England v Romania: Teams
England know they will have to put in a decent performance against Romania if they are to silence their critics.
Last Updated: 23/09/11 3:53am
England know they will have to put in a decent performance against Romania in Dunedin if they are to silence their critics.
Despite winning their opening two games and conceding just one try to close in on the quarter-finals, England have found themselves under increasing pressure.
Their indiscipline in the victories over Argentina and Georgia has been a cause for concern, while their off-field antics - from bungee jumping to a squad night out - have just added fuel to the flames.
However the squad have pulled together and held an 'open and honest' session at training in a bid to look at where they had been going wrong.
Manager Martin Johnson has opted to name seven changes for the clash with Romania - including recalling Mike Tindall, who has been at the centre of the media storm for his actions on a team night out.
Mark Cueto, Jonny Wilkinson Steve Thompson, Alex Corbisiero, Louis Deacon and Tom Croft also come into the side for the clash.
Targeted
On the bench there are first appearances for David Wilson and Lee Mears, while Saracens Richard Wigglesworth returns.
Nick Easter and Matt Stevens are both missing through injuries, though, while lock Courtney Lawes, completes his two-match ban.
Having lost their opening two matches, Romania have surprisingly opted to leave out captain Marius Tincu for the encounter.
The Oaks have one eye on their eastern European derby with Georgia - the game they targeted as a must-win before the start of the tournament.
The omission of Tincu is one of 13 changes made by head coach Romeo Stefan Gontineac - with Cristian Petre and Valentin Poparlan retained in the second row, while Ionel Cazan, Iulian Dumitras and Ovidiu Tonita also play but in new positions.
There is a recall for fly-half Marin Danut Dumbrava, however Paulica Ion and Daniel Carpo are both omitted from the starting XV.
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Alex Corbisiero, Steve Thompson, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Louis Deacon, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Lewis Moody (capt), 8 James Haskell.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 David Wilson, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Wood, 20 Richard Wigglesworth, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Delon Armitage.
Romania: 15 Florin Adrian Vlaicu, 14 Stefan Eugen Ciuntu, 13 Ionel Cazan, 12 Iulian Dumitras, 11 Adrian Marian Apostol, 10 Marin Danut Dumbrava, 9 Lucian Mihai Sirbu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Cosmin Aurel Ratiu, 6 Sandu Stelian Burcea, 5 Cristian Constantin Petre (capt), 4 Valentin Poparlan, 3 Silviu Florea, 2 Bogdan Zebega Suman, 1 Nicolae Nere.
Replacements: 16 Marius Tincu, 17 Paulica Ion, 18 Mihai Macovei, 19 Daniel Gabriel Ianus, 20 Valentin Nicolae Calafeteanu, 21 Csaba Minya Gal, 22 Catalin Marius Nicolae.
