Romania feeling unloved

Hopefully, Launceston will welcome Romania with open arms because the Eastern Europeans are starting to feel as if they don't belong in the World Cup.

On the wrong end of hidings from three of the world's top seven teams in the space of 12 days, Romania give the distinct impression they have almost had enough of this tournament.

A win, or at least a more complete performance against fellow easybeats Namibia in Launceston next Thursday, will send them home with lighter hearts.

Hit by injuries and the unavailability of players before the tournament, handed an awkward draw by the organisers, beaten on the scoreboard and, yesterday, berated by referee Chris White to the tune of 20 penalties, Romania hit rock-bottom with a 50-3 loss to the Pumas.

They were disconsolate because a second-string Argentina played badly yet still scored a half-century of points.

While coach Bernard Charreyre realises Romania were in the hardest pool, he can't hide his disappointment at the way things have turned out.

He suggested the World Cup was a three-division affair, with New Zealand, England, Australia, Ireland, South Africa and France in the top division, a collection of teams formed the middle tier, while Georgia and Romania brought up the rear.

He did not say it, but he implied Romania did not really belong at this elite level, with floggings doing little for his team's morale.

"There are only a few nations who can actually fight for the World Cup," he said.

"If we want rugby to be a global sport, we certainly don't need matches like these - with gaps of 80 or 90 points."

Captain Romeo Gontineac said the 90-8 loss to Australia last week had sucked the lifeblood out of the Romanians.

"I believe our players were badly affected by their result against the Wallabies."

Gontineac said Romania had gone into that match hoping for a good result after holding Ireland to 45-17 in freezing conditions at Gosford.

He said Romania's goal was to stay close to the teams labelled second division by Charreyre.

"But at the moment it's clear we have a lot of work to do."

The Pumas dominated every facet of the game, controlling field position and possession, while their opponents were left to feed off scraps and had a solitary penalty from first five-eighth Ionut Tofan to show for their work.

Argentina raced to a 24-0 lead with three first-half tries, then added a further 26 points in the second spell.

Their bonus-point victory lifted them to second in the pool A standings, but needing to win their final match with Ireland in Adelaide on Sunday to make the quarter-finals.

- REUTERS

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