2am... oh my God... let’s just hope it’s worth the watch! I have a massive pot of tea and a massive mug to go with it! Let’s try some running commentary... I haven’t done this before... but bear with!
Romania about to kick off... Dave Pearson as the referee.
Los geht’s! Good catch by Scotland... good immediate break through. Shan’t find much trouble with the Romanian defence! But got taken down... just running into the Romanian forwards and keeping ball. However, penalty given to Scotland and Paterson scores 3 points in the 2nd minute.
Romania have ball. Try to break through after ruck. Now they’re using forwards... but turned over. And this Richie Gray... I wonder what his doors are like at home. Does he have chandeliers?
Good work by Paterson and Evans, but a bad pass to Barclay causes a knock on and the game’s first scrum on 04:25. Romanian pack heavier by 2kg at 902kg. Romania win the ball and use forwards to drive the ball, but knocked on to give away a scrum. 5 minutes in with 1 handling error each. But Scotland have been using contact play to disrupt Romanian hands.
6 minutes and a 22’ restart for Romania. Doesn’t find touch, but finds Paterson instead. He’s getting his worth! Breakthrough at halfway... ball passed to a couple of players, dodging a few players until Blair to score his first world cup try, but with the conversion... well... as Paterson went to kick, the ball tipped over and completely scuffed it and kicked it as if it were a football. Oh well... apparently it is windy.
9 minutes and Romania’s chance for a penalty. Wind says “No.” After restart, Romania run the ball, and Scotland give away a penalty for playing off feet... let’s see if the wind is friendlier! YAY! 8-3.
The Romanian kit, though... I like it. Very colourful indeed! Bit like a clown’s outfit...
Scrum at 12 minutes for Romania... they win the ball and Number 8 goes for it. The Romanians like using their forwards to get the rucks and keep the ball. But it seems it frustrates Scotland as they give away another penalty, and they go for touch. A good drive by the Romanians, getting closer by the inch. 14:38. The fly half box kicks, but Scotland grab the ball and calls the mark. Now it is a Romanian lineout in their own 10’. Bad throw and Scotland nick the ball and uses quick ball to try to break through. Not yet, though. These Romanian forwards seems tough, until there is a breakthrough, however there was crossing and give away a penalty.
17 minutes in and Scotland have conceded 4 penalties to Romania’s 1. And now, after winning the lineout, Romania are attacking well. Using forwards again... but fumble the ball over to Scotland. Danielli runs it... and some good running by the wingers and fullback Paterson, but the Romanian defence got back and caught up with them, foiling an open goal for Scotland as they confuse each other and Danielli gives away a penalty by crossing. Robinson is not amused.
Scotland win scrum. Battling forward in rucks. And eventually a good try scored by Ansbro and his break. Good running inside and out and around the defence. Conversion scored... 15-3.
But just after restart, Scotland concede another penalty for not releasing... and just in reach for goal, too. Can it become 15-6 from the same position as the first missed kick? Yeeeh...
Scottish lineout in Romanian territory... trying to break through again, but not proving easy, and these defenders are proving a right challenge as they knock on. Unforced handling errors, see. Not what they want, especially against a team like Romania. So scrum to them, and comfortably win it.
Good runs by Romania, but lack of communication causes them to cross over and run into each other, giving Scotland a chance. They go for the lineout. 27 minutes... they win the lineout, but spill the ball on contact, caught by a Romanian who kicks it downfield. But another lineout, this time for Romania as Scotland are tackled into touch.
Romania really do have a good driving force... I didn’t expect it, but win the penalty advantage from Scottish players collapsing the maul. Does Scotland actually need to be conceding such penalties? They need to sort it out.
29:02. Romania win lineout and use forwards to drive forward. They are getting closer and now within 10m of try line. Still enduring it... driving forward with the biggies. But once again, Scotland somewhat panic a bit and give away a scrum. Thus far, even though Scotland are playing the more skilful bits.I think Romania are playing a better game in the more contact areas. And with this scrum, a penalty is given to Romania. Interestingly, they go for goal. Why? Maybe they just want to get the points on the board, even though they are capable of a good scrum and drive. However, the breeze takes the ball to the left, missing the posts. Score remains at 15-6 at 32 minutes.
Scrum awarded to Scotland as Romania knocks on at restart. And Romania has taken them apart, winning the ball! Good play, but as Romania kick it clear, the winger was slightly offside on the ball being kicked. But smart play by them!
Scotland fumbled the ball forward when attacking, giving away yet another handling error. Is the Romanian team actually putting pressure on the Scots?
36:40, penalty to Scotland as Romania botching the scrum, and Paterson makes the score 18-6.
After a lineout, Romania win and attack with the ball, but Scotland give away another penalty for being offside. They gained confidence over the match and are going for lineout instead of the 3 points. Let’s see if they make something out of it... Good drive by them... pushing the Scots back... and they did it. At the 40th minute, Romania score a try, getting them back into the match with the score being 18-11. Conversion missed...
Second half. Almost immediately, there is a Scottish scrum due to a knock on. Romania have a good run for it after picking up a juggling ball from the scrum, but bollocksed up somewhere in the hoo-ha. So... a second scrum of the half to Scotland, winning the ball and attacking forward with the forwards. Jackson tries to kick it through, but ends up in Romanian hands, who give away another scrum. But where are these handling errors from Scotland coming from? They can’t expect to get far like this. But I’m sure they can sort that out after this match and looking back at it.
43:50. Scotland break through... almost. But Romania take the ball and kick back. Scotland in possession, lots of bodies on the outside and running forward, eventually ending up in the arms of Romanian forwards. Scotland win a penalty for errors by Romania and go for goal, but the score remains at 18-11. The ball went well wide from a simple position. Must be rather windy indeed.
