England v Romania, Rugby World Cup, September 24
No Tincu for Romania
ESPNscrum Staff
September 21, 2011
Romania's Iionel Cazan dives over to score a try, Argentina v Romania, Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill, New Zealand, September 17, 2011
Ionel Cazan was a try-scorer for Romania in their defeat by Argentina last time out © Getty Images
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Romania head coach Romeo Gontineac has left captain Marius Tincu on the bench for Saturday's Rugby World Cup meeting with England at Otago Stadium in Dunedin.

Perpignan hooker Tincu led The Oaks in their games against Scotland and Argentina but has surprisingly been replaced in the front-row by Bogdan Suman. Cristian Petre will serve as captain with Tincu having been demoted to the bench.

Petre is just one of four survivors from the starting line-up which faced the Pumas. Ionel Cazan, who started on the left wing last weekend, switches to midfield, where he will line up alongside Iulian Dumitras, the fullback having been redeployed at inside centre. Ovidiu Tonita, meanwhile, moves from openside flanker to No.8. Tonita will have Sandu Burcea and Cosmin Ratiu for company in the back-row.

Elsewhere in the pack, stand-in skipper Petre has been paired with Valentin Poparlan in the second-row, while Nicolae Nere and Silviu Florea will start either side of surprise inclusion Suman.

As for the remaining back positions, Marin Dumbrava has been recalled at No.10, with Lucian Sirbu joining him in the half-backs. Florin Vlaicu, Stefan Ciuntu and Adrian Apostol are the chosen back-three.

The 11 changes in personnel would appear to suggest that Romania have already switched their focus to next week's encounter with Georgia but Gontineac feels that he has picked a side capable of competing with England.

"It's a young team (but) it's the team we trust. We trusted them before the World Cup and we trust them for this match on Saturday," he said.

"The risk would be to keep the same team because for two games we have played almost the same team and we want to share the playing time, we want everyone to enjoy the World Cup. Also, the team were not too happy with their performance in the Argentina game."

Romania: Florin Adrian Vlaicu; Stefan Eugen Ciuntu, Ionel Cazan, Iulian Dumitras, Adrian Marian Apostol; Marin Danut Dumbrava, Lucian Mihai Sirbu; Nicolae Nere, Bogdan Zebega Suman, Silviu Florea; Valentin Poparlan, Cristian Constantin Petre (capt); Sandu Stelian Burcea, Cosmin Aurel Ratiu, Ovidiu Tonita.

Replacements: Marius Tincu, Paulica Ion, Mihai Macovei, Daniel Gabriel Ianus, Valentin Nicolae Calafeteanu, Csaba Minya Gal, Catalin Marius Nicolae.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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