Romanian prop owes his team a performance to make up for it in the second half.
HALF TIME
That’ll be that for the first half. France have shone in patches, Romania have threatened in patches but the sin-binning scuppered them badly. See you in a few minutes.
PENALTY! France 17-6 Romania (Vlaicu)
40 min: No mistake this time. Romania’s record Test points scorer gets another three for his tally.
Updated
39 min: Romania are awarded a penalty 30 metres out, in the middle of the pitch. Vlaicu will kick for goal. Here’s Nyanga’s try, incidentally:
Nyanga finishes off slick French move on right for second try - brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/2g6qxlfpuq
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 23, 2015
37 min: But then again … Romania are not done and dusted. They break up the left wing through Kinikinilau, he passes the ball inside to Fercu who is nailed before he can sprint to the line. But that was dangerous for France and they shouldn’t switch off yet.
35 min: France are all over this match now, making full advantage of Romania being a man down. They run the ball from defence but a knock-on denies them the chance to open Romania up again.
TRY AND CONVERSION! France 17-3 Romania (Nyanga + Parra)
33 min: Guitoune is caught on his halfway line, but he passes to Dulin who races forward. He sets up a platform for the French and they swing it out to the right wing. Apostel steps up and is done by a quick dummy, allowing Nyanga to charge into the same corner as Guitonne and score. Parra makes no mistake again.
Updated
TRY AND CONVERSION! France 10-3 Romania (Guitoune + Parra)
30 min: Parra sends all the backs one way, and then throws the ball the other to Guitoune who dives over the line from a five yards out. That will be a relief to France who were beginning to sweat. Parra whistles the ball over from the touchline for the conversion, though not without it wobbling first one side of the upright and then the other in the breeze.
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29 min: Paulica Ion is responsible for a scrum collapsing, and Peyper raises his hand high in the air. Penalty to France and they kick long into touch in the Romania 22. They finally win a lineout properly and then drive a maul furiously for the line. When the ball breaks free, Tales tries to chip the ball through the line but Dumbrava clears up. No matter, Peyper calls play back as he has spotted Paulica up to no good in the maul. He’ll get a 10 minute breather in the sin bin for his troubles.
26 min: There’s something going on in the France rucks and mauls, Romania have won five turnovers already. Here’s that boot to Szazewski’s head, incidentally.
Szarzewski forced off with injury after accidental boot in the face - brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/zby1fwN3n5
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 23, 2015
25 min: With a penalty in the bank, Dumbrava goes for a drop goal from somewhere several miles from the posts. He may as well, I suppose. He gets nowt from it and so Romania take the penalty from in front of the posts and 35 metres out. Vlaicu takes aim and misses by a distance.
22 min: The hooker Szarzewski’s taken a blow to the face. He’ll have to come off for a bit after getting a couple of studs to the head. Kayser comes on as a blood sub.
21 min: Romania win another French lineout and fling the ball wide. Apostol on the left wing roars up the touchline, then chips the ball ahead. France then have the chance to run it straight back, but Parra flings the ball across the 22 and France kick instead. Probably should have run that.
PENALTY! France 3-3 Romania (Vlaicu)
Vlaicu picks up three points instead of the seven he was after. But Romania deserve to be level.
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19 min: It looks a lot like Vlaicu has not got the ball down and was held up by Le Roux. The TMO agrees, saying no clear evidence the ball has touched the ground. Still, Romania have penalty in front of the posts in front of the posts in their back pocket, so they will settle for that.
18 min: It’s a good decision too: the Romania pack are heaving, heaving and heaving towards the line. Lazar has a shove for the line, then Romania swing the ball wide and Vlaicu goes over! Inevitably Peyper goes upstairs …
17 min: Romania run from the lineout, and Kinikinilau (I think) whelps a grubber through the French lines. France are under all sorts of pressure, and scrabble to deal with things. Dulin struggles to, and Romania again turn the ball and win a penalty. They’re well in range of a penalty kick, but elect to kick for touch and drive for the try - to a great roar of approval from the crowd.
