Romania prepare for Czechs

In Prague on Saturday the Czech Republic play Romania in an European Nations Cup match at the Tatra Smichov Ground, Podbelohorská ulice. The Czechs have not beaten Romania before.

Romania have played the Czech Republic twenty times, winning 19 times with a 9-all draw in Prague in 1966.

The European Nations Cup has started earlier this year after the disruptions caused by freezing weather last year, which is even more of a consideration now that Ukraine have taken Spain's place and all but Portugal are Eastern bloc countries and susceptible to bad weather.

The Czechs were promoted last year in the place of the Netherlands and survived by beating Russia and, twice, Spain, who were relegated. Romania beat the Czechs 42-5 in Prague and 55-11 in sub-zero Bucharest

In the first round this year the champions Portugal beat newly promoted Ukraine and Georgia beat Russia.

Romania and the Czech Republic both had byes in the first round, but the Oaks have played against Wales and Japan and the Czechs against Poland.

Romania are without the veteran with the boot, flyhalf Ionut Tofan, for the Prague match and Cornel Tatu. Both are injured. Tofan's place is taken by 20-year-old Ionut Dimofte. Dropped is the teenage scrumhalf Valentin Calafeteanu, who makes way for Lucain Sirbu, one of Romania's best players at last year's World Cup.

At one end of the Czech scale they have six new caps, five on the bench and wing Michal Schlanger in the starting line-up. The other new caps are Patrik Kovács, Jan Kubálek, `tepán Obr, Vlastimil Madry and Jaroslav Tomcík. At the other end Jiri Skall, nicknamed Giorgio, wins his 50th cap.

It is a match which the Oaks would be expected to win with their strong preponderance of players playing for top French clubs.

Czech Team: Tomáa Krejcí (St Saturnin, France), Michal Schlanger (Petrovice), Antonín Brabec (Tatra Smíchov), Martin Pekárek (Rícany), Jan Rohlík (St Nazaire), Martin Kafka (Metro-Racing, France), Pavel Syrový (Praga), Ladislav Vondráaek (captain)(Bracknell, England), Jan Žíla (Tatra Smíchov), Jirí Buryánek (Dragon Brno), Miroslav Nemecek (RFC Bracknell, England), Robert Voves (St Nazaire, France), Roman `uster (St Nazaire, France), Lukáa Rapant (St Nazaire, France), Jirí Skall (Sparta Praha)
Replacements: Patrik Kovács (Havírov), Jan Kubálek (Rícany), Pavel `tastný (L´Isle Jourdain, France), `tepán Obr(Rícany), Vlastimil Madry (Praga), Vítezslav Dosedla (Dragon Brno), Jaroslav Tomcík (Havírov)

Romania: 15 Valentin Maftei (Aurillac), 14 Cristian Sauan (Rugby Rovigo), 13 Flavius Dobre (Dinamo Bucuresti), 12 Romeo Gontineac (Aurillac), 11 Ioan Teodorescu (U Cluj), 10 Ionut Dimofte (Contor Zenner Arad), 9 Lucian Sirbu (Metro Racing), 8 Alin Petrache (Beziers) (captain), 7 Alexandru Tudori (Perigueux), 6 Costica Mersoiu (Perigueux), 5 Cristian Petre (Tarbes), 4 Valentin Ursache (Contor Zenner Arad), 3 Marcel Socaciu (Rugby Rovigo), 2 Razvan Mavrodin (Tarbes), 1 Petru Balan (Biarritz Olimpique)
Replacements: Petrisor Toderasc (Oyonnax), Cezar Popescu (Tarbes), Bogdan Balan (Bordeaux Begles), Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucuresti), George Oprisor (Perpignan), Iulian Andrei (Steaua Bucuresti), Vasile Ghioc (Dinamo Bucuresti), Bogdan Viocu (U Cluj), Danut Dumbrava (Steaua Bucuresti)

Coach: Christian Galonnier (France)
Assistents: Martin Pekácek, Jan Machácek

Date: 27 November 2004
Kick-off: 14.00 (local time)
Expected weather conditions: Chance of rain with a high of 6°C dropping to 2°C with a westerly wind of 18 km/h.
Referee: Jean-Christophe Gastou (France)