Monday, 21 September 2015

France make 13 changes for Romania test after seeing off Italy in their opening Rugby World Cup game.

France's centre Amexandre Dumoulin (second left),  hooker Guilhem Guirado (third left) and centre Mathieu Bastareaud (exercise on rowing machines next to   France's fitness coach Julien Deloire
France have made a raft of changes to their side for their second Rugby World Cup match against Romania on Wednesday.
Only No. 8 Louis Picamoles and winger Noa Nakaitaci are given a second straight start, four days after beating Italy 32-10 in their opener.
That means only three in the squad will not have had a start in the first two matches. Hooker Benjamin Kayser and tighthead prop Nicolas Mas, who were in the reserves for a second straight game, and scrum-half Rory Kockott, who was in the reserves to play Romania.

Meanwhile, Romania will open their campaign with only one change from the XV which lost to Tonga 21-16 in their last warm-up match in Bucharest.
Loosehead prop Mihaita Lazar has swapped with Andrei Ursache, who drops to the reserves.
South Africa-born lock Johan van Heerden and Tonga-born winger Paula Kinikinilau, who qualified for Romania on residency and made their debuts against Tonga just over two weeks ago, are retained in the starting side.
Tighthead prop Paulica Ion, and flyhalf Danut Dumbrava will appear in their fourth Rugby World Cup, as well as back-rower Ovidiu Tonita if he comes off the bench. The Pool D match will be at the Olympic Stadium.

FRANCE vs ROMANIA (OLYMPIC STADIUM, WEDNESDAY 8PM)

France: Brice Dulin, Sofiane Guitoune, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Noa Nakaitaci, Remi Tales, Morgan Parra; Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Yannick Nyanga, Aleandre Flanquart, Bernard Le Roux, Uini Antonio, Dimitri Szarzewski (captain), Vincent Debaty.
Reserves: Benjamin Kayser, Eddy Ben Arous, Nicolas Mas, Yoann Maestri, Damien Chouly, Rory Kockott, Freddy Michalak, Mathieu Bastareaud.
Romania: Catalin Fercu, Madalin Lemnaru, Paula Kinikinilau, Florin Vlaicu, Adrian Apostol, Danut Dumbrava, Florin Surugiu; Mihai Macovei (captain), Viorel Lucaci, Valentin Ursache, Johan van Heerden, Valentin Poparlan, Paulica Ion, Otar Turashvili, Mihaita Lazar.
Reserves: Andrei Radoi, Andrei Ursache, Horatiu Pungea, Ovidiu Tonita, Stelian Burcea, Valentin Calafeteanu, Ionut Botezatu, Csaba Gal.

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