15 min: Macovei rises immaculately to claim the ball against the head from the lineout, then Romania hoof it straight into touch after the ball is passed back into the 22 and the French have another lineout in the Romanian Flanquart runs, but is chopped down and Romania turn the ball over, win a penalty and hoof for touch. Cautiously attritional are the best words for this so far.
14 min: France roll a maul forwards from the lineout, but have a penalty in the bag after from Romanian indiscipline. They kick for touch.
12 min: Scrum on the halfway line, and there’s more chaos in the French front row as Lazar shoves Antonio about the place. The scrum is retaken and Romania are in charge once again, but it turns too far and France are given the push in. France dig in against the Romanian’s power and Picamoles takes quick ball out of the back. A high kick goes up, which is marked in the Romanian 22 and cleared well.
9 min: Flanquart makes a hash of claiming the kick-off and Romania steal possession. They start flinging it about, but a loose chip over the top is mopped up by Dulin and France clear up the pitch.
PENALTY! France 3-0 Romania (Parra)
So Parra slots the penalty over instead.
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7 min: Nakaitaci comes off the back of the lineout with the ball at pace and France probe for the line. Romania get themselves offside twice, giving France the advantage. Parra knows it, so chips for the corner, safe in the knowledge that if it doesn’t pay off they have a kick in front of the posts in the bag. It doesn’t come off.
6 min: France keep running it, throwing the ball wide. Romania are concerned that the French have too much pace for them, so they have pressed right up to stop them getting through. But it means they concede a penalty for obstruction, which France kick to touch. French lineout on the Romania 22.
5 min: A big up and under from Fercu is claimed by Fickou and he is subsequently mobbed. The maul collapses, and the ref blows up, giving the scrum put in to France. Will be exciting to see what the Romanian packs does here … the answer is not quite so much damage but some. France run the ball.
3 min: Interesting: the Romania pack has substantially overpowered the French one there. The France scrum goes down and the Romanian pack celebrate like they’ve just scored a try. This is going to be a battle of French backs v Romanian forwards.
Updated
2 min: Romania kick long and the France wing Nakaitaci claims. He races forwards and attempts to chip the Romanian defence. He doesn’t get enough on the ball though and Romania can mop it up with ease.
Peep, peep!
We’re off: Jaco Peyper blows his whistle to get us underway and manages not to consult the TMO over it. Tales kicks off, Romania in yellow claim and scrum half Surugiu clears the ball to the halfway line.
Corbyn-watch: most of the French sing their anthem, and do so reasonably tunefully. For rugby players. The Romanians are virtually all giving it some proper gusto though. 1-0 to the men from Eastern Europe.
Here come the teams. They march down the tunnel to some dramatic music. No pyro though. Which is a good thing. Anthems ahoy!
Meanwhile, Owen Gibson is back is his old Olympic stomping ground. This is what it looks like inside the stadium:
Here's the view from the back tier. I'll stop now. pic.twitter.com/GKf1BNhldj
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) September 23, 2015
Expect France to attempt to outpace Romania, there’s plenty of speed in their side tonight. “We lined up a team that will look to move the ball and provide some momentum,” the France backs coach Patrice Lagisquet said. “We hope that this game plan will be easier to implement than against Italy, where there were loads of interruptions.” Will it mean a game of free-flowing, running rugby? Or will Romania smother them?
The France coach Philippe Saint-André is chit chatting before the match. He says his team need to be patient, and that all 13 players he has brought in can make a point to him about getting in the starting lineup against Ireland. He’s reasonably unimpressed by the Olympic Stadium though. “To be honest, I came here for the Olympics,” he shrugs.
France are coming into this match on the back of three wins on the trot - against England, Scotland and Italy. Romania are arriving on the back of defeats to Tonga, Edinburgh and a 10-10 draw with Leeds Carnegie. So it seems likely that there is only one way this match is going to go.
