France ease clear after slow start
Outscoring the willing Romanians by five tries to one, the French went to the top of the pool – although Ireland will play the same Romanian outfit this coming Sunday.
It was not France's most accomplished performance, with their lack of discipline in particular a concern.
However, they will take the bonus-point win and move on to their next assignment – which is an encounter with Canada on October 1.
Sofiane Guitoune scored two tries as France made it two World Cup wins out of two.
The French scored five tries to seal a bonus point, with wing Guitoune and flank Yannick Nyanga going over in quick succession in the first half.
Guitoune and centre Wesley Fofana also crossed within minutes of each other late in the game before Gael Fickou went over two minutes from time.
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre made 13 changes to the side that beat Italy 32-10 in their Pool opener at Twickenham last Saturday – when wing Yoann Huget's World Cup was ended by injury – and it showed early on as Romania forced a series of turnovers after Morgan Parra kicked Les Bleus into an early lead.
Romania thought they had the game's first try in the 17th minute when, after winning a line-out near the French line, they drove forward and spun the ball to centre Florin Vlaicu.
But, with replays inconclusive, South African referee Jaco Peyper – much criticised for excessive use of video replays during England's opening win over Fiji last Friday – disallowed the score.
However, Romania had won a penalty in front of the posts and Vlaicu kicked his side level.
He then missed from 35 metres out and, worse still for Romania, tighthead prop Paulica Ion was sent to the sin-bin after deliberately collapsing a maul.
France made the most of their man advantage in the 30th minute. Guitoune dived over near the right touchline, keeping his feet inside the whitewash, despite a last-ditch tackle by Catalin Fercu.
Scrumhalf Parra added the conversion to make it 10-3 and three minutes later France, three-time losing World Cup finalists, had another converted try.
Fullback Brice Dulin, coming into the line with a neat side-step, initiated the move with a well-judged pass from Parra finding Alexandre Flanquart who in turn released Nyanga, with the flank crossing the Romanian line out on the right.
Parra kicked another excellent conversion, before Vlaicu cut France's half-time lead to 17-6 with his second penalty.
More sloppy play marred France's start to the second half and they failed to make the most of good field position when they kicked a penalty to touch for a line-out just metres from the Romanian line.
But they eventually had a third try in the 65th minute when Guitoune, stretching for the line, was eventually ruled to have scored despite suspicions of a double movement.
Parra converted and the game was beyond Romania.
The French then made sure of the bonus point when Dulin released Fofana, who grounded the ball despite some despairing last-ditch tackles, with Rory Kockott kicking the conversion.
But the try Romania – coached by Welshman Lynn Howells – deserved for their efforts came when flank Valentin Ursache went over from a close range line-out in the 73rd minute before France centre Fickou completed the try-scoring.
Man of the match: Florian Vlaicu showed there are some world class talent in Romania, while lock Johannes van Heerden provided the with some pure South African muscle up front. Wesley Fofana and Gael Fickou had their moments, while Sofiane Guitoune almost got a hat-trick. However, our award goes French flank Yannick Nyanga – who produced a fine all round performance.
Moment of the match: There were some fine scores, sic in all, but Sofiane Guitoune's 65th-minute try ended the game as a contest, after Romania had hung in bravely.
Villain of the match: Nothing villainous in this game.
The scorers:
For France:
Tries: Guitoune 2, Nyanga, Fofana, Fickou
Cons: Parra 3, Kockott 2
Pen: Parra
For Romania:
Try: Ursache
Pens: Vlaicu 2
Yellow card: Paulica Ion (Romania, 29 – professional foul, collapsing the maul)
Teams:
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Sofiane Guitoune, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Bernard Le Roux, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (captain), 1 Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Yoann Maestri, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Madalin Lemnaru, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Florin Vlaicu, 11 Adrian Apostol, 10 Danut Dumbrava, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Mihai Macovei (captain), 7 Viorel Lucaci, 6 Valentin Ursache, 5 Johannes van Heerden, 4 Valentin Poparlan, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Otar Turashvili, 1 Mihaita Lazar.
Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Andrei Ursache, 18 Horatiu Pungea, 19 Ovidiu Tonita, 20 Stelian Burcea, 21 Valentin Calafeteanu, 22 Ionut Botezatu, 23 Csaba Gal.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
