Preview of the RUGBY EUROPE Championship Division 1 match
Portugal Vs Romania on February 7th, 2015
Could Romania, focused on their preparations for the RWC 2015, be vulnerable to a commando raid by a motivated Portuguese fifteen? If all their French-based players are available, Portugal could be a formidable opponent on their home ground. But then Romania have seen all this before, writes Chris Thau:
Match Preview: Portugal v Romania
Rugby Europe Championship
Date: February, 7th 2015
Kick Off: 14.45 local time
Venue- Lisbon –Estadio Universitario
Officials: L Pearce (RFU), A Small (RFU), A Watson (RFU)
Chris Thau reports: Since the turn of the century (year 2000) Romania and Portugal have been playing each other annually, with the Iberian team making constant progress, closing the gap year after year. In 2003 the inevitable happened, with Portugal defeating Romania 16-15 in Lisbon, a major psychological breakthrough followed by two further wins in 2009 and 2011.
Portugal
Since July last year, Portugal have got a new Head Coach, in the 43-year-old João Luís Pinto, who replaced former coach Frederigo Sousa after only one year in charge. Pinto is heading a team of ambitious young coaches, which includes Australian-born Damien Steele, the coach of CDUL, the Portuguese champions club, as backs coach, former international Henrique Rocha who is in charge of the forwards and former Portugal fullback and coach of the U19s/U20s Joao Pedro Varela as skills coach.
The new coaching team has been successful in their first international outing against RWC 2015-bound Namibia last November, a match which Portugal won 29-20, with skipper Vasco Uva celebration his 93rd cap, a Portuguese record. Should all the French-based players be available for selection on Saturday February 7, there is very little doubt that Portugal will have a go, aware that the Romanians are notorious slow starters.
Romania
Probably the best to sum up the prevailing mood for what is going to be one of Romania’s longest seasons is Captain Mihai Macovei a big backrower who is playing for the French club Massy in ProD2.” For us the Rugby Europe Championship is a genuine opportunity to prepare for the RWC in England. At the same time we take each of the five matches we will play this winter as an independent challenge which we must handle.”
The scrum has continued to be Romania’s main offensive deterrent, while the lineout once is fully operational, should provide the Oaks with plenty of quality set piece possession which is crucial for their kick-and-chase game. It is behind the pack that Romania seem to experience problems, with their main kicker Florin Vlaicu sidelined by injury. In his absence the coaches had to bring back veteran outside half Dan Dumbrava, who has not played any test rugby since 2011. “Having already qualified for the World Cup, this year’s competition gives Romania a unique opportunity to identify individual players and player combinations as an on-going development of our player base.” Said Head Coach Lynn Howells
http://www.rugbyeurope.eu/article-720.htm
| Last 10 Games played between the Portugal and Romania | ||||
| 1-Feb-14 | Romania | 24 – 00 | Portugal | |
| 2-Feb-13 | Portugal | 13 – 19 | Romania | |
| 4-Feb-12 | Romania | 15 – 07 | Portugal | |
| 5-Feb-11 | Portugal | 24 – 17 | Romania | |
| 20-Mar-10 | Portugal | 09 – 20 | Romania | |
| 21-Mar-09 | Portugal | 22 – 21 | Romania | |
| 8-Mar-08 | Romania | 21 – 15 | Portugal | |
| 1-Dec-07 | Portugal | 08 – 23 | Romania | |
| 17-Nov-07 | Portugal | 08 – 23 | Romania | |
| 25-Sep-07 | Romania | 14 – 10 | Portugal | |
| Overall Stats Portugal | Overall Stats Romania | |||
|
|
|||
| Games Played | 23 | Games Played | 23 | |
| *Games Won | 3 | *Games Won | 20 | |
| *Games Lost | 20 | *Games Lost | 3 | |
| Games Drawn | 0 | Games Drawn | 0 | |
| *Longest.Winning.Streak | 1 | *Longest.Winning.Streak | 9 | |
| *Longest Losing Streak | 9 | *Longest Losing Streak | 1 | |
| *Largest Points For | 24 | *Largest Points For | 92 | |
| *Largest Points Against | 92 | *Largest Points Against | 24 | |
| *Largest.Winning.Margin | 7 | *Largest.Winning.Margin | 92 | |
| *Largest Losing Margin | -92 | *Largest Losing Margin | -7 | |
| *Total Points For | 214 | *Total Points For | 702 | |
| *Avg Points For | 9.30 | *Avg Points For | 30.52 | |
| *Total Points Against | 702 | *Total Points Against | 214 | |
| *Avg Points Against | 30.52 | *Avg Points Against | 9.30 | |
| *Total Points Difference | -488 | *Total Points Difference | 488 | |
| *Avg Points Difference | -21.22 | *Avg Points Difference | 21.22 | |
| * = By Portugal | * = By Romania | |||
POSSIBLE RR World Rankings outcome on Result
POR (on 58.49 points) at home -vs- ROM (on 67.34 points)
| Possible Outcome | Rating Point Exchange |
New POR Rating |
New ROM Rating |
Will POR overtake ROM? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If POR win by 1-15 points | 1.585 | 60.08 | 65.76 | No |
| If POR win by more than 15 | 2.378 | 60.87 | 64.96 | No |
| If result is a draw | 0.585 | 59.08 | 66.76 | No |
| If ROM win by 1-15 points | 0.415 | 58.08 | 67.76 | No |
| If ROM win by more than 15 | 0.622 | 57.87 | 67.96 | No |
2014-16 European Nations Cup > ENC 1A
First leg
-
1 Not played 07/02/2015 Portugal 
0 – 0 
Romania -
2 Not played 07/02/2015 Spain 
0 – 0 
Russia -
3 Not played 07/02/2015 Germany 
0 – 0 
Georgia -
4 Not played 14/02/2015 Georgia 0 – 0 Portugal -
5 Not played 14/02/2015 Romania 0 – 0 Spain -
6 Not played 14/02/2015 Germany 0 – 0 Russia -
7 Not played 28/02/2015 Spain 0 – 0 Georgia -
8 Not played 28/02/2015 Russia 0 – 0 Romania -
9 Not played 28/02/2015 Portugal 0 – 0 Germany -
10 Not played 14/03/2015 Georgia 0 – 0 Russia -
11 Not played 14/03/2015 Portugal 0 – 0 Spain -
12 Not played 14/03/2015 Germany 0 – 0 Romania -
13 Not played 21/03/2015 Romania 0 – 0 Georgia -
14 Not played 21/03/2015 Russia 0 – 0 Portugal -
15 Not played 21/03/2015 Spain 0 – 0 Germany
rugbyredefined.wordpress.com 