Scotland vs Romania Predictions: Rugby World Cup betting tips, news, lineup
Scotland must win big when they go up against Romania at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday (8pm BST).
Gregor Townsend’s side need a bonus point to boost their hopes of progressing from Pool B, where Ireland (14 points) and South Africa (10) are the pacesetters.
As for Romania, they are already eliminated after two straight defeats, but will want to begin their farewell in style.
Scotland vs Romania Betting Tips
- Romania handicap +62.5 @ 3/4 with BetUK
- Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn both to score 2+ tries @ 2/1 with bet365
Scotland to close the gap on top two
With the result pretty much a complete certainty, it’s more a question of how many Scotland will win by and if Romania can actually show some positives from what has been a very poor tournament for them.
Eugen Apjok’s side have lost both previous fixtures (albeit against the sides ranked first and second in the world in Ireland and South Africa) by over 70 points.
Scotland know they will need a big scoreline to have any chance of upsetting the odds and qualifying from the group of death before their crucial match against Ireland next week.
Despite resting some key players ahead of that Ireland match, you would expect Scotland to comfortably cover the -58 handicap (maybe even pushing out to -64 given their need to score heavy.
Tip: Romania handicap +62.5 @ 3/4 with BetUK
Graham and Steyn to fill their boots
As previously mentioned, Scotland need points and will fancy getting them against a leaky Romanian defence.
With the greatest respect to Romania, you would expect the backs to have a field day in what should be an absolute try fest.
For added value, you should keep an eye out for any combined 5/6+ try scorer bets involving any of them.
But if you want to be more specific, it may be worth backing wingers Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn both to score two or more tries at any time – one of them could even get a hat-trick.
Tip: Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn both to score 2+ tries @ TBC
Scotland