Romania 32 Namibia 0 - Half-time

Romania 32 Namibia 0

Romania inflicted more misery on Namibia by strolling into a comfortable first-half lead at Launceston in Tasmania.

Namibia were on the receiving end of the World Cup’s biggest winning margin when Australia hammered them 142-0 five days ago and their fortunes continued to slump this morning.

Romania, themselves hammered 90-8 by Australia, got off to a flying start when Augustin Petrichei just about managed to finish off a sweeping move after three minutes.

The try was subject to a decision by the video referee after full-back Ronaldo Pedro’s last-ditch tackle nearly prevented Petrichei touching down in the corner. Fly-half Ionut Tofan converted.

Tofan made it 10-0 with a penalty soon after after he had been denied what appeared to be a good try-scoring chance by a high tackle from Wolfie Duvenhage.

Another penalty from Tofan after 16 minutes added three more points.

Scrum-half Lucian Sirbu almost added a second try after 23 minutes but he could not ground the ball after Schalke van der Merwe – who is a professional lion tamer – halted his penetrating run.

Sirbu did touch down three minutes later when Namibia’s defence were caught napping and Tofan added the extras.

As Romania’s dominance of possession continued, George Chiriac finished off a spell of heavy pressure by bounding over for try number three with Tofan maintaining his perfect kicking record.

Winger Ioan Teodorescu claimed his first international try on the stroke of half-time when he took advantage of more lax Namibian defending, although Tofan blotted his copybook with a missed conversion.

Latest score: Romania 32 Namibia 0.