Romania's tournament history is not an illustrious one and that is unlikely to change in France. They took the second European qualification place behind group opponents Italy, who are in a different league to them and will be pushing for second ahead of Scotland, let alone third.

The two will meet in their opening game and to take a step up in class Romania need to upset the Azzurri before they face the Scots in Edinburgh. They have the pedigree to beat Portugal in their third match but death by All Blacks is sure to follow.

• Sorin Socol
  Romania captain Sorin Socol has admitted he will feel immense pride when he leads the Oaks at the World Cup in France, the country where he has played the majority of his career. The 29-year-old number eight played for Brive from 1998 until 2002 in the Ligue Nationale de Rugby before making the switch to Agen, where he has played since 2003. Socol won his first cap against Spain in 2001 and captained the side for the first time during the last World Cup in Australia.
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• Forwards
  Petru Balan, Bogdan Balan, Cezar Popescu, Petrisor Toderasc, Silviu Florea, Marius Tincu, Razvan Mavrodin, Sorin Socol (capt.), Cristian Petre, Valentin Ursache, Augustin Petrichei, Ovidiu Tonita, Florin Corodeanu, Cosmin Ratiu, Alexandru Manta, Alexandru Tudori.
• Backs
  Valentin Calafeteanu, Lucian Sirbu, Ionut Dimofte, Ionut Tofan, Romeo Gontineac, Csaba Gal, Gabriel Brezoianu, Dan Vlad, Catalin Fercu, Ioan Teodorescu, Catalin Nicolae, Iulian Dumitras, Florin Vlaicu, Danut Dumbrava.