Canada v Romania – November 2024

Canada Fall to Romania 35-27: End 2024 With 5 Straight Losses

Canada put in a better effort this week against Romania, but still fell 35-27. It’s the 5th straight loss for Canada in 2024 and renews calls for a coaching change. Canada are projected to fall to 23rd in the world rankings when the ranking are released on Monday.

Canada scored first off a penalty try at 13 minutes. It was a bizarre call as the Canada runner, Quattrin, had broken off the maul and was tackled short of the line and then the penalty try was called. Regardless, Canada were ahead 7-0.

At 16 minutes Romania closed the lead to 7-3 with a penalty. At 23 minutes it was 7-6 with another Romania penalty. Canada kicked a penalty at 27 minutes, 10-6 for Canada. 30 minutes in, a series of events lead to the first Romania try by their big winger, Tevita Manamua. First a box kick from Canada landing in the centre of the pitch was returned by the Romania #10 to the Canada 5 metre line, from there a number of pick and goes resulted in a yellow card to Andrew Coe for repeated offside infringements, another bizarre call from the referee. Eventually Romania found the overlap on the outside for the try, 11-10 Romania.

Next try was to Romania at the 34 minute mark, exploiting the extra man, they found space on the outside and some slick passing saw the #7 cross the line, 18-10 Romania. At 38 minutes Canada closed the gap with another penalty, 18-13. That closed the first half.

Romania opened the second half with a try, again finding space in the backline, it was now 25-13 for Romania. Canada countered with a scrum try, pushing the Romania team over their goal line with Lucas Rumball touching it down, 25-20 for Romania. At 50 minutes Romania hit back with a series of pick and goes inside the Canada 5 metres and were ahead 30-20. Each team scored another try although Romania played the last 20 minutes with 14 men due to a red card.

That wraps up the Canada 2024 campaign as the team are on a 5 game losing streak.

Match Video

from Canadian Press

Romania, surviving a late red card, hung on to defeat a determined Canada 35-27 in a men’s international rugby test match Saturday.

The Canadian men, ranked 22nd in the world compared to No. 20 for Romania, put on a far better show than a week earlier in a 44-14 loss to No. 21 Chile, also at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf.

But Canada’s effort fell short with several late attacks fizzling due to a handling error or penalty. It was a fifth straight defeat for Canada, which has won just two of its last 12 tests.

Captain Lucas Rumball and Sion Parry scored tries for Canada, which was also awarded a penalty try. Peter Nelson kicked two penalties and two conversions.

Ovidiu Neagu has two tries and Tevita Manumua, captain Cristi Chirica and Yanis Horvat added singles for Romania, which led 18-13 at the half. Alin Conache booted two penalties and two conversions.

“It was a real tough test. It was what we expected,” said Canada’s coach Kingsley Jones. “Proud of my players in terms of their application to a test match. A tough stadium, tough physicality, and I thought they did really well.”

“Lots of learnings for us of course, things we can do better to close out test matches,” he added.

It was the last test match of the year for Jones as he prepares his young side for World Cup qualifying, which starts next year via the Pacific Nations Cup. Canada finished the year with a 1-6-0 record.

And there was bad blood early in the second half with six-foot-six Canadian lock Izzak Kelly in the thick of it. The melee was triggered by Romania hooker Stefan Buruianas, who was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Parry.

It was the Romanians’ eighth yellow card in their last three games.

Canada elected to go for a scrum rather than kick for points on the ensuing penalty deep in the Romania end. Rumball crashed over to cut the deficit to 25-20 in the 48th minute.

After a Romania try by Horvat, Parry’s try in the 55th minute cut the Oaks’ lead to 30-27.

Romania’s discipline issues continued when Australian-born centre Jason Tomane was red-carded with 16 minutes remaining for a late, high tackle on Nelson. Neagu touched down in the corner in the 68th minute, upping the Oaks’ lead to 35-27.

Canada won 35-22 when the two teams met in July in Ottawa, which snapped a run of six Romanian victories over the Canadians. But Romania came into Saturday’s match with a reinforced roster and 6-3-0 edge in the overall series.

Canada’s two other victories were at the 1991 and ’96 World Cups. Romania’s win streak includes the biggest comeback in men’s World Cup history when it scored 17 points in the final 28 minutes at the 2015 tournament to edge Canada 17-15.

Canada has lost all five meetings on Romanian soil.

Jones hoped for a better defensive effort Saturday after conceding seven tries in the loss to Chile, the first meeting between the two since October 2021 when the South Americans ended the Canada’s qualification bid for the 2023 World Cup with a 54-46 aggregate victory in their two-legged series.

