Preview: Scotland v Romania

29 Sep 2023

Scotland play Romania in the third match of their Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille tomorrow (kick off 8pm) - live on STV and ITV.

NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ben Healy during a Scotland Rugby training session at the Stade Nicois Rugby Club, on September 27, 2023, in Nice, France. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

What they said

Head Coach Gregor Townsend said: “There’s player who deserve and opportunity to play in this World Cup. Players that have been training really well, outstanding individual players, and we feel this is the right time to give them that opportunity.

“(On Romania) They’re a team that can be dangerous if you don’t go about your jobs in the way we know we can do. Romania’s always a very proud rugby nation, very strong physically and they’re excellent around set-piece, so we can’t take them lightly.”

The team

  • Scotland have won 11 of the 13 previous meetings between the two sides, and triumphed in all three of their Rugby World Cup matches against Romania to date.
  • Jack Dempsey has completed six offloads in the tournament so far, the second most of any player in the competition.
  • Johnny Matthews could become the first men’s player to make their Scotland debut at a World Cup since Josh Strauss came off the bench against Japan in 2015.

RELATED

1872 Cup (Edinburgh Rugby) Preview: All roads lead to Scottish Gas Murrayfield for intercity double-header 22 December 2025 1872 Cup (Edinburgh Rugby) 30,000 and counting: Blockbuster finale at Scottish Gas Murrayfield 21 December 2025 1872 Cup (Glasgow Warriors) Match Report: Glasgow Warriors 24 – 12 Edinburgh Rugby 21 December 2025 1872 Cup (Edinburgh Rugby) Scotland stars included in Edinburgh’s 1872 Cup lineup 19 December 2025 Edinburgh Rugby Men Henry Pyrgos joins Edinburgh Rugby’s Academy coaching staff 19 December 2025 1872 Cup (Glasgow Warriors) Warriors call on supporters to bring the Hampden roar 18 December 2025 Match Officials Davidson to referee in 2026 Men’s Guinness Six Nations 17 December 2025 New dining experiences add a fitting tribute to 100 years of Murrayfield 17 December 2025 Appointments Scottish Rugby names Sione Fukofuka as Scotland Women Head Coach 17 December 2025 1872 Cup (Glasgow Warriors) Glasgow Warriors team named for 1872 Cup opener 16 December 2025 Area Development Greenock Wanderers RFC Secures Royal London Funding 16 December 2025 1872 Cup (Glasgow Warriors) Stage set for 1872 Cup opener 16 December 2025 Scotland A Scotland A to face Italy XV in February 16 December 2025 Appointments Meet Alex Ross: Scottish Rugby Head of Athletic Performance & Sports Science 15 December 2025 Edinburgh Rugby Men Castres power past young Edinburgh side 15 December 2025 Glasgow Warriors Men Match Report: Glasgow Warriors 28-21 Stade Toulousain 13 December 2025 Cup & Competitions Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership Final Match Report: Stirling County 39–12 Watsonian FC 13 December 2025 Cup & Competitions Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership Final Preview: Stirling County v Watsonians 13 December 2025 Cup & Competitions National Youth Cup Finals Preview 12 December 2025 Scotland Men U20 Report: Wales U20 43-28 Scotland U20 12 December 2025