UPDATED: Apjok juggles backline as Romania name team to play Ireland
Romania head coach Eugen Apjok announces his match-day 23 to face Ireland in Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday.
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Head coach Eugen Apjok makes only one change to his forwards but reshapes has backline for Romania's match against Rugby World Cup 2023's top-ranked team, Ireland, in Bordeaux on Saturday.
1 Iulian Hartig
2 Ovidiu Cojocaru
3 Alexandru Gordas
4 Adrian Motoc
5 Stefan Iancu
6 Florian Rosu
7 Vlad Neculau
8 Cristian Chirica (c)
9 Gabriel Rupanu
10 Hinckley Vaovasa
11 Tevita Manumua
12 Jason Tomane
13 Fonovai Tangimana
14 Nicolas Onutu
15 Marius Simionescu
Replacements:
16 Florin Bardasu
17 Alexandru Savin
18 Gheorghe Gajion
19 Marius Iftimiciuc
20 Dragos Ser
21 Alin Conache
22 Tudor Boldor
23 Taylor Gontineac
- Eugen Apjok has made three changes of personnel to his starting XV and a host of positional adjustments to the backline from the team that took to the field for the 57-7 defeat by Italy in the Oaks’ last RWC 2023 warm-up match.
- With Florin Surugiu still not recovered from injury, Romania will field their seventh different half-back partnership of the year as scrum-half Gabriel Rupanu (pictured) plays alongside Hinckley Vaovasa.
- Vaovasa has only started one previous test at fly-half with his other starts coming at centre, full-back and on the wing.
- The only change to the pack comes on the blindside where 30-year-old Florian Rosu comes in for Damian Stratila to win his 14th cap.
- Aside from 9 and 10, Romania go with virtually the same personnel in the backline as they did against Italy but with all wearing different numbered jerseys.
- Nicolas Onutu shifts from the left wing to the right and former Tonga sevens international, Tevita Manumua moves from inside-centre to fill the gap.