Odds stacked high for Romania today

Romania were once a force to be reckoned with in rugby but it will be very difficult for them to spring a surprise against Ireland today, writes Donal Lenihan

It’s 33 years since a callow second row sat on a small commuter plan in communist Romania, soothing Moss Keane’s anxiety about the impending flight to Iasc, 12 miles from the Russian border...

Only the elder statesmen of this Irish World Cup squad like Paul O’Connell and Mike Ross were even born when Romanian rugby was in its prime in the 1980’s and posed a serious threat to everyone.