Preview - Romania v Japan

Second meeting ever

For the second time ever, Romania play Japan - this time at Ghencea II Stadion in Bucharest on Saturday. Romeo Gontineac will play for the Oaks for a record 59th time.

The only other time the sides have met was in Tokyo on 3 May 1995 when Japan won 34-21.

Both teams are coming off heavy defeats. Japan's was heavier. They were thumped a demoralising 100-8 by Scotland in Perth. On the same weekend Romania went down 66-7 to Wales.

In June/July, Italy beat Japan in Tokyo but Romania beat Italy in Bucharest.

Money will certainly be on Romania against the young, light, inexperienced Japanese whose pack was slaughtered by the Scots.

They will not find the burly Romanians, hardened in the French leagues, much softer than the Scots.

Romania have made three changes. Bogdan Voicu comes onto the right-wing for Vasile Ghioc, one World Cup player for another, teenager Valentin Calafeteanu to scrumhalf in the place of World Cup star Lucian Sirbu and World Cup player Razvan Mavrodin to hooker. Bogdan Zebega goes to the bench. Petrisor Toderasc, Cezar Popescu and experienced Dan Dumbrava come onto the bench.

Romeo Gontineac, formerly Romania's captain, plays his 59th match for Romania. His is the Oaks' most capped player.

Desperate Japan have made seven changes. Masatoshi Mukoyama comes to inside centre in the place of Yukio Motoki, who goes to the bench. Hiroki Mizuno is at left-wing for Hayato Daimon, but the big changes are at halfback.

Hideyuki Yoshida comes to flyhalf for Keisuke Sawaki, who is injured, and Kiyonori Tanaka to scrumhalf for Waturu Ikeda, who goes to the bench. Hajime Kiso moves from flank to lock and so makes way for Takatoyo Yamaguchi with Hitoshi Ono going to the bench. Finally Mitsugu Yamamoto comes to loosehead for Yuichi Hisadomi.

The match will be televised in Romania.

Previous meeting: 1995:Japan won 34-21 at Prince Chichibu Stadium in Tokyo.

Prediction: Romania to win by 20 points or more.

The teams:

Romania: 15 Valentin Maftei, 14 Bogdan Voicu, 13 Cristian Sauan, 12 Romeon Gontineac, 11 Ioan Teodorescu, 10 Ionut Tofan, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu, 8 Alin Petrache (capitan), 7 Marian Tudori,  6 Costica Mersoiu, 5 Cristian Petre 4 Cornel Tatu, 3 Marcel Socaciu, 2 Razvan Mavrodin, 1 Petru Balan
Replacements: 16 Petrisor Toderasc, 17 Bogdan Zebega, 18 Cezar Popescu, 19 George Oprisor, 20 Iulian Andrei, 21 Ionut Dimofte, 22 Danut Dumbrava

Coaches:  Daniel Santamans, Virgil Nastase
Technical advisor: Robert Antonin

Japan: 15 Ryohei Miki, 14 Koichiro Kubota, 13 Seiichi Shimomura, 12 Masatoshi Mukoyama, 11 Hiroki Mizuno, 10 Hideyuki Yoshida, 9 Kiyonori Tanaka, 7 Takatoyo Yamaguchi, 8 Takuro Miuchi (capitan), 6 Naoya Okubo, 5 Hajime Kiso, 4 Takanori Kumagai, 3 Ryo Yamamura, 2 Takashi Yamaoka, 1 Masahito Yamamoto
Replacements: 16 Mitsugu Yamamoto, 17 Yuichi Hisadomi, 18 Hitoshi Ono, 19 Feletliki Mau, 20 Wataru Ikeda, 21 Yukio Motoki, 22 Hayato Daimon

Coaches: Mitsutake Hagimoto, Hatsuji Ohara.

Date: 20 November 2004
Kick-off: 13.00 (local time)
Venue: Ghencea II Stadion, Bucharest
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 5°C and a westerly wind of 32 km/h - cold!
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges: Giulio De Santis (Italy), Christophe Berdos (France)
Assessor: Les Peard (Wales)