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Mascarenhas (60')
Tries
Immelman (17'), Boboc (37')
Moura (61')
Conversions
Conache (18')
Penalties
Conache (11', 28', 62')
Portugal are not in the Estadio Nacional today, which is a real shame and the weather may have something to do with that. The rain is torrential by the looks of it.
Romania spill the ball early on due to the weather conditions, and now get their first attempt to turn the screw at the scrum. But Portugal stand strong and come away with the ball.
Hugo Camacho opts to kick away on half way, but Simionescu retrieves the ball and runs into space. Romania manage to get the ball through the hands and into space, eating up the metres. Unfortunately the nudge over the top was gathered up by Portugal on the try line and Romania penalised again.
Romania are running with purpose again but can't get themselves to the breakdown quick enough and giving the ball back to Portugal. Portugal make their intentions know with a kick over the top which is spilled by Iliesa Tiqe close to the Romanian 22.
Portugal go to work with the scrum, they secure the ball but the Portuguese are sloppy in the back line and get swallowed up by the advancing Romanians. It all ends in a bit of wrestling on the deck for afters. The officials had a decision to make around the kerfuffle, a shake of the hands was enough to get the game underway. Portugal have the put in at the scrum on the halfway line. Portugal need to get something clicking as they don't seem to be fully together at the minute.
Another period of huffing and puffing ends with Camacho going to the air. Romania secured it this time and make their exit, a bit of kick tennis ensued. Romania made light work of finding the gap in the defensive line, with Tiqe again running into space. With what looked a clear knock on as he spilled, was not seen by the officials. Romania camped themselves in the Portuguese 22, until they forced the Portuguese into and error in the shadow of the posts. A easy penalty kick for Conache makes it 0 - 3 after 11 minutes.
Portugal manage to win the restart and go on the attack. But it doesn't seem to be as fluid as they usually are, Storti is a real danger though. Bento was on the receiving end of a expansive play, but stumbled on the Romanian 22 while isolated. It was a easy turnover for Romania to stop the pressure.
Romania fluffed the lineout and over throw, giving Portugal the ball back on halfway. The phase ended with a penalty against a early jump on Hugo Camacho at the back of the breakdown. Portugal now find themselves in the Romanian 22. Camacho tries to sneak the blind but it wasn't on. The ball stolen and Romania get away into space. They win a penalty from a lazy Portugal runner not retreating and enough and in the line of Conache passing away.
Romania exit into the Portuguese 22 now, the lineout is executed but they switch off at the breakdown. Portugal get the ball back but gift it away again through a handling error. Romania aren't wasting this chance and Immelman forces over from a metre or so out. Conversion is made by Conache and the Oaks are now 0 - 10.
The Oaks go for the loose attack mode and manage to force the Portuguese errors again. Portugal gift a penalty to Romania and Conache goes off the tee from close to the Portuguese 10m line. Unfortunately it hits the post and gives Portugal a chance to relieve the pressure. Romania get the ball out of the lineout, and into play. They really have the bit between their teeth now. Another steal at the breakdown gives them another penalty kick attempt from a similar distance as the last penalty miss. Conache drags this one wide this time, allowing Portugal to exit from their 22.
Romania come back at them again, finding space in the defensive line but to no affect this time. A bit of kick tennis begins with Portugal putting the ball into touch. There is a period of time while Mihai Graure is withdrawn injured on a stretcher.
Los Lobos are really struggling to get a foot hold into this game so far. A trick play from the Romanian lineout, nearly pays off but the ball ends up in Portuguese hands. They then work on the phases to build a platform to kick to safety again. Simionescu wins he aerial battle and glides his way into space. Putting the ball into Sikuea Taliauli hands after dropping the ball backwards. Portugal can't keep themselves on the right side of the official again, and Romania are able to take another easy 3 from the boot. 0 - 13 now after 28 minutes.
The slippery ball was being handed back to each other again for a period, where Romania finally opt to go to the air. Portugal are able to get the Romanians back tracking and making discipline errors on their retreat. Portugal are rewarded with a penalty kick on the Romanian 22. Which Vareiro misses, what have Portugal got to do to get on the board today.
These slippery conditions are really causing issues when Portugal spill the ball again in a unforced error. Romania have a dominant performance at the scrum and get the ball going forwards. Which is returned for the awarded scrum penalty after Portugal win the breakdown.
Romania put the ball back on the Portugal 22, and get the secured in the maul but doesn't go anywhere. The ball is stolen a couple of phases later and allows Portugal a chance to clear the decks. But the Romanians are not easing up and come flying back. It ends up in the hands of Simionescu which makes metres, setting up Cristi Boboc for a try in the corner. Conache can't make the conversion but the Oaks are now 0 - 18 ahead on the 39th minute.
Portugal will be shell shocked from that first half display! The Mighty Oaks have really switched it on when it counts!
