Don’t make the mistake of thinking that there’s nothing to play for in the penultimate match of the pool phase. No, Pool B opponents Tonga and Romania haven’t won a match at Rugby World Cup 2023, despite determined performances against Ireland, Scotland and South Africa. However, neither side will want to return home without any pool points to show for their efforts in France.
History suggests that the two sides will be very evenly matched in Lille - while the lure of finishing their campaigns with a win will be a big one.
Romania head coach Eugen Apjok has named hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru as first-time captain – in his 34th international – in a team showing nine changes from the defeat to Scotland. Number eight Cristi Chirica, who has led Romania throughout RWC 2023, drops out of the matchday 23 altogether, with Andre Gorin replacing him at the back of the pack.
Romania assistant coach Valentin Ursache said the coaching staff was excited with the improvement at the Rugby World Cup: “The boys have improved from the start of the World Cup, from the start of preparation. We have a tough pool, we’ve had tough games until now, so we learn from one game to another. The objective for us is to learn and learn and to give our best in the last one. Tomorrow is a game that we have to put the body on the line and defend well, and when we have the opportunity, to try to score. It will be a good fight between two good teams.”
Meanwhile, former All Black George Moala is set to make a belated Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 32 in a starting Tongan XV that shows six changes of personnel and one positional switch. As well as Moala, ex-Wallaby Adam Coleman makes his first start of RWC 2023, the day after his 32nd birthday, after two bench appearances in the only change to the front-five.
Tonga assistant coach Zane Hilton said Tonga want to finish the 2023 Rugby World Cup strong: “We’re really looking forward to finishing strong. We really want to make sure that we play well for the fans and everyone back home and really put a mark there to finish the tournament well. We certainly didn’t mark this one in the calendar, we marked every game in the calendar. We took every game as a really important one to us. I think that really showed last week against South Africa. South Africa are a great side; current world champs and potentially might do it again. Our only goal tomorrow is to now go another level on what we did with our performance last week.”
Teams:
Tonga: 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Semisi Paea, 7 Sione Talitui, 8 Sione Vailanu, 9 Sonatane Takulua (c), 10 William Havili, 11 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 George Moala, 14 Solomone Kata, 15 Salesi Piutau. Replacements: 16 Sione Anga'aelangi, 17 Paula Latu, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Penitoa Finau, 21 Manusiu Paea, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.
Romania: 1 Alexandru Savin, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru (c), 3 Alexandru Gordas, 4 Adrian Motoc, 5 Marius Iftimiciuc, 6 Vlad Neculau, 7 Cristi Boboc, 8 Andre Gorin, 9 Florin Surugiu, 10 Alin Conache, 11 Taliauli Sikuea, 12 Fonovai Tangimana, 13 Tevita Manumua, 14 Nicholas Onutu, 15 Marius Simionescu. Replacements: 16 Robert Irimescu, 17 Iulian Hartig, 18 Costel Burtila, 19 Florian Rosu, 20 Damian Stratila, 21 Gabriel Rupanu, 22 Alexandru Bucur, 23 Mihai Graure.