They’re playing at the Olympic Stadium, which looks absolutely cavernous this evening. It also looks remarkably good filled with rugby posts, soperhaps it’s time for a rethink on its future occupants. Do Quins fancy moving in?
Before we get to France v Romania, there’s some hot breaking news for Argentina (and Gloucester, to some degree), which I’ve lifted directly from PA:
Argentina lock Mariano Galarza has received a nine-week ban and will miss the remainder of the World Cup.
Galarza was cited for making contact “with the eye or eye area” of New Zealand forward Brodie Retallick during last Sunday’s Pool C game between the countries at Wembley.
In a statement, Rugby World Cup Limited said: “Galarza denied the act of foul play. Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from Retallick, the player and submissions from his representatives, the judicial officer Christopher Quinlan QC upheld the citing on the basis that the player had committed the act of foul play.
“With respect to the sanction, the judicial officer deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of 12 weeks.
“Due to the need to deter such acts of foul play, he added an additional period of one week. However, taking into account mitigating factors including his excellent disciplinary record, the judicial officer reduced the suspension to a period of nine weeks.”
Galarza’s ban takes effect immediately, and he cannot play again until November 26. That means the Gloucester forward will miss part of his club’s campaign as his suspension does not expire until more than three weeks after the World Cup final.
Galarza has 48 hours in which to appeal once he has received the written decision.
Teams
France: 15. Brice Dulin; 14. Sofiane Guitoune, 13. Gaël Fickou, 12. Wesley Fofana, 11. Noa Nakaitaci; 10. Rémi Talès, 9. Morgan Parra; 8. Louis Picamoles, 7. Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6. Yannick Nyanga; 5. Alexandre Flanquart, 4. Bernard Le Roux; 3. Uini Atonio, 2. Dimitri Szarzewski, 1. Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Eddy Ben Arous, Nicolas Mas, Yoann Maestri, Damien Chouly, Rory Kockott, Frédéric Michalak, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Romania: 15. Catalin Fercu; 14. Madalin Lemnaru, 13. Paula Kinikinilau, 12. Florin Vlaicu, 11. Adrian Apostol; 10. Danut Dumbrava, 9. Florin Surugiu; 8. Mihai Macovei, 7. Viorel Lucaci, 6. Valentin Ursache; 5. Johan Van Heerden, 4. Valentin Popirlan; 3. Paulica Ion, 2. Otar Turashvilli, 1. Mihai Lazar.
Replacements: Andrei Radoi, Andrei Ursache, Horatiu Pungea, Ovidiu Tonita, Stelian Burcea, Valentin Calafeteanu, Ionut Botezatu, Csaba Gal
Man in the middle: Jaco Peyper
Preamble
It’s been a little while since Romania used to make France sweat. In the 20 years between 1960 and 1980, Romania were a problem for the French and beat them six times in 22 Tests. Back then, Romania were strong with the communist government keen to fund the sport. But what politics gave it also took away, and a side that beat France, Wales and Scotland in the 80s was decimated in 1989 by the revolution in Romania. Five players died in the fighting, then money got so tight that kits, balls, facilities and grounds became unaffordable. The sport fell off a cliff and it’s been 25 years since Romania last worried France. Andy Bull tells the full tale here.
This is the 50th Test between the two sides and the first since 2006, when France won 62-14. And Romania are going for it: their starting XV is experience, featuring 648 caps and is largely the same team that lost 21-16 to Tonga in their last warm-up match. They will be all about the grunt up front, their powerful pack their key weapon. But they do feature Saracens’ Catalin Fercu at full back. Arguably the most talented member of their team, he missed the 2011 tournament because he was too scared of flying to get on the plane. Something that did not amuse his friends.
But if Romania are all about the experience, France are about youth. They have made 13 changes to the side that beat Italy on Saturday and with an average age of 28, this is the youngest side to represent France in eight years. A second win would put them firmly on course for qualification from Pool D, while a bonus point would be very welcome while they’re at it.
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