By Only me
September 23 2011

England v Romania RWC 2011

IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 

Pool B Match Stages

Otago Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday 24th September

England v Romania

England have given Romania the respect they deserve and fielded a very strong team for this match.  Romania are 18th in the IRB World Rankings and I hope people will not think that I am not being arrogant here but I feel for Romania this is their Rugby World Cup Final match against England on Saturday.  

Romania have made a record 11 changes for this match coach Romeo Gontineac says "that the shake-up is all about giving his players exposure at the top level."

"We trust this team. We trusted them before the World Cup so we trust them now as well," Gontineac said. "We want to share the playing times. A lot of players have played 80 minutes, and we want everyone to enjoy the World Cup."

So for England this will be another tough game and at times a bit jittery for the old nerves again.  England should win this match comfortably and if they don't ?........ Well Hell and Damnation will have less fury than England Fans and Media.

England players this week have been surfing and golfing let's hope they have moved on and have much better focus now on what is expected of them especially with regards to this game.  We are told they are ready for Romania let's hope so and we get loads and loads of points. 

On a worrying note Johnson has confirmed that they will be making a final decision on Sunday regarding Nick Easter's back injury and his future at this RWC.  He hurt his back during training we are told but some say it was the bungee jumping who knows but let's hope he pull through ok.

And so to England's line up seven changes, Cueto returns, with Mike Tindall  Jonny Wilkinson and Steve Thompson.  In the pack,  loose head prop Alex Corbisiero will make his first start of the tournament, with  Louis Deacon and Tom Croft also returning.

Captain Lewis Moody  open-side flanker,  James Haskell at No 8. Hooker Lee Mears and prop David Wilson on the bench.

England: Ben Foden (Northampton Saints); Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks); Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Steve Thompson (London Wasps), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby, capt), James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams).

Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Simon Shaw (Unattached), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Delon Armitage (London Irish).

Romania: Florin Adrian Vlaicu, Stefan Eugen Ciuntu, Ionel Cazan, Iulian Dumitras, Adrian Marian Apostol, Marin Danut Dumbrava, Lucian Mihai Sirbu; Nicolae Nere, Bogdan Zebega Suman, Silviu Florea, Valentin Poparlan, Cristian Constantin Petre (capt), Sandu Stelian Burcea, Cosmin Aurel Ratiu, Ovidiu Tonita.

Replacements: Marius Tincu, Paulica Ion, Mihai Macovei, Daniel Gabriel Ianus, Valentin Nicolae Calafeteanu, Csaba Minya Gal, Catalin Marius Nicolae.