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Rugby World Cup | Group Stage
Oct 6, 2015 at 4.45pm UK
 
Canada
15-17
Romania
van der Merwe (33'), Hassler (44')
FT
Macovei (53', 74')

Live Commentary: Canada 15-17 Romania - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Romania's come-from-behind 17-15 win over Canada in Pool D at the Rugby World Cup.
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Romania came from 15 points down to secure a 17-15 win over Canada in their Rugby World Cup match at the King Power Stadium in Leicester this evening.

Tries from DTH Van Der Merwe and Jeff Hassler put the Canadians 15-0 up in their final match in Pool D, but two from Romania captain Mihai Macovei secured the comeback late on.

The result leaves Romania in contention for a third-placed finish in the pool, while Canada finish the tournament with losses in all four of their matches.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good afternoon! Canada will conclude their campaign at this year's Rugby World Cup with a match against Romania this afternoon. Neither side can make it through to the quarter-finals, but both are still looking for their first win. Let's start with a look at the teams.

CANADA STARTING XV: Jones, Hassler, Hearn, Blevins, Van der Merwe, Hirayama, McRorie, Buydens, Barkwill, Wooldridge, Beukeboom, Cudmore, Sinclair, Moonlight, Carpenter

ROMANIA STARTING XV: Fercu, Lemnaru, Kinikinilau, Vlaicu, Botezatu, Wiringi, Surugiu, Lazar, Turashvili, Ion, Poparlan, van Heerden, Ursache, Lucaci, Macovei

There are six changes for Canada as Kieran Crowley hands Jamie Cudmore his 14th start of the Rugby World Cup, equaling the national record, while James Pritchard, the country's top scorer, is on the bench.

Meanwhile, Romania coach Lynn Howells has made seven changes to the side that were beaten by Ireland last time out. Mihaita Lazar and Valentin Poparlan are both included, securing their 50th caps for their country.

With a match against Italy still to come at the weekend, Romania have the added incentive of knowing that a win today would give them a chance to finish third in the group, and therefore secure automatic qualification for the 2019 tournament in Japan. However, the two times that they have previously faced Canada they have been beaten.

Lynn Howells said at his pre-match press conference: "We have no new injuries. It's the ability to see the opposition and really pick a team that plays against the opposition. This game gives us an opportunity to get a result and that gives a different outlook altogether. We set two goals. The first one, we've achieved, as we showed that we can play against the tier-one nations. The second goal is that we would have two wins and would go straight to Japan 2019. It gives us four years' preparation, which would be huge for Romanian rugby."

Meanwhile, Canada prop Djustice Sears-Duru told reporters: "I think our set piece has got a lot better over the tournament. We've got some good options and hopefully we can show them what we have and get some scores. I think we are now playing fast-paced rugby, the kind which could have won both games. I think we've got a good game plan against Romania."

Here's the Canadian side arriving in Leicester a little earlier:


Canada have appeared at all seven previous editions of the Rugby World Cup, and have only failed to secure a win in once, although in 2007 they did claim a draw. A loss today would leave the team with four defeats for the first time.

Romania haven't won at the Rugby World Cup since 2007, having been beaten in all four of their matches in the 2011 edition. They last victory was a 14-10 win over Portugal, and they have never won more than one match at a single tournament.

Here are the Romanians making their way into the stadium a little earlier:


The players make their way out ready for kickoff, with the anthems of both nations to come before the match gets underway.

With kickoff just moments away now, why not check out our Rugby World Cup page, where you can find details of England's team news, all the injury latest and lots of exclusive quotes.

KICKOFF! Romania get the match underway!

It's been raining for most of the day in Leicester, and that's made the pitch rather soft under foot. Canada win a scrum, which Romania push hard in to try to win the ball back, but McRorie gets the ball out wide to Harry Jones, who looks to make the most of some space on the right, but Romania quickly get back.

Canada are looking really lively the opening couple of minutes as the Scottish-born Gordon McRorie passes to Hirayama, who in turn finds Hearn, but the centre is brought down short by Lemnaru, before Blevins takes out a player on a neck roll, so Romania get a penalty.

Romania use their lineout to set up a run into Scottish territory for the first time, with Kinikinilau sprinting down the left before looking to pass the ball inside, but Hearn is there to intercept for Canada.

A long pass out wide from Blevins finds DTH van der Merwe, who already has three tries in this tournament for Canada, but he's tackled a few metres short of the try line.

MISSED PENALTY! Gordon McRorie has his first go at the posts to try to give Canada the lead, but the scrum-half's kick is well wide. They quickly get the ball back in the middle though, with Harry Jones running it back into Romania territory before Blevins and John Moonlight pass it around on the right.

PENALTY! Canada 3-0 Romania (Gordon McRorie)

At the second time of asking, McRorie opens the scoring for Canada after Poparlan is penalised for an offside. Canada have certainly enjoyed the better of the possession and territory in the opening stages of this match, but they did look vulnerable when Romania went on the charge a few minutes ago.

