Romania steal it late as replacements turn a losing position into victory
Romania pulled off one of the more improbable results of the World Rugby Nations Cup pool stage, coming from 17 points down to beat Samoa 40-37 at Estadio Charrúa. The win lifts them in the standings and rewards a side that refused to go away, even when the scoreboard said they should have.
For long spells this looked like Samoa's afternoon. They led 31-14 early in the second half and had scored three tries either side of the break. But their discipline unravelled, they could not quite close the game out, and Romania's replacements — Alexandru Savin in particular — dragged them back into contention and then over the line.
Home
Away
A. Motuga (13'), A. Papali'i (39'), I. Mapu (41'), M. Faiilagi (48')
Tries
N. Onutu (21'), I. Tiqe (33'), A. Savin (56', 82'), M. Simionescu (67'), Penalty Try (75')
A. Alatimu (14', 39', 42', 49')
Conversions
A. Conache (22', 34', 68'), G. Rupanu (83')
A. Alatimu (10'), D. Toala (70', 78')
Penalties
A fast Samoan start
Samoa set the early tempo. AJ Alatimu opened the scoring with a penalty inside ten minutes, and by the 14th minute they were 10-0 up after Alamanda Motuga crossed and Alatimu converted. On neutral ground in Montevideo, Samoa were the designated home side and in control of most of that opening quarter.
Romania found their feet through their outside backs. Nicolas Onutu, busy all afternoon, got them on the board on 21 minutes and Iliesa Tiqe added a second on 33. With Alin Conache converting both, Romania briefly nosed 14-10 in front. That lead did not last. Right on the stroke of half-time Abraham Papali'i powered over, Alatimu converted, and Samoa turned around 17-14 ahead.
Samoa build a cushion
The early second half was where Samoa looked most in control. Iakopo Mapu, on as a replacement, scored almost immediately after the restart, and Miracle Faiilagi followed on 48 minutes. With Alatimu's boot ticking over, Samoa were 31-14 up and appeared to have the game where they wanted it.
They could not close it out. Romania's set-piece stayed reliable — 19 from 20 at the lineout and a perfect 3 from 3 at scrum time — and gave them a platform to keep coming. Savin's first try on 56 minutes was the moment the mood shifted, and Marius Simionescu's effort on 67, converted by Conache, made it 31-26 and a one-score game.
The contest slips away from Samoa
Samoa's discipline was the difference in the final quarter. They conceded 13 penalties to Romania's seven, and it caught up with them when it mattered. Danny Toala's penalties on 70 and 78 nudged Samoa back in front at 34-26 and then 37-33, but by then they were struggling to keep Romania out.
The pivotal blow came on 75 minutes with a penalty try, awarded as Romania hammered at the line, and it coincided with Lolani Faleiva being sent to the bin. Down a man and unable to wrest back control, Samoa were exposed once more. Savin claimed his second in the 82nd minute, and Gabriel Rupanu held his nerve with the touchline conversion to complete the turnaround at 40-37.
Standout performers
Savin was the obvious matchwinner. Introduced in the second half, the replacement finished with two tries and 10 points, and gave Romania real momentum in the closing stages.
- Hinckley Vaovasa was Romania's most dangerous carrier from fly-half, making 45 metres with two clean breaks and two defenders beaten.
- Nicolas Onutu mixed his try and two clean breaks with heavy defensive work, though his two turnovers conceded reflected a busy, high-risk afternoon.
- Etienne Terblanche led Romania with 13 tackles before making way.
- For Samoa, Abraham Papali'i was excellent in the loose, carrying nine times for 64 metres with a clean break, and replacement Iakopo Mapu added 51 metres and 11 tackles off the bench.
Match Stats
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAK
DEFENDER BEATEN
TACKLE
MISSED TACKLE
TURNOVER WON
TURNOVERS CONCEDED
PENALTY CONCEDED
YELLOW CARD
POSSESSION
SCRUMS
LINEOUTS
What went wrong for Samoa
Samoa did plenty right for an hour, but the numbers point to why they lost. Thirteen penalties conceded gave Romania easy territory and, ultimately, a route back into the game. The yellow card at 34-33 could hardly have come at a worse time. Their carrying and metres stacked up well, and Peter Umaga-Jensen led the workload with 13 carries, but the accuracy dipped when the pressure came back on.
Romania, for their part, will point to the character of the comeback and the impact of their bench. They also carried a risk that could have cost them — 15 turnovers conceded is a heavy figure — but their set-piece never let them down, and that gave them the ball to keep asking questions.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Georgia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 09 | W W |
| 2 |  Portugal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 07 | W L |
| 3 |  Spain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 07 | W D |
| 4 |  Romania | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -17 | 2 | 04 | D L |
| 5 |  Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -26 | 1 | 01 | L L |
| 6 |  Hong Kong | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -68 | 0 | 00 | L L |
What it means
The result gives Romania their first win of the tournament after a draw with Uruguay in the previous round, while Samoa slump to a second defeat in three matches. On this evidence, Samoa have the players to build a strong position, but not yet the control to protect one when the pressure comes back on.