Romania and Italy choose for Test

Romania have appointed Frenchman Daniel Santamans as their coach to replace Phillipe Sauton after Robert Antonin, recently retired from FIRA-AER, had been the acting coach.

Italy have new caps in speedy Kaine Robertson on the wing and prop Salvatore Constanzo who is standing in while Martin Castrogiovanni recovers.

Robertson is a New Zealander, born in Auckland, one of five New Zealanders in the team. The others are Aaron Persico, Scott Palmer, Paul Griffen and Rima Wakarua.

It is a match which Italy should win. They played in the Six Nations and beat Scotland, coming fifth. Romania play in the league below that - the European Nations Cup. They came second behind Portugal after losing to Portugal and Russia.

They used to play more often before Italy moved up into Six Nations and the last time Romania won was in 1994 in Bucharest where Saturday's Test is being played.

Recent results:

In 2002: Italy won 25-17 in Parma
In: 2000: Italy won 37-17 in Benevento
In: 1997: Italy won 55-32 in Tarbes
In: 1995: Italy won 40-3 in Buenos Aires
In: 1994: Italy won 24-6 in Catania
In: 1994: Romania won 26-12 in Bucharest
In: 1992: Italy won 22-3 in Rome

The teams:

Italy: 15 Gonzalo Canale, 14 Nicola Mazzucato, 13 Andrea Masi, 12 Walter Pozzebon, 11 Kaine Robertson, 10 Francesco Mazzariol, 9 Alessandro Troncon (captain), 8 Andrea De Rossi, 7 Aaron Persico, 6 Enrico Pavanello, 5 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4 Marco Bortolami , 3 Salvatore Costanzo, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Giorgio Intoppa, 17 Mario Savi, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Scott Palmer, 20 Paul Griffen, 21 Rima Wakarua, 22 Matteo Barbini.

Romania: 15 Danut Dumbrava, 14 Bogdan Voicu, 13 Romeo Gontineac, 12 Cristian Sauan, 11 Vasile Ghioc, 10  Ionut Tofan, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 8 Alin Petrache (captain), 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Costica Mersoiu, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Florin Tatu,  3 Marcel Socaciu, 2 Bogdan Zebega, 1 Petru Balan.
Replacements: 16 Ion Paulica, 17 Petrisor Toderasc, 18 Valentin Ursache, 19 Marius Bejan, 20 Iulian Andrei, 21 Stefan Dumitru, 22 Ionut Dimofte

Date: 26 June 2004
Venue: Stadionul National, Bucharest
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)
Touch Judges: Nigel Owens (Wales), David Changleng (Scotland)
Assessor: Tom Aplin (Ireland)
Conditions: Thunderstorm with a high of 19°C