Perpignan hooker Marius Tincu will lead Romania in their clash with Scotland in Invercargill © Getty Images

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Romania head coach Romeo Stefan Gontineac has announced his starting line-up for Saturday's World Cup Pool B clash with Scotland at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

In a boost for the Romanians, loose-head prop Mihaita Alexandru Lazar, who had been struggling with a shin injury, has been passed fit to take his place in the front-row alongside captain Marius Tincu and tight-head Paulica Ion.

Openside flanker Ovidiu Tonita has also been cleared to start after recovering from a knock he sustained in last month's friendly against French outfit Perigueux. Ionel Cazan has been named amongst the replacements after shaking off the effects of a niggling foot problem but prop Nicolae Nere and winger Catalin Nicolae both miss out through injury.

Gontineac commented: "Scotland will try to play their own game. We'll try to slow down their game and play our own game. Scotland is a big team, a team that has played such good rugby. We are going to try and limit them. They like to play a fast game, and it will be hard for us. But we will not drop the guns for this match.

"We are looking to (play) the most experienced team. It will be a hard match and most people didn't even expect us to be here. We know it will be a very hard game for us. We need the team to be able to go forward."

Romania: Iulian Dumitras; Stefan Eugen Ciuntu, Csaba Minya Gal, Tiberius Ionut Dimofte; Madalin Vlad Lemnaru; Marin Danut Dumbrava, Lucian Mihai Sirbu; Mihaita Alexandru Lazar, Marius Tincu (capt), Paulica Ion; Valentin Neculai Ursache, Cristian Constantin Petre; Mihai Macovei, Ovidiu Tonita, Daniel Carpo.

Replacements: Bogdan Zebega Suman, Silviu Florea, Valentin Poparlan, Sandu Stelian Burcea, Florin Surugiu, Ionel Cazan, Florin Adrian Vlaicu.