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Romanian `Oaks' battle to subdue spirited Portugal

Romania twice came from behind to subdue Portugal's part-timers 14-10 and save face for their first win at the Rugby World Cup on Tuesday.

Portugal threatened to end a first visit to the World Cup with a stunning victory when they led 10-7 heading toward injury time.

But amid passing showers, the powerful Romanian pack muscled in a second converted try from a lineout maul for flanker Florin Corodeanu in the 80th minute.

Romania thus made sure they will complete five World Cup appearances out of six with a victory, with a last match to go on Saturday against New Zealand on the same Stade Toulouse turf.

"It was a very important game for us," Romania lock Sorin Socol said. "Portugal played a good game. I hope we work more. We were not playing very good in the first half."

While Portugal bowed out of the tournament, their passionate effort served only to deepen admiration for the amateurs who were the last and lowest-ranked team to qualify for the cup. Their heartfelt performances were returned after the match when the girlfriend of winger Antonio Aguilar proposed to him, complete with T-shirts asking the question for all his teammates. He accepted.

Portugal's relentless effort, dedicated to captain Vasco Uva who had to miss the match with a broken hand, kept this match between the group also-rans riveting to the end.

Fittingly, it was caretaker captain Joaquim Ferreira who scored Portugal's only try in his farewell international with a touch of irony in the 20th minute.

Romania had won the first seven lineouts -- two off Portugal's throw-in -- when the Oaks called for a short lineout 5m from their line. They mistimed the jump, however, and dynamo Portugal flanker Joao Uva picked it up off the back and was stopped at the tryline. Ferreira, Portugal's most capped player, went over off the ruck for only his third try in 84 Tests, and the first player to hug him was prop Rui Cordeiro, the tryscorer against New Zealand who was also playing his last game for his country.

Duarte Cardoso Pinto nailed the conversion and Portugal's 7-0 lead stood to halftime thanks to staunch defense and Romanian fumbles.

Romania won 16 of 20 lineouts in the first half, five against the throw, and even turned over one of Portugal's scrums but their handling was atrocious. The Oaks seemed to turn over every possession.

Their best try chance of the half was nine minutes into the game when winger Catalin Fercu broke from a ruck and sped down the right touch. He had only one man to beat but tripped up over his own feet.

Out of desperation, and soon after Portugal's try, Romania fullback Iulian Dumitras attempted a 45m drop goal which sailed right and was roundly booed.
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