Poor discipline and missed opportunities cost Tonga as they crashed to defeat in a see-saw battle in Bucharest. Florin Vlaicu kicked 14 points including a late penalty for the win.

ROMANIA 18 vs 19 TONGA
Saturday, November 9, 16:00 GMT, Bucharest

The first quarter was mostly a feeling-out contest, with neither side taking many risks, instead preferring to play a bit of aerial ping-pong which yielded penalty goals for each side. As the Tongans warmed up they began to play with more width but every time they made a half break the ball was either dropped or thrown away. While they got the better of the phase play, the tempo wasn’t quite fast enough to really break down the Oaks’ defense.

Romania chose to stick with their tested and true, having obviously studied 10-man Rugby for Dummies, with Valentin Calafeteanu refusing to move the ball to his outside backs. On two occasions his team worked themselves into scoring position only to have the makeshift flyhalf opt for ill-conceived drop goal attempts, much to the consternation of his forwards.

The two teams traded penalties to keep the scores level, but just after the break Oaks captain Mihai Macovei was the man on the ball as the big men mauled their way over the line. Vlaicu made the conversion to extend the lead, but all would be for naught as Macovei would go from hero to villain as he was shown yellow for cynically kicking the ball away when he was on the deck at a ruck.

Tonga made use of the numerical advantage as Vungakoto Lilo caught a poor chip kick from Vlaicu and turned the corner on Stephen Hihetah before working a lovely give-and-go with Sione Piukala to run in under the sticks. With the momentum now swung firmly in Tonga’s and penalties beginning to rack up against the home side, Vlaicu was in the doghouse again as he came in through the side at the breakdown and was summarily sent to the bin.

Reduced to only thirteen men, Romania brought in fresh legs in the form of Constantin Pristavita, and the young prop made an immediate impact, driving back his opposite Tevita Mailau in the scrum to earn his side a penalty. Macovei returned but the Oaks were still under pressure, and after repeated attacks were repelled finally Fetu’u Vainikolo took a quick tap and barged his way over to score what looked like the winning try. Somehow Apikotoa scuffed the conversion off the uprights to leave the score within kicking range.

Replacement props Eddie Aholelei and Sila Puafisi then entered the contest for Tonga, but their impact could not have been more opposite to the intent. Puafisi knocked on to hand Romania a scrum, and then conceded a penalty at the scrum as Pristavita showed his strength once again. Vlaicu, now back on the field, kicked the ball to the Ikale Tahi 22m line, and at the resulting lineout Aholelei took Valentin Poparlan’s legs out in the air to give Vlaicu his shot at goal.

The centre redeemed his earlier mistakes with a picture perfect kick, leaving only just enough time for the restart to take place. Romania gathered and fittingly it was Vlaicu again who kicked the ball high into the stands to end the contest.

Tonga will be bitterly disappointed with themselves as they could and should have won, and the two props in particular will no doubt get a tongue-lashing from coach Mana Otai following their blunders. Don’t be surprised to see one or both dropped for next week’s French test. Romania extend their unbeaten streak and now prepare to face a weakened Canadian side at home in a week’s time, a match they must now be favourites to win.

SCORING
06 mins – F. Vlaicu pen 3-0
17 mins – F. Apikotoa pen 3-3
35 mins – F. Apikotoa pen 3-6
38 mins – F. Vlaicu pen 6-6
45 mins – M. Macovei try 11-6
46 mins – F. Vlaicu con 13-6
54 mins – F. Vlaicu pen 16-6
59 mins – V. Lilo try 16-11
60 mins – F. Apikotoa con 16-13
73 mins – F. Vainikolo try 16-18
79 mins – F. Vlaicu pen 19-18

CARDS
56 mins – M. Macovei yellow (professional foul)
65 mins – F. Vlaicu yellow (team infringements)

ROMANIA
C. Fercu; I. Dumitru, C. Gal, F. Vlaicu, S. Hihetah; V. Calafeteanu (D. Manole 75), F. Surugiu; M. Lazar (C. Pristavita 59), O. Turashvili (E. Capatina 76), P. Ion (H. Pungea 76); V. Poparlan, M. Sirbe (A. Coste 75); V. Ursache, V. Lucaci (D. Lazar 68), M. Macovei (capt.).

TONGA
V. Lilo; V. Helu, S. Piutau, S. Piukala, F. Vainikolo; F. Apikotoa, T. Palu (S. Fisilau 68); S. Taumalolo (E. Aholelei 75), E. Taione (S. Taufalele 78), T. Mailau (S. Puafisi 70); L. Lokotui, U. Kolo’ofai; S. Kalamafoni, N. Latu (capt.), V. Ma’afu (O. Fonua 70).

Referee: F. Pastrana (UAR)
Assistants: A. McMenemy (SRU) & A. Graves (SRU)
TMO: A. Falzone (FIR)