Battered and bruised Romania have made wholesale changes to their side to face Scotland in a Rugby World Cup pool B clash in Lille on Saturday, including a first game at the tournament for former Tonga Sevens player Taliauli Sikuea.
Romania have suffered two heavy defeats against Ireland and South Africa, conceding a combined 158 points in the process, and now face a Scotland side desperate for a win to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
Coach Eugen Apjok has made 10 changes to his starting XV, including the introduction of Sikuea, who joins fellow wing Sioeli Lama and fullback Marius Simionescu in the back three.
The latter is one of the players to keep his place, as is outside centre Jason Tomane, who forms a midfield partnership with Fonovai Tangimana.
Alin Conache will start a first test at flyhalf and along with Gabriel Rupanu make up the halfback pairing.
Captain Cristian Chirica is at No 8 with Florian Rosu and Dragos Ser the flankers, while Stefan Iancu and Adrian Motoc are the lock pairing. The latter, along with Chirica, will have started all three of Romania’s games in France.
Robert Irimescu is at hooker with props Alexandru Savin and Gheorghe Gajion on either side of him.
"It's a big challenge for the team and I hope we take something from the first two games," Apjok said. "It wasn't what we were looking for but I hope the players will learn a lot of things.
"They understand against Scotland, we need to do it more on the field but I'm sure they'll give everything and it will be a better game for us."
Apjok said his side specifically need to cut out basic errors, which ware quickly seized upon by top teams.
"The intensity of the game (is higher) and any mistakes will cost us at this level."
Romania have lost 10 of their last 11 World Cup matches and are winless in their past seven meetings with Scotland since an 18-12 victory in Bucharest in 1991.
TEAM SELECTION
Romania team: 1-Alexandru Savin, 2-Robert Irimescu, 3-Gheorghe Gajion, 4-Adrian Motoc, 5-Stefan Iancu, 6-Florian Rosu, 7-Dragos Ser, 8-Cristian Chirica (capt), 9-Gabriel Rupanu, 10-Alin Conache, 11-Taliauli Sikuea, 12-Fonovai Tangimana, 13-Jason Tomane, 14-Sioeli Lama, 15-Marius Simionescu
Replacements: 16-Florin Bardasu, 17-Iulian Hartig, 18-Costel Burtila, 19-Marius Iftimiciuc, 20-Damian Stratila, 21-Florin Surugiu, 22-Tudor Boldor, 23-Nicholas Onutu.