Simon Maddix goes to the bench and brings on Joris Moura to try to control the game from 10.
But the Portuguese penalty count kept rising and gave the Romanians early advantage. Romania kicked to the Portuguese 22, and set to work. Conache tucked himself into the pocket and made the drop goal, but there was a knock on in the build up. Portugal get a reprieve and need to start the rebuild now. They can’t let Romania keep controlling this game. Portugal win the scrum penalty but kick the ball all the way into the Romanian try area. Siminescu opts to clear the deck than a goal line drop out. The Oaks call on their bomb squad and aim to turn the pressure on the Portugal scrum again.
Portugal knock on from the open play after their line out, their heads are down and they are void of ideas at the minute. A scrum on halfway awaits them, and Romania win the ball after a collapse in the front row. Portugal steal the ball in the breakdown, and win the penalty. Can the Lobos get the 5 metre lineout working and get the points. Andrade drifts away and nearly gets the try. Romania steal the ball on the deck and get pinged. Portugal get to set again from a 5 metre lineout. The lineout maul is stopped but Los Lobos retain possession. Until the Romanian defence hold them out again, forcing the penalty error while Portugal were camped in the Oaks 22.
51 minutes on the clock, and the officials are invited across to screen to review a shoulder charge tackle on Aviragnet. The Romanian hard work is returned due to ill discipline. Portugal get a chance to kick the ball back onto the 5 metre line, surely at the third attempt they can get the maul firing over the line. But its stolen, the Oaks are all over this game. Cleared out past the 22. Portugal get to come again.
This lineout is not straight and they blow their chances again. Los Lobos are completely out of sorts today and look lost out there. Romania make their exit and put to touch.
Portugal steal the lineout and go out wide but once again gift the ball back to Romania. Siminescu comes away with the ball but shanks his clearance like my driver. Portugal can’t string anything together again and the turnover is easily picked off again. Romania have everything clicked together today. Apart from their lineout, which they gift back to Portugal for another wonky put in.
A scrappy period of the game begun and neither team was able to retain the ball. Plenty of spilling the ball and aerial kicking options to relieve pressure. in the 59th minute, Joris Moura finds his way into space. He was wiped out in a late tackle by Iliesa Tiqe, the Oaks avoided the penalty try for a covering player but they will very lucky for that. Portugal now have a man advantage, can they turn the tide. They are 5 metres out again, and must execute this to give them any hope.
At the 4th attempt they manage to batter their way over the line, is the comeback on? Nuno Mascarenhas is the try scorer, and converted by Joris Moura. Los Lobos are back to 7 - 18 after 61 minutes. With a man advantage, can they close the gap further.
Siminescu wins the ball in the air after chasing his own kick. Penalty awarded to Romania for the aerial collision, Conache goes for posts from the Portugal 10 m line. he doesn’t miss and takes the score to 7 -21.
A period of aerial territory and strong running starts again, which ends with a Portugal penalty. they march the Romanians back to their 10 metre line. The Oaks steal the lineout again and set off on putting the Portuguese into retreat. Further scrappy play ended once again with a Los Lobos knock on in a unnecessary area. 67 minutes on the clock and Romania still have the ascendancy even with a man less. Romania get the ball out of the scrum but are too keen to go forward and knock it on.
Portugal have the put in at the scrum on their own 22 to start their exit. Moura glides into space but could only get the offload into Romania hands. Los Lobos knock it on again in the attempt to regather. Advantage Romania again, with Tiqe returning to the pitch.
Portugal get the ball back at the breakdown and have the penalty to put them in the Romanian half. But they butcher the lineout again and gift the ball back to Romania for a not straight throw. 7 minutes remain but the torrential rain has turned up the down pour and so has the Romanian scrum dominance. They get the penalty to clear the deck and put the Portuguese further back into their own half.
The Oaks butcher the lineout with obstruction, Portugal can’t get their hands work again and knock it back on. They really can’t catch a break in this game.
Portugal are finally able to clear the deck but with 4 minutes to go. They are on halfway with 2 converted tries needed to take this to extra time. The Romanian lineout trundles forwards but the Portuguese steal the pill. But once again, they can only go sideways from the amazing Romanian defence. The chaos ended up with 5 injured players strewn around the pitch and one of them nearly got flattened in the Portugal exit attempt.
Romania get to spend the last 2 minutes retaining possession and opting to go to the air deep into the Portugal half. Portugal have to go for the hail mary, but it ends up in Siminescu’s hands again. They then spend the rest of the game, throttling the ball and kicking it dead on the 80th minute.
Congratulations to Romania for flipped the odds and managing to execute the game plan similar to the Spaniards did in tough conditions. Portugal will go away and assess the damage from the last 2 defeats and plan the revival. This Rugby Europe Championship has offered up some surprises and most of them came in the final weekend!
