Alin Conache, the scrum half, scored 16 points to assist Romania in securing a 31-21 victory over Canada in men’s international rugby competition on Saturday.
The defeat at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf is likely to cause Canada, ranked 24th, to drop at least one position in the global rankings.
Canada is set to face off against 11th-ranked Georgia next Saturday in Batumi, followed by a match against 20th-ranked Portugal on Nov. 22 in Coimbra. Earlier on Saturday in Batumi, Georgia defeated the 15th-ranked U.S. Eagles with a score of 43-30.
Ovidiu Cojocaru, Cristi Chirică, and Tevita Manumua scored tries for Romania, ranked 21st. Conache successfully converted four penalties and two conversions.
Canada, on the other hand, saw tries from Mason Flesch, Piers Von Dadelszen, and Barnaby Waddell, with two players receiving sin-bins in the second half. Peter Nelson managed three conversions.
Waddell, a player at Bridgend Ravens in Wales, scored a crucial try in the dying moments of the game after making his debut in the second half.
Romania extended its historical dominance over Canada to 8-3-0. The Oaks have emerged victorious in eight of the last nine encounters, with the lone exception being a 35-22 win for Canada at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium in July 2024. Canada’s other triumphs against Romania were at the 1991 and 1995 World Cups.
Canada Struggles Early on
Romania started the game strongly from the kickoff on Saturday, taking a 3-0 lead in the third minute with a Conache penalty after a penalty against Canada’s Matt Oworu for not releasing the ball when tackled in Canada’s territory. Conache added another penalty in the ninth minute following a penalty at the lineout for Canada.
Conache extended the lead to 9-0 in the 15th minute after Canada faced scrum pressure on its own put-in. A penalty attempt by Nelson in the 18th minute narrowly missed, hitting the goalpost.
Romania continued to build on their lead, reaching 12-0 in the 25th minute after Canada was penalized at the scrum.
Flesch responded for Canada in the 28th minute by scoring a try from close range. Nelson’s successful conversion reduced Romania’s lead to 12-7, marking his 201st point for Canada.
Conache’s flawless kicking streak was broken late in the first half.
With a 12-7 lead at halftime, Romania surged ahead in the 42nd minute as Cojocaru scored a converted try behind a driving maul off a lineout, extending their lead to 19-7. Canada appeared to respond with a try by Nic Benn, but it was disallowed due to obstruction.
Canadian fly half Robbie Povey received a yellow card in the 53rd minute for a high tackle. Romania came close to scoring soon after, with flanker Kemal Altinok almost crossing the try line in a heap of bodies, but the try could not be confirmed after a video review.
