Preview: Romania v Canada
Canadian coach Kieran Crowley made three changes to his starting XV for Saturday's Test against Romania in Bucharest, a game that closes out 2014 and the year-end tour.
Captain Tyler Ardron, who has been unavailable throughout Canada's November tour due to injury, will lead the side from the No.8 position, while Jon Phelan slots into the second row beside veteran Jamie Cudmore and Pat Parfrey comes off the bench to start at flyhalf.
The rest of the side remains unchanged from last weekend's 13-23 loss to Samoa, where a late dropped pass gifted Samoa an easy try to snatch away a potential historic victory for Crowley's outfit.
The four-game tour also includes a 23-28 loss to the Championship XV team on November 2 and a 17-13 victory over Namibia on November 7.
Saturday's Test at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf holds significance on two fronts – it will act as a chance for redemption for Canada, who were defeated 21-20 by a penalty at the final whistle last year against 'The Oaks' and is a preview of what's to come at next year's World Cup when these two teams face off in Leicester on October 6.
Ardron and Harry Jones each scored tries during last year's defeat, with all 21 of Romania's points came off the boot of inside centre Florin Vlaicu, who starts at flyhalf on Saturday.
Romania are searching for their first win of their fall series, having dropped a contest against the United States and Japan by scores of 17-27 and 13-18 earlier this month.
This year hasn't been the most successful campaign for the Canucks, having dropped all three games during June – against Japan, Scotland and the US and currently sitting one from two this November.
However, a win on Saturday for Crowley's side will be a much-needed boost ahead of an incredibly busy and exciting year ahead that leads into the eighth edition of the World Cup.
Canada's World Cup campaign also includes games against Ireland on September 19, Italy on September 26 and France on October 1.
Previous results:
1991: Canada won 19-11, Toulouse (World Cup pool match)
1995: Canada won 34-3, Port Elizabeth (World Cup pool match)
2005: Romania won 22-20, Bucharest
2013: Romania won 21-20, Bucharest
Prediction: It is a tough call to make, given the two team's poor form this year, so we'll go with homeground advantage and say Romania by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Dorin Manole, 13 Csaba Gal, 12 Robert Dascalu, 11 Ionut Botezatu, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu, 8 Stelian Burcea, 7 Valentin Ursache, 6 Mihai Macovei (captain), 5 Valentin Popirlan, 4 Alin Coste, 3 Horatiu Pungea, 2 Otar Turashvili, 1 Mihaita Lazar.
Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Andrei Ursache, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 Marius Antonescu, 20 Vlad Nistor, 21 Florin Surugiu, 22 Florin Ionita, 23 Robert Neagu.
Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Conor Trainor, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Patrick Parfrey, 9 Gordon McRorie, 8 Tyler Ardron (captain), 7 Nanyak Dala, 6 Jebb Sinclair, 5 Jon Phelan, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Aaron Carpenter, 1 Hubert Buydens.
Replacements: 16 Ray Barkwill, 17 Andrew Tiedemann, 18 Doug Wooldridge, 19 Kyle Gilmour, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Sean White, 22 Jordan Wilson-Ross, 23 Nick Blevins.
Date: Saturday, November 22
Venue: Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Kick-off: 18:30 (16.30 GMT; 11.30 Canadian Eastern time; 08.30 Canadian Pacific time)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