A knock on from Jeff Hassler gives Romania their first scrum of the match. Canada drive well looking to force a mistake from their opponents, but Doug Wooldridge is penalised for his bind, giving Romania another lineout. They almost scored a try last time the ball was thrown in, but this time Lucaci lets the ball slip through his hands while looking to make a run into the Canada 22.

MISSED PENALTY! As the rain starts to fall again in Leicester, Romania look to get their first points on the board after Jamie Cudmore is penalised for collapsing the scrum, just a couple of moments against the Canadian captain had to replace a contact lens! Florin Vlaicu is only just inside Canada territory, but he think he can make it. The center's kick has the distance, but is just wide.

SIN BIN! Romania will be without full-back Catalin Fercu for the next 10 minutes as he collides with Nick Blevins while the Canada centre is off his feet trying to haul in a kick forward. Fercu made no attempt to catch the ball, and Blevins lands heavily on his back, so referee Wayne Barnes reaches for the yellow card.

Blevins is showing no signs of his rough landing a few moments earlier as he sets up Van der Merwe for a run down the left. His path is blocked, but it's quickly passed out the other side for Jones, before Surugiu gives away another penalty.

MISSED PENALTY! McRorie lines up his third kick of the match with a chance to double Canada's lead, but the scrum-half completely mis-hits the ball in increasingly heavy rain in Leicester.

Calafeteanu, who has come on for Surugiu at scrum-half, feeds the ball in at the scrum, but a penalty, leaving Vlaicu to boot it into the Canada 22. Despite still being down to 14, Romania seem to be coping with the downpour better than their opponents, and are edging towards the try line.

Brett Beukeboom is penalised for being off his feet in the maul, and Romania opt to go for the scrum while just a few metres from the Canada try line. It's a popular decision with the crowd, who haven't been treated to the most free-flowing display so far.

A ferocious scrum from Canada forces Otar Turashvili into an error, as the hooker stands up in the middle. Canada have the lineout, leaving Hirayama and Carpenter to move the ball back towards Romania territory, before Moonlight looks for a gap down the left, but Romania soon get numbers across.

Canada still have possession, with Beukeboom, Hirayama and Blevins all involved as the Canadians look for the first try of the match, although Romania are now back up to 15. Hassler thinks that he's managed to smash his way through, but the slippery ball comes loose as the winger tries to sprint away.

With the rain having finally eased off a bit, Canada are moving the ball with so much confidence, as Hassler offloads to Mcrorie, before he finds Jones, but th efull-back comes up just short.

TRY! Canada 8-0 Romania (DTH Van Der Merwe)

With Jones unable to stretch across to ground the opening try of the match, Canada swiftly move the ball out to the left wing, where DTH Van Der Merwe is waiting to dive over in the corner for his fourth try of the tournament. McRorie misses the conversion though.

Canada have done a superb job keeping hold of the ball in this first half given the weather conditions, and they quickly get possession back after scoring the opening try of the contest. Ciaran Hearn gets the ball following a scrum, and tries to power through the middle, but he knocks on as he's tackled.

MISSED PENALTY! Romania have another penalty, and despite missing from distance earlier, Vlaicu wants to go for the posts again from around 40m out. Once again, he can't add the points, with the ball falling short and thumping the base of the post. Canada try to counter-attack quickly, but Hirayama has few options available, so kicks it forward, allowing Botezatu to claim it for Romania.

Canada have a lineout, which Barkwill launches straight to Beukeboom, but it's kicked straight into touch.

HALF TIME: Canada 8-0 Romania

It's not been the most gripping 40 minutes of rugby at the World Cup so far, but Canada will be pleased with how things have gone so far, as DTH Van Der Merwe's fourth try of the tournament has helped them to an 8-0 lead as they look to avoid finishing the competition without a win.

The weather hasn't helped either side. Gordon McRorie has missed three of his four attempts at the posts for Canada, while Florin Blaicu has had similar issues kicking for Romania.

Unsurprisingly, it was Canada who had the majority of the territory in the first half, with 67%, as well as 65% of the possession. They've also had more than three times as many attacking metres as their opponents with 348, and have offloaded twice as often.



The players are back on the pitch ready for the start of the second half.

RESTART! Canada get the second half underway at the King Power Stadium.

Canada are piling on the pressure again in the early moments of the second half, with Hassler shoving Botezatu away to power towards the Romania try line, before passing to Carpenter, but Ursache tips it away to stop the Canadians claiming their second try of the match.

Carpenter gets the ball out from the scrum for Canada, setting Hirayama up for a run at the Romania line. Canada are looking so sharp in the opening moments of this second half.

TRY! Canada 13-0 Romania (Jeff Hassler)

Jeff Hassler shows amazing determination to ground the ball for Canada's second try as he drags Botezatu across with him as he dives underneath the posts.

CONVERSION! Canada 15-0 Romania (Nathan Hirayama)

With Gordon McRorie struggling with kicking duties in the first half, fly-half Nathan Hirayama takes over, and he boots it through to add the two additional points with ease.

Romania make a rare venture into Canada territory as Fercu weaves through the middle before trying to get Andrei Ursache involved. Mihaita Lazar attempts to use his size to muscle through the Canada backs, but he's turned over, eventually allowing Carpenter to get it clear.

Romania are starting to see a lot more of the ball than they did in the first half, with Fercu and Andrei Ursache working well together down the right, but the ball is knocked on before they can get into the Canada 22.

There's a deliberate knock on from Cudmore, so Romania have a penalty, which Vlaicu kicks to the corner to give Romania a lineout in a position that will surely test the Canada defence.

TRY! Canada 15-5 Romania (Mihai Macovei)

It's a brilliantly executed lineout from Romania to set captain Mihai Macovei up for the try. The number eight gets the ball from the lienout, and the team drive towards the line, using their strength to force their way across.

CONVERSION! Canada 15-7 Romania (Florin Vlaicu)

Vlaicu adds the extras, leaving Romania just eight points down. Canada were by far the stronger of the two sides for the opening 45 minutes, but the last 10 minutes have belonged to Romania. If they score next, you wouldn't bet against them overturning the first-half deficit.

MISSED PENALTY! Nathan Hirayama tries to increase Canada's lead with an attempt at the uprights from over 40m out, but the fly-half's finish is a fraction wide of the left upright.

Despite their improved attacking play in this second half, Romania are still looking a little stretch when asked to defend, as Van Heerden knocks the ball forward while tackling Hearn, conceding a scrum.

Romania get the ball back after a Canada offside. Calafeteanu gets the ball out the back for Romania, but Carpenter manages to knock it into touch, giving Romania a lineout in a similar position to the one that set up their first try of the match.

Macovei has it again as the captain looks to force his way over for his second try. Cudmore forces the Romania captain to put a foot out of play though, so now Canada have the lineout.

The ball is passed back to Hirayama behind the try line, but he's tackled before he can kick it out, giving Romania the penalty, but they can't create anything from it. Canada soon have another lineout though, as this time Andrei Ursache forces the turnover, putting Canada under pressure inside their own 22.

Canada are continuing to be pinned back in their own 22 as Vlaicu tries to chip the ball forward to Kinikinilau, but Hassler, who has been one of the best players for Canada today, gives chase, and manages to get to the ball first.

Mihai Macovei's try a little earlier for Romania is the first by a Romania captain at the Rugby World Cup since 1991!


Canada are still deep in their own territory, but they force a scrum, while allows Hassler to try to run it out. However, a wayward pass from, the winger leaves Csaba Gal giving chase to a loose ball. He gets to the ball, but is a little hasty as he dives for the line, resulting in the ball coming loose. That's the team's 13th handling error of the afternoon.

Canada have another scrum on their own five-metre line, but it collapses, gifting Romania a penalty. They're not going for the three points through, kicking it to the corner for a lineout, which has already resulted in one try in this second half.

SIN BIN! Canada are going to be down to 14 for the rest of the match as Jebb Sinclair is penalised for coming in from the side as Romania looked to use the maul to drive it across the line again.

Romania want to go for a try, so opt to take a scrum. Canada look stronger as they try to push the Romanians away, but they give away another penalty.

TRY! Canada 15-12 Romania (Mihai Macovei)

Romania are most definitely back in this as Mihai Macovei charges towards the line from another scrum, just about stretching enough to catch the line for his second try of the match.

CONVERSION! Canada 15-14 Romania (Florin Vlaicu)

Vlaicu makes the conversion again, leaving Romania just a point down with five minutes remaining against a Canadian side who are a man short. Romania have show incredible fight to get back into this match after trailing 15-0 early in the second half.

Romania have a scrum and yet again they do enough to win a penalty from it, with Jake Ilnicki breaking his bind. Unsurprisingly, they're going for the posts.

PENALTY! Canada 15-17 Romania (Florin Vlaicu)

For the first time, Romania are ahead, and it's the country's record points-scorer who has completed the remarkable turnaround, as he slices the ball straight through the middle of the posts.

Jeff Hassler makes another weaving run for Canada, looking to get the side back into a position to add to their score, but the winger's foot just catches the line, giving Romania a scrum. All they need to do is keep possession for a minute and they've got the win.

Cudmore comes in from the side in the lineout, giving Romania another penalty, which Vlaicu boots into Canada territory for a lineout. That's surely enough for Romania to see out the remaining few seconds.

FULL TIME: Canada 15-17 Romania

As the clock ticks over the 80 minutes, Valentin Calafeteanu boots it straight into the stands, ensuring that Romania hold on for the comeback victory. It was a bit of a slow burner in the first half, but what a finish!

The result means Canada will go home with losses in all of their matches for the first time at a Rugby World Cup, while Romania have a chance to finish third in the pool when they face Italy at the weekend.

Well, that's all from this match, much join is again from 7.30pm, when we'll have coverage of the Pool A fixture between Fiji and Uruguay. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

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D. T. H. van der Merwe of Canada goes over for the opening try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Italy and Canada at Elland Road on September 26, 2015 in Leeds, United Kingdom.
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