Try scorer Rupanu keeps his place - Romania name team play South Africa

Romania head coach Eugen Apjok has named his match-day 23 to face South Africa in Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday, with three personnel changes from the loss against Ireland, and two positional.

1 Iulian Hartig 
2 Ovidiu Cojocaru 
3 Alexandru Gordas
4 Adrian Motoc
5 Marius Iftimiciuc
6 Andre Gorin
7 Vlad Neculau
8 Cristian Chirica (c)
9 Gabriel Rupanu
10 Hinckley Vaovasa
11 Nicholas Onutu
12 Taylor Gontineac
13 Jason Tomane
14 Tevita Manumua
15 Marius Simionescu

Replacements:
16 Robert Irimescu 
17 Alexandru Savin
18 Thomas Cretu 
19 Stefan Iancu 
20 Damian Stratila 
21 Cristi Boboc
22 Alin Conache 
23 Gabriel Pop 

• Head coach Eugen Apjok has made three changes of personnel to his starting XV for the Oaks’ second match of the tournament, while the two retained wingers, Nicholas Onutu and Tevita Manumua, swap jerseys and play 11 and 14, respectively.

• Romania’s starting XV only has 323 caps (195 in the forwards and 128 in the backs), with tight-head prop Alexandru Gordas and number eight and captain Cristian Chirica the most experienced players with 35 caps apiece.

• In the pack, Marius Iftimiciuc comes into the second row in place of Stefan Iancu, who moves to the bench, while Andre Gorin will become the 24th Romania player in the space of a week to make their Rugby World Cup debut after being named on the blindside.

• The only other change of personnel comes at centre, where Taylor Gontineac replaces Fonovai Tangimana.

• Romania’s oldest and most experienced player at RWC 2023, Florin Surugiu, is still not fit so Gabriel Rupanu retains his place at scrum-half. Rupanu’s try, clocked at just two minutes and 11 seconds, was Romania’s quickest-ever RWC try.

• Hinckley Vaovasa keeps his place alongside Rupanu at fly-half after a superb outing in only his second test start in the position against Ireland. He beat nine defenders – only New Zealand’s Mark Telea managed more (11).