Romania, meanwhile, was coming off a 25-15 win over No. 18 Tonga.

The Canadian defence was solid to start. But the visitors were denied a try in the sixth minute when the television match official ruled Tongan-born wing Taliauli Sikuea had beaten Coe to a kick that crossed the Romanian try-line.

Canada went ahead 7-0 in the 14th minute when Scottish referee Sam Grove-White awarded a penalty try for an Romanian infraction as the Canadian maul headed for the try-line.

A pair of Romania penalty kicks cut the deficit to 7-6 before a Nelson penalty upped the Canada lead to 10-6.

Coe was sent to the sin bin in the 31st minute, paying the price for a string of Canadian offsides as Romania attacked the try-line following a line break by New Zealand-born fly half Hinckley Voavasa.

Romania wasted little time taking advantage, pulling ahead 18-10 on back-to-back tries by Manumua and Chirica. A 38th-minute Nelson penalty reduced the margin to 18-13.

Romania added to the lead early in the second half with a Neagu try in the 42nd minute.

Sam Miller, Jesse Kilgour and Rhys James, members of Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride development academy, earned their first Canada caps off the bench. Scrum half Brock Gallagher and lock James Stockwood made their first starts.

Saturday’s game was for the new Cernavoda Cup, a trophy that will be contested every time the two teams meet. The trophy, awarded in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Romania, honours Romanian-Canadian co-operation in the nuclear energy sector.

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Canada Name Team for Match vs Romania on Saturday: Kickoff at 8am PT

Canada have made a number of changes from the team that lost to Chile 44-14 last weekend. Cole Keith is replaced at loosehead prop by Cali Martinez, the backup is Sam Miller. Andrew Quattrin retains his spot at hooker as does Conor Young at tighthead prop. Jesse Mackail and Tyler Matchem remain as reserves.

James Stockwood replaces Kaden Duguid in the second row while Mason Flesch retains his spot. With Ethan Fryer injured Matt Heaton moves to blindside flanker, Sion Parry to openside and Lucas Rumball remains at #8. The reserve forwards are Callum Botchar, Izzak Kelly, Matt Oworu.

Coach Kingsley Jones has gone with a 6-2 split on the bench, anticipating a forwards dominated battle. The only two backline replacements are Jesse Kilgour at scrum half and Rhys James. Again Jones has started Peter Nelson at #10 without any signs of vetting upcoming 10s such as Josh Thiel and Mark Balaski. Brock Gallagher replaces Jason Higgins at scrum half.

Ben Lesage was injured last match so Mitch Richardson gets the start at outside centre, inside centre remains Noah Flesch. The back three is changed from Morra, Coe, Benn to Benn, Coe, Coats.

Canada took 32 players on tour for two games, players that didn’t get any playing time this tour are Dewald  Kotze, Mark Balaski, Josh Thiel.

Romania have announced 10 changes to the team that defeated Tonga 25-15 last weekend, 5 in the starting XV and 5 in the reserves. The Romania media release (posted below) indicates the match will be broadcast live on TVR 3 but there’s no mention of what live stream will be available, although the Rugby Romania YouTube channel did live stream both the Romania v Tonga and the Chile v Canada matches, so it’s a good bet they’ll live stream this match.

Matches between Romania and Canada:
1991, World Cup, Toulouse: Romania – Canada 11-19
1995, World Cup, Port Elizabeth: Romania – Canada 3-34
2005, Test match, Bucharest: Romania – Canada 22-20
2013, Test match , Bucharest: Romania – Canada 21-20
2014, Test match, Bucharest: Romania – Canada 18-9
2015, World Cup, Leicester: Romania – Canada 17-15
2016, Test match, Bucharest: Romania – Canada 21-16
2017, Test match, Edmonton: Canada – Romania 9-25
2024, Test match, Ottawa: Canada – Romania 35-22

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs ROMANIA

1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
4. James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
5. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
6. Matt Heaton (Godmanchester, QC) – RFC LA
7. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, WAL) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
9. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Utah Warriors
12. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
13. Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek, ON) – McMaster University
14. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) – RFC LA / Markham Irish RFC
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars / NOLA Gold

FINISHERS

16. Jesse Mackail (Palmerston North, NZL) – UBCOB Ravens / Pacific Pride / Seattle Seawolves
17. Sam Miller (Mount Denson, NS) – Valley Rugby Union / Pacific Pride
18. Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – NOLA Gold
20. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloe Rugby Club
21. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride / Chicago Hounds
22. Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride
23. Rhys James (Kelowna, BC) – UBC Okanagan Heat / Pacific Pride

from Rugby Canada

The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team that will take on Romania this Saturday for the new Cernavodă Cup has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.

