McDowell excels in Romanian World Cup dream job

Steve McDowell. Photo / APN

Life changed for former All Black prop Steve McDowell when he became the Romanian scrum coach nearly four years ago.

The 50-year-old is among more than 50 New Zealanders involved in coaching or management positions with other countries at the World Cup.

"It was one of those dreams come true to come back as a coach for the World Cup in New Zealand."

McDowell played 81 games, including 46 tests, from 1985 until 1992 and was a member of the All Black team that won the World Cup in 1987.

He has been the Romanian scrum coach for the past three years and has been based in Bucharest with his family - wife Michelle and children Tyla (13), Spencer (11), Morgan (9) and Casey (6).

"I can speak a little Romanian but my kids are better. Casey speaks fluent Romanian.

"It's a different culture, so you learn a lot of new things. You also learn a lot about yourself when you stay that long in a different country. It's been a great experience for me."

The Romanian scrum has improved a lot since McDowell has been involved.

"I have been trying to teach them about the collective and working together and it worked against Scotland and Argentina."

Romania would like to move into the top tier of world rugby but it is difficult. "We want to get more people playing rugby and need a collaborative relationship with schools," McDowell said.

A problem is the lack of land to form rugby grounds.

"The schools are just concrete buildings with few playing fields."

McDowell said club rugby in Romania was the equivalent of premier B rugby in Auckland.

ENGLAND v ROMANIA
Dunedin, 6.00 tonight

Referee: Romain Poite (France)Ben Foden

ENGLAND
Chris Ashton
Manu Tuilagi
Mike Tindall
Mark Cueto
Jonny Wilkinson
Ben Youngs
James Haskell
Lewis Moody (c)
Tom Croft
Tom Palmer
Louis Deacon
Dan Cole
Steve Thompson
Alex Corbisiero
Reserves: Lee Mears, David Wilson, Simon Shaw, Tom Wood, Richard Wigglesworth, Toby Flood, Delon Armitage.

ROMANIA
Florin Vlaicu
Stefan Ciuntu
Ionel Cazan
Iulian Dumitras
Adrian Apostol
Danut Dumbrava
Lucian Sirbu
Ovidiu Tonita
Cosmin Ratiu
Stelian Burcea
Cristian Petre (c)
V. Calafeteanu
Silviu Florea
Bogdan Zebega
Nicolae Nere
Reserves: Marius Tincu, Paulica Ion, Mihai Macovei, Daniel Ianus, Valentin Calafeteanu, Csaba Gal, Catalin Fercu.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES