FRA
No.Name
15Brice Dulin, FB
14Sofiane Guitoune, W
T
2
13Gael Fickou, C
T
12Wesley Fofana, C
T
11Noa Nakaitaci, W
10Remi Tales, FH
9Morgan Parra, SH
3
1Vincent Debaty, P
2Dimitri Szarzewski, H
3Uini Atonio, P
4Bernard le Roux, L
5Alexandre Flanquart, L
6Yannick Nyanga Kabasele, FL
T
7Fulgence Ouedraogo, FL
8Louis Picamoles, N8
Replacements
16Benjamin Kayser, R
17Eddy Ben Arous, R
18Nicolas Mas, R
19Yoann Maestri, R
20Damien Chouly, R
21Rory Kockott, R
2
22Frederic Michalak, R
23Mathieu Bastareaud, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: London Stadium
8:00 PM, September 23, 2015
Attendance: 50,626
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'From ESPN's Tom Hamilton at the Olympic Stadium: This was not really a game for the purists, or a game for those who liked expansive rugby. For 70 minutes of the game, Romania went toe-to-toe with France in the forwards and the only time Les Bleus got any ball in space was due to poor kicking from the yellow-clad opposition. A visibly frustrated Philippe Saint-Andre gave France a half-time rocket and it was only tiring legs that allowed them to pull away in the latter stages. Guitoune did well to get his brace of scores while Fofana coming through the 80 minutes unscathed is perhaps the best outcome for France. Romania battled valiantly but eventually the lack of strength off their bench cost them dear
81'38-11 End of second half
80'Guitoune almost away after a high kick - he was on a hat trick - but the ball bounces out and that is full time!
79'38-11 Conversion - Rory Kockott , France
79'36-11 Try - Gael Fickou , France
78'TRY! France's turn to impress from the lineout in Romania's half. Centre Fickou is given freedom to run and, after turning on the afterburners, he sidesteps the last line of defence and runs under the posts. Sums France up tonight - flashes of brilliance amid mediocrity. Kockott converts with ease.
76'France think they have a fifth try - but it's ruled out by the TMO for a knock on.
74'Conversion missed, though. Romania didn't want the extra two points anyway.
74'31-11 Try - Valentin Ursache , Romania
73'Romania with a lineout in the French five - show what you can do boys... TRY! Wonderful lineout as the Oaks drive forward and the bearded Valentin Ursache slams the ball down amid two French tackles for Romania's first try of RWC2015. Replacement Vali Calafeteanu is jumping up and down with joy, going absolutely mental. Love it.
73'Player substituted - Paulica Ion , Romania
73'Substitute on - Horatiu Pungea , Romania
73'Player substituted - Florin Surugiu , Romania
73'Substitute on - Valentin Calafeteanu , Romania
72'Substitute on - Stelian Burcea , Romania
72'Player substituted - Viorel Lucaci , Romania
72'Substitute on - Ionut Botezatu , Romania
72'Player substituted - Marian Apostol , Romania
71'Substitute on - Andrei Ursache , Romania
71'Player substituted - Mihai Lazar , Romania
71'31-6 Conversion - Rory Kockott , France
70'Rory Kockott gets a slice of the action and splits the posts beautifully. Ten minutes left in this one.
69'What is happening?! France have somehow got a bonus point out of one of the worst games you'll see. After Brice Dulin's offload, Wesley Fofana dances through three challenges, finds himself upside down as he crosses the whitewash and grounds the ball under pressure.
69'29-6 Try - Wesley Fofana , France
68'
68'Player substituted - Vincent Debaty , France
68'Substitute on - Eddy Ben Arous , France
68'Substitute on - Rory Kockott , France
68'Player substituted - Morgan Parra , France
68'Substitute on - Ovidiu Tonita , Romania
68'Player substituted - Valentin Poparlan , Romania
67'
67'24-6 Conversion - Morgan Parra , France
66'Parra pings in the conversion with perfect precision. This is game over - France must now ensure they don't lose any of their players to injury like they did against Italy last weekend.
66'22-6 Try - Sofiane Guitoune , France
65'TRY! At last - and it's that man Guitoune again. Free-flowing France move from the breakdown and it's worked to the right. The wing still has plenty to do as he drifts back inside to beat the tackle and ground well when challenged.
64'A lot of France running in this half - but making minimal games. Stark contrast to both of today's earlier games...
63'
61'France pushing hard into the Romania half - but Wesley Fofana drops the ball and we'll go back for the scrum.
59'Player substituted - Otar Turashvili , Romania
59'Substitute on - Andrei Radoi , Romania
56'Poor from France - giving a silly penalty away for crossing. Romania clear to relieve the pressure.
54'Better from France as they work their way into the Romania half. Vlaicu rolls forward in the breakdown and Peyper brings it back for the penalty. Parra kicks out of play for a France lineout on the Romania five.
53'Very stop-start, error-ridden match this. Really needs something special to spark it into life.
51'
50'France with the five-metre lineout that comes to nothing - but there's a little fumble from Romania in their own try zone...
50'Substitute on - Damien Chouly , France
50'Player substituted - Louis Picamoles , France
50'Substitute on - Nicolas Mas , France
50'Player substituted - Uini Atonio , France
50'Player substituted - Dimitri Szarzewski , France
50'Substitute on - Benjamin Kayser , France
49'Break in play with plenty of changes for the France side.
47'Player substituted - Dan Dumbrava , Romania
47'Substitute on - Csaba Gal , Romania
46'Gael Fickou looks to make ground approaching the Romania 22 but he has absolutely no support out wide and is tackled with ease. French fans groan.
44'Romania win two early scrums approaching the French 22. Yellow lineout is won, but the pressure eventually comes to nothing when France turn over and clear.
41'17-6 End of first half
40'Back underway at the Olympic Stadium. Philippe Saint-Andre went absolutely mad at his French players in the dressing room at half-time - wonder what reaction we will get...
40'And that's half time!
40'17-6 Start of second half
40'Substitute on - Valentin Ursache , Romania
40'Player substituted - Horatiu Pungea , Romania
40'17-6 Penalty goal - Florin Vlaicu , Romania
39'No mistake this time, lovely kick. Prop Paulica Ion back on after a costly 10 minutes in the sin bin.
38'This time Romania's lineout is sloppy and France steal. However, the Oaks bag another turnover in the middle of the park - France really missing Thierry Dusautoir in the breakdown. Peyper pulls it back for an infringement and Vlaicu goes for the points...
37'Excellent response from Romania, pushing into the French 22 with some lovely passing. France actually win a lineout, though, and Dulin clears downfield.
36'Player substituted - Valentin Ursache , Romania
36'Substitute on - Horatiu Pungea , Romania
35'17-3 Conversion - Morgan Parra , France
34'Parra has his second kick from a tight angle in as many minutes - and it's equally as good. After a patchy opening 30 minutes, the French are dominating proceedings in Stratford.
34'15-3 Try - Yannick Nyanga Kabasele , France
33'That one is like a knife through butter - one of the most simple two-on-ones you'll see. Yannick Nyanga Kabasele ends a flowing move started from Brice Dulin's pacey break through the middle. France making the extra man count, big time.
32'Substitute on - Dimitri Szarzewski , France
32'Player substituted - Benjamin Kayser , France
32'10-3 Conversion - Morgan Parra , France
31'No TMO required for that one - Peyper refereed England's victory over Fiji last Friday. Parra with the most ridiculous of conversions from a tight angle. It bends all over the place, clips the post and falls the right way through.
30'TRY! France make the extra man count immediately - Sofiane Guitoune, the man who came in for the injured Yoann Huget, is found in the corner and he does brilliantly well to plant both feet and ground the ball under pressure.
30'8-3 Try - Sofiane Guitoune , France
30'Yellow card - Paulica Ion , Romania
29'Referee Peyper isn't happy with Paulica Ion...
27'Romania have won five turnovers already - France none. Tier Two nations taking it to the big boys, this is exactly what the World Cup is about.
25'That is very unlike Vlaicu - he's just missed a doozie right in front of the posts.
24'
24'Drop goal-missed
23'Another Romania steal and they try and work the ball down the left side. However, there's a French offside and after a ridiculously ambitious but failed drop goal attempt from Dumbrava , Romania have a chance to move ahead...
23'Substitute on - Benjamin Kayser , France
23'Player substituted - Dimitri Szarzewski , France
22'Little break in play after Dimitri Szarzewski catches a stray boot in the face. He'll have to go off for treatment.
21'Macovei has been superb at the lineout - another brilliant steal this time on the Romania 22. But Danut Dumbrava wastes the possession with one of the worst kicks of the tournament so far...
20'Easy three points, that.
20'3-3 Penalty goal - Florin Vlaicu , Romania
19'Romania try? No! lorin Vlaicu appears to be over, but referee Peyper is unsure whether the ball has been grounded. We're going to the TMO - and it's clear the ball hasn't touched the turf. Romania had the advantage so they're taking the points. Vlaicu to kick in front of the posts - no mistake.
18'Burst after burst from yellow shirts in the final five - they can see the France try line. It's right there...phase seven for the Oaks...
17'Another superb turnover from Romania in the France 22 - they win the penalty in the breakdown and take the lineout again. Driving maul time...
16'Lovely chop tackle from Lucaci and Romania have the turnover - Lazar picks the ball and the French are penalised in the breakdown. Kicked into touch, Romania take the lineout.
13'
12'Romania get the scrum on half way, but are then penalised by Peyper for turning 90 degrees. Lazar against Atonio turning into a real scrap in the set piece...
8'Les Bleus are controlling this. Wesley Fofana made a lovely run before Parra's penalty and they seem to be moving the ball about well. This could be a long night for The Oaks.
8'3-0 Penalty goal - Morgan Parra , France
7'And there are the first points. France win another penalty after an infringement in the breakdown and this time Morgan Parra slots the ball right through the heart of the posts.
5'Slightly better French scrum this time around - Louis Picamoles comes through with the ball and finds some ground. France penalty kicked into touch.
3'Huge roar from the Romanians as they demolish France in the scrum! Kicked into touch, but the Romania lineout is loose and France steal easily.
2'Romania number eight Mihai Macovei with the early turnover for the team in yellow - and we have our first scrum, in France's favour.
1'
1'Referee Jaco Peyper blows his whistle and we are underway in Stratford.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live text commentary for France and Romania's Pool D clash at the Olympic Stadium. Our man Tom Hamilton is at the Olympic Stadium... And here are your teams:
1'0-0 Start of first half

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