46 minutes with Scotland attacking, and offside Romanians give away a penalty, which Scotland takes to touch.
47 minutes and a Scottish lineout, 5m from the tryline. They win it and fight forwards. Go wide to the other side of the pitch, almost scoring, but try to get the ball back before getting out of touch. As it happens, there was a Romanian offside, giving away a penalty on the 5m line. Quickly taken, and almost scores again, taken down, and turned over by handling botch.
49:49. Romania give away another penalty, with Jackson kicking to the corner for a lineout. Scotland are picking up while Romania are slowly falling. Scotland win lineout. Driving ball forward by rucks. Slowly... and then send the ball out... they are keeping at it, but Pearson blows his whistle for constant offside offences by Romania. Baldy is on last warning. So as Paterson is setting up for goal, Romania are making apparent tactical subs.
21-11 at 52 mins with Scotland making changes. Dan Parks and another on... Gray off. Interesting.
Scotland give away a penalty a minute later. New Romanian kicker. Score now at 21-14.
Shocking restart at Parks kicks it straight out. Not a good campaign start for him. Romanian scrum at halfway, and they win the ball well, kicking it clear, picked up by Paterson. Pass back at ruck, and kick clear into Romanian hands, who then kicks it clear into touch for a Scottish lineout in their own 22’.
Nice drive back by Romania, trying to get them into touch. The ball is then taken clear and kicked, and as Romania catch the ball, a ruck is formed and Scotland give away a penalty by putting hands in the ruck. Tisk.
56:50. Romania kick into touch. Their lineout at Scotland’s 10. Dodgy win for them, too. Now using forwards to drive forwards. Slow ball out of the ruck though. But forwards pressing on, passed back to the kicker for a drop goal and the ball “is heading for the town centre instead of the posts.”
Scotland scuff the restart and Romania catch the ball and run it. Chip kick by Romania, almost scoring a try, but Scotland manage to clear, but lands back in Romanian hands. They attack again. Good play by them! They’re going for it and Scotland are scrambling to defend. Good passes out and on 5 m line and are still going. A very panicky moment for Scotland as Romania are fantastic with attacks and offloads. Scotland, however, give away a penalty. Seems to be the subs are effective! Should be an easy 3 points. And at 60 minutes, the score stands at 21-17. Something surprising for both sides!
Restart crap again. Parks once again kicks it right into touch. Second time running!
Romania do a strong scrum by them, with Scotland not keeping it well. Another go to put the ball in. Romania win it, and kick it up the field into touch. It’s all Romania so far. Not sure what is happening to Scotland. They’re not in it anymore. Will they come back? Now is their chance at 64 minutes. But nope... turnover. And a fantastic kick by Romania, down deep into Scotland’s territory, just rolling out in front of the corner flag.
65minutes. Scotland win the lineout, and hope to clear the ball, but they knock on and give a scrum to Romania at 5m out. Jesus... I bet the Romanians are loving it!
Good strong firm scrum by Romania... driving forward to the line, keeping ball in hand. Carpo goes over, but will it be given. It goes to TMO. From what I see... it looks good. Could well be a Romanian try.
And it is. Romanians in the lead for the first time in the game. Let’s see if they can keep it up. With the conversion (and a couple of Romanian changes), the score stands 21-24 at 67 minutes.
Parks kicks the ball down the middle to avoid touch. Scotland attacking... using forward brawn to push. But Romania are defending well. Still Scottish ball after a couple of phases, trying to break through, but being pushed back. Try may seem to be coming. They are fighting for it, but Romania give away a penalty for Scotland’s chance to draw the score. For once, Scotland were calm and patient... something that was expected from them long before in the game. So, 24-24. Ten minutes left.
Romanian ball, a couple of edgy moments, but they eventually knock on. Scottish scrum. Is this now when Scotland give it their all and make Romania crumble? Or will Romania press on and try to get a surprise victory?
Good work by Scot Number 8, but soon tackled. Scotland are just recycling the ball by rucks, testing the Romanian forwards again and Parks kicks it down the middle, for Romania to collect it and kick it up the field and into touch.
74 minutes, and Scotland lineout. Scotland attack now, and after a good run by the huge forward Vernon, he passes to Danielli to score a try. Scotland needed that score, but would it be enough? Paterson needs to convert, but the wind takes it. 29-24. Romania can still take it... not long left now.
76 minutes and Romania keep the ball and go for it, but soon it turns over. Scotland’s players run for it, a few offloads until Romania catches up. But after some superb play and offloads and recycles and passes, Danielli finally goes over the line again for Scotland’s fourth try and bonus point. I think they’ve run away with this at a point where Scotland nearly fell into the void, and pity on Romania, who have played greatly. Paterson misses once again due to wind, and the score stands at 34-24.
The final minute and a lineout won by Scotland, and Cussiter kicks it back out to end the game. Quite unconvincing by Scotland apart from those last 10 minutes, which was quite an impressive comeback out of nowhere. But Romania? Well... I think, despite how Scotland should have slaughtered them from the beginning, were the better team. Scotland didn’t make things easy for them, but I don’t think they were in it for a lot of the match.
So, there is a nervous win by the Scottish team, and they really do have a lot more hard work to do if they want to do well. Their next game is against Georgia on the 14th, but they may not be a walkover... back in 2007, they nearly beat the Irish. I suspect another match like this.
And Romania have a very good forward pack, dominating throughout much of the match. Their defence was good, but wasn’t up for the Scottish skill of things. I’m sure they gave the Scots a good beating and a couple of muscle aches. They have Argentina next, so that could be interesting...
And was it worth staying up at these uncivilised hours?
Hell yes!
FINAL SCORE
34-24
