Scotland puts up 84 on Romania. Wow.
Romanian rugby is in a mess. The federation they have don't know how to develop the sport. The head honchos are more interested in luxury trips to France. The coach is inexperienced and only has domestic experience. He also made some bizarre choices like leaving out 2 players with Top14 experience. Why ?
Players have said the coaching is a mess too. Injuries have not helped but neither has switching lineups constantly especially at half back. There is no recognized flyhalf in the side either. What is very worrying that is Romania u18 finished bottom of the 8 team European championship and were beaten by Spain 102-0. Spain are really moving forward and but for a technicality would have been at this WC not Romania.
It's extremely sad to see a once proud rugby nation in the state it is. Remember back in the 1980s they drew with NZ beat all of the Home Unions barring England. They need to get someone in who will increase junior numbers, better junior coaching and make the league stable with 10 top level clubs that the rest feed into. And try and get a side into the Challenge Cup as well. It's going to be a long term project.
In the game itself they fought well but having 3 yellow cards was costly. Mind you the referee was quick to penalize Rosu but numerous Scottish infringements on their own line went unpunished. Scotland are only where they are because of imports notably from South Africa. Their own juniors are pretty bad. They lost to Uruguay in the u20 World Trophy but as usual WR bend the rules for the old boys and are thinking of an expanded u20 World Trophy which runs below the u20 World Cup for the top 12 sides current holders being France.
Romania need to follow Portugal's lead in junior development. The scoreline flatters Australia considerably as for most of the game the Wolves were the best side. The have a fantastic back three in Marta, Storti and Guedes. Lagisquet has instilled that old style French flair into them. They stuffed up a couple of tries notably Martins failing to pass the ball inside to Guedes just before half time. While wonderful to watch their expansive rugby at times they were a little naive. A minute to go for Bettencourts yellow to expire Marques chips over. It's collected and run back for an Australian try. The sole difference was strength too in contact. Given that most of the Portuguese side are semiprofessionals that's just down to gym work.
The Portuguese President was there watching. I'm sure rugby will get a funding boost, more sponsorship. And more importantly many young kids will be interested now and take the sport up. Longer term Portugal need to get a professional league if possible, a side like the Lusitanos not just in the Challenge Cup of Europe but into the United Rugby Championship.
It would be great if the URC has a second tier with sides like Black Lion from Georgia, a rep.side from Spain and maybe Holland plus an additional 2 SA teams and others.
Tonga looked better last night too. The scoreline flattered SA as well. Three cheap tries one again from being naive trying to run out from the 22, coughing the ball up and allowing a simple score, and a bit of fortune for SA with the ball coming off the shoulder for Moodie to score. Not to mention the referee not making the mark but still allowing Reinach to score with the Tongan's backs turned.
Also highlights their need for a kicker. They missed all 3 conversions. Kefu said the side needs time together. Problem is the French season runs deep so in the summer when there are tournaments like the Pacific Test Championship these players are unavailable. Also the eligibility rule change. Players like Fekitoa are available now. But they are available not at their peak but in their 30s so it will be a constant race for teams like Tonga to try and scoop up players this way. It would be better if players like the young scrum half Fakatava in the AB squad declared for Tonga now.
Indeed 3 of the AB side were Tongan born and represented Tonga to the age of 16. They get scholarships to NZ and end up playing for NZ. NZ say well most of the Tongan team learnt rugby in NZ being born to first generation parents. Sure that is true. But I still think it's a bit rich for them to keep pinching such players. And they also make sure that players from the islands and abroad in order to play Super Rugby don't declare for their nation. That needs to stop. The same with SA.
I mean NZ have capped German Anton Segner at u20 along with Dutchman Fabian Holland. Both should be looking to play for the countries in which they developed Segner at SC Frankfurt, Fabian at Castricumse. Both are chasing an AB jersey but I think that is sad. Players like these need to spearhead their own nations development and Holland are forming a nucleus of a very good side for the future.