Apjok juggles backline as Romania name team to play Ireland

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.