Romania players in action against the All Blacks. Photo / Brett Phibbs
TOULOUSE - Normally a rugby team who lose by 77 points will humbly accept their vanquished status but not Romania, who had no shortage of advice for the All Blacks after yesterday's World Cup pool match here.
Captain Sorin Socol believed his team won the set piece battle
in the 8-85 defeat at Le Stadium, remembering two scrums in particular where Romania "moved them a bit".
The tough lock reckoned the New Zealand forwards had underestimated his pack by fanning out too much at the breakdown and said that was something that could be exploited by their opponents in the knockout phase of the tournament.
"They didn't really seem to contest the ball like we do in Europe," he said through an interpreter.
"Maybe it's a weakness in them, they should take care."
Socol did go on to admit the All Blacks were the best team in the world, with few other international sides capable of the late burst of scoring that stretched the scoreline out.
Technical manager Robert Antonin said Romania had ventured part way down the tactical road to beating New Zealand and believed better sides than his would have taken note.
"France has one chance to do a performance like 1999 (semifinal defeat of the All Blacks)," Antonin said.
"You need to surprise them, to put some strong pressure on the man and on the ball, not the space.
"Because even the All Blacks, we showed today that if you put pressure on the ball, there seemed to be difficulty."
Antonin also offered some kind words on New Zealand but was more focused on his own side's stubborn fight on an emotional day for The Oaks.
It was the last game in charge for he and coach Daniel Santamans, along with three-time World Cup veteran back Romeo Gontineac, who is retiring.
Employing a game plan as straightforward as their military haircuts, they virtually ignored their outside backs yesterday, throwing their lot in with a strong scrum and ferocious approach at the breakdown.
It was rewarded when burly hooker Marius Tincu barrelled over the tryline on the half hour.
"I think if we'd played our first three games like we played today we'd have a different world cup experience, but it's too late now," Tincu said.
Romania finished the tournament with three losses and one win, over Portugal.
- NZPA
