Romania ravaged by injuries
Tuesday November 07 2006
Key players missing for Scotland clashRomania have been dealt an unfortunate setback leading up to their match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday by a series of injuries and absences in their Test squad.
Brive prop Petrisor Toderasc has an injury to his collar bone and will be replaced by Steaua Bucharest's Ion Paulica.
"Toderasc, who was injured during the last training session, is an important loss for our team," Romania team spokesman Radu Constantin told Reuters.
Wing Catalin Fercu, who scored the single Romania try in their 62-14 defeat to France in June, will also miss the game after rupturing a muscle in a local derby last week and will be replaced by uncapped Csaba Gall.
Veteran flanker Alexandru Manta of French club Castre Olympique is out of form and Petre Mitu is absent after refusing to play against Georgia in the 2007 World Cup preliminaries.
Romania have won twice in their 10 meetings so far against Scotland, in 1984 and 1991.
Romania squad:
Forwards: Petru Balan, Cezar Popescu, Marius Tincu, Razvan Mavrodin, Ion Paulica, Bogdan Balan, Sorin Socol, Petre Cristian, Cosmin Ratiu, Florin Corodeanu, Valentin Ursache, Ovidiu Tonita, Costica Mersoiu.
Backs: Alexandru Lupu, Valentin Calafeteanu, Ionut Dimofte, Ionut Tofan, Romeo Gontineac, Robert Dascalu, Gabriel Brezoianu, Ioan Teodorescu, Florin Vlaicu, Danut Dumbrava.