Romania hosts Canada at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest on Saturday November 16 at 8:00am PT / 11:00am ET / 6:00pm local time. This is the second meeting between these teams this year; Canada hosted Romania in Ottawa in July, winning 35-22.

This weekend will see Canada take to the field with some new pairings and combinations, along with three players who could earn their first caps, Pacific Pride Development Academy players Sam Miller, Jesse Kilgour and Rhys James.

Earning his second start for Canada is Noah Flesch, who debuted for Canada last Saturday against Chile. Brock Gallagher and James Stockwood, who earned their first caps for Canada in July off the bench against Scotland, get their first starts.

“Our match against Romania in July was an important one for us, where we saw a lot of growth from our squad, and this second opportunity against them gives us another great challenge against strong opposition. Players have worked really hard this week and are really wanting to improve upon our performance from our tough test last Saturday against Chile,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones.

“Our roster for Saturday looks different than that from the match in July, as our program works through a number of injuries, but it’s a valuable experience for our young players. This is an important opportunity to see how our young players step up ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup qualification.”

This match will mark the introduction of the Cernavodă Cup, a perpetual trophy that will be contested every time that Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team and Romania play.

The trophy is named, in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada to Romania, to honour the remarkable tradition of Romanian-Canadian cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. For nearly half a century, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, which has two Canadian CANDU reactors, has been at the very heart of this bilateral relationship. It is the biggest and most enduring project that Canada and Romania have ever undertaken together.

The two operational CANDU units at Cernavodă provide Romania with 18% of its total electricity, or one lightbulb in five. They are two of the best-performing reactors in the world and supply safe, secure and affordable electricity while generating zero CO2 emissions.

from Rugby Romania (translated by Google)

The Romanian national rugby team will meet Canada on Saturday, November 16, in the second test match of the month. The match will take place in Bucharest, at the Arc de Triumf National Rugby Stadium, from 18:00. Tickets are available at www.Bilete.ro. (https://bit.ly/BileteNoiembrie). The match will be broadcast live on TVR 3.

For this match, the technical staff has determined the team that will enter the field, compared to the match with Tonga, in the First XV, 5 changes have been made, three forward, Buruian, Mahu and Mitu will start the match, and two on the three-quarter line , with Sikuea and Neagu in charge. Also, five changes were made on the reserve bench, Cojocaru, Neculau, Horvat, Bucur and Popoaia being selected for this match. The captain of the Oaks will be Cristi Chirica, who also led Romania to the Rugby World Cup in France last year.

“It is a match in which we again have a revenge to take, but we are confident, the victory against Tonga gave us more confidence in ourselves. Certainly if we stick to the game plan it will be a nice match against Canada as well, a match we want and must win. We thank those who support us and we are waiting for them on Saturday, in as large a number as possible, as it was last Saturday, with us. We need them, their support, it matters a lot to us”, said Cristi Chirica, Romania’s captain

Romania:
1. Alexandru Savin (CS Rapid), 2. Ștefan Marko Buruiană (Castres), 3. Vasile Balan (CSA Steaua), 4. Jacob Nicoolas Immelman (CSM Știința Baia Mare), 5. Andrei Mahu (Massy), 6 Cristi Boboc (CSA Steaua), 7. Cristi Chirica C (CS Dinamo), 8. Adrian Mitu (Soyaux Angoulème Rugby XV Charente), 9. Alin Conache (CSA Steaua), 10. Vaovasa Hinckley (CS Dinamo), 11. Tevita Manumua (SCM USV Timisoara), 12. Jason Tomane (CSM Știința Baia Mare), 13. Mihai Graure (CS Dinamo), 14. Taliauli Sikuea (CSM Știința Baia Mare), 15. Ovidiu Neagu (CS Dinamo)
Reserves: 16. Ovidiu Cojocaru (CS Dinamo), 17. Iulian Hartig (CS Dinamo), 18. Cosmin Manole (CS Dinamo), 19. Yanis Horvat (SC Albi), 20. Vlad Neculau (SCM USV Timișoara), 21. Gabriel Rupanu (SCM USV Timișoara), 22. Alexandru Bucur (SCM USV Timișoara), 23. Paul Popoaia (CSM Știința Baia Mare)
Staff: David Gérard – head coach