Rugby: A debutant in Romania’s starting XV for the match against Chile, in the Nations Cup

BUCHAREST, Jul 3 (AGERPRES /APP): Debutant Jean-Pierre Smith was included in Romania’s XV for the match against Chile, the first of the Nations Cup, a competition held under the aegis of World Rugby, scheduled for Saturday (Sunday, 01:00, Romanian time), at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago de Chile, according to the Romanian Rugby Federation website.

Another debutant, Keanan Murray, will start on the bench.

The captain of the ”oaks” will be Cristi Boboc, who on this occasion reaches a round number of selections, 30.

‘I am very happy that I can be with the team again. It has been almost six difficult months, in which I worked day by day to come back as quickly and as strong as possible after the injury. There were moments when I missed the atmosphere in the locker room, the training sessions and, especially, the matches in the national team jersey. That is why this return means a lot to me and I am grateful that I can be on the field again with my colleagues. We want to have a good match against Chile, to put into practice what we have prepared in training and to build confidence from one minute to the next. Our objective is victory and a performance that will give us confidence for what is to come. Chile is a team that we respect. They have a dynamic game, they are aggressive in contact and do not give up the fight easily. That is why we must be focused from the first to the last minute and remain united at every moment of the game. We have adapted very well here, the conditions are very good, and the atmosphere in the group is excellent. We are motivated and eager to enter the field. We hope to have a match that meets expectations and give everyone who supports us a reason to be proud,’ declared the midfielder Gabriel Rupanu, who returns to the team after a long absence caused by an injury.

Romania is currently ranked 22nd in the World Rugby rankings, while Chile is ranked 18th.

Romania will also play Uruguay on July 11 and Samoa on July 18, both in Montevideo.

Romania: 1. Alexandru Savin (CS Rapid), 2. Stefan Marko Buruiana (RC Narbonne), 3. Jean-Pierre Smith (CS Dinamo), 4. Nicolaas Immelman (CSM ?tiin?a Baia Mare), 5. Andrei Mahu (Massy), 6. Kemal Altinok (SCM USV Timi?oara), 7. Cristi Boboc (captain; CSA Steaua), 8. Adrian Mitu (Soyaux-Angouleme), 9. Gabriel Rupanu (SCM USV Timi?oara), 10. Daniel Plai (SCM USV Timi?oara), 11. Iliesa Tiqe (SCM USV Timi?oara), 12. Jason Tomane (CSM ?tiin?a Baia Mare), 13. Dylan Schwartz (CS Dinamo), 14. Nicolas Onu?u (RC Aubenas Vals), 15. Marius Simionescu (SCM USV Timi?oara).

Reserves: 16. Tudor Butnariu (SCM USV Timi?oara), 17. Iulian Hartig (CS Dinamo), 18. Cosmin Manole (CS Dinamo), 19. Logan Weidner (CS Rapid), 20. Keanan Murray (CS Dinamo), 21. Alin Conache (CSA Steaua), 22. Mihai Graure (CS Dinamo), 23. Damian Bonaparte (CSA Steaua).

Technical staff: David Gerard – head coach, Raphael Saint-Andre – assistant coach, Juan Pablo Orlandi – forwards coach, Gareth Adamson – S&C, Fabian Bunu – video analyst, Petra Melinte – doctor, Marius Todosi – physiotherapist, David Popa – manager.