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AGEN - For Romanian rugby, the golden days of the 1980s, when they twice beat Wales and France, and ran the All Blacks close, must seem a lifetime ago.
Back then, they dreamed of joining the Five Nations but the political and social upheaval which followed the collapse of the Ceausescu regime was accompanied by a drastic decline in rugby standards in the eastern European state.
On Thursday (NZ time), Romania will come face to face with what might have been when they tackle Italy, who eventually became the extra team when the Five Nations became six, at the World Cup.
"We have made some progress, but other teams are progressing at a faster rate," said centre Romeo Gontineac who, like most of his teammates, plays outside Romania.
In his case, he makes a living with French second division side Aurillac and is playing in his fourth World Cup.
Recent results have not been encouraging - a 43-12 loss to Ireland, 62-14 to France, 48-6 against Scotland and 66-7 to Wales.
The exit of talent has been a feature of Romanian rugby ever since state funding for police and army clubs Dinamo Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest dried up after the revolution in 1989.
The violence that year also claimed the life of skipper Florica Murariu, an army officer who was shot dead at a roadblock.
While Italy have beaten Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations this year, Romania have been tackling the likes of Portugal, Georgia, Russia, the Czech Republic and Spain in the Six Nations 'B' event.
"We respect our opponents, admire them also, sometimes too much," said Gontineac.
The lack of regular top level competition is a source of bitter resentment for the Romanians.
"You become better by playing the better teams," said skipper and lock forward Sorin Socol who has played for the last four years with Brive in the elite French Top 14 domestic championship.
"The Six Nations B tournament doesn't let us play at a high level. This explains our slow progress as it's difficult to get released by clubs to play in international games."
Socol believes the Romanian pack can fight fire with fire against Italy in Thursday's Pool C encounter.
"We have an aggressive pack and have enough strength," he said.
"Against Italy, we will be playing a team who have had good results for three years now. They have progressed because they have adapted to the Six Nations.
"But we beat them three years ago (25-24) and beat the Italian B team in May (19-8). There is a long-standing rivalry between us."
- AFP
