Preview - Namibia v Romania

Their game of the RWC tournament

This is the match that Namibia and Romania have been looking forward to from the moment the fixtures for the 2003 Rugby World Cup first appeared.

Namibia and Romania both knew that they had no hope against Australia, Argentina and Ireland, but their eyes glinted with eagerness when they saw each other's names in Pool A.

They ringed the day on the calendar - Thursday, October 30, the day they meet on their own private island, Tasmania, where a rugby Test has not been played before. They will make history at York Park, Launceston.

It will also be the first Test between the two countries. That makes history. For the Namibians, victory would make history as they have not yet won a match at the World Cup. The Romanians have.

They beat Zimbabwe in 1987, Fiji in 1991 and the USA in 1999.

The two sides have faced tough opposition differently. The Namibians have been inclined to throw up their hands during matches and then completely against the Wallabies who walloped them 142-0. The Romanians, sturdy Oaks that they are, have tried to show that they can still play rugby, despite the upheavals their country has gone through. They have not capitulated - not entirely. After all the Wallabies did not crack a century against them.

In the tough matches, the Romanian forwards have been slightly firmer. Their results against each of their opponents - Ireland, Argentina and Australia - have been better than Namibia's against the same opponents. They have each played three and lost three but Namibia have had more than 90 more points - on average - scored against them.

For both it is the last match before they go home.

Players to watch:

For Namibia: One would watch lion-tamer Schalk van der Merwe, eager Sean Furter and curiosity Rudie van Vuuren, if he actually gets some playing time. Curiosity? He played at the Cricket World Cup this year - two World Cups in one year, a unique achievement. Then, too, perhaps Heino Senekal will show his true worth.

For Romania: Romeo Gontineac, the captain, has been the best of their three-quarters and could test the leaky Namibian defence. Lucian Sirbu has been great at scrum-half, and Biarritz's prop Petru Balan, back from injury, had a great opening match.

Head to head: The two major contests are between the two scrum-halves and the two No.8s, big Sorin Socol of Romania and Sean Furter, the Namibian captain with his speed about the field. On the flanks, too, there could be an interesting tussle between relentless Schalk van der Merwe and big George Chiriac, who has had a powerful World Cup. Then it will be interesting to see how Neil Swanepoel, picked ahead of lively Hakkies Hüsselman, matches up to Lucian Sirbu of Romania, who has been consistently his side's best player.

Prediction: Of course, anything can happen, but you would expect the Oaks to come away with a fourth World Cup victory.
Zurich Computer Prediction: Romania by 10 points.
Planet Rugby Prediction: Romania by 10 points or more.
SportingOdds.com Prediction: Romania by 19 points.

The teams:

Namibia: 15 Ronaldo Pedro, 14 Deon Mouton, 13 Du Preez Grobler, 12 Emile Wessels, 11 Vincent Dreyer, 10 Morné Schreuder, 9 Neil Swanepoel, 8 Sean Furter, 7 Wolfie Duvenhage, 6 Schalk van der Merwe, 5 Eben Isaacs, 4 Heino Senekal, 3 Neil du Toit, 2 Johannes Meyer, 1 Kees Lensing.
Replacements: 16 Cor Van Tonder, 17 Andries Blaauw, 18 Herman Lintvelt, 19 Jurgens van Lill, 20 Rudie van Vuuren, 21 Deon Grunschloss, 22 Corné Powell.

Romania: 15 Danut Dumbrava, 14 Ioan Teodorescu, 13 Valentin Maftei, 12 Romeo Gontineac (captain), 11 Gabriel Brezoianu, 10 Ionut Tofan, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 8 Sorin Socol, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 George Chiriac, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Augustin Petrichei, 3 Marcel Socaciu, 2 Razvan Mavrodin, 1 Petru Balan.
Replacements: 16 Cezar Popescu, 17 Petrisor Toderasc, 18 Silviu Florea, 19 Marian Tudori, 20 Iulian Andrei, 21 Cristian Sauan, 22 Mihai Vioreanu.

Kick-off: 20.00 local time (09.00 GMT), Live in the UK on ITV2
Venue: York Park, Launceston
Weather conditions: Scattered Clouds, High: 14°C
Referee: Peter Marshall
Touch judges: Joël Jutge, Mark Lawrence
TMO: Nigel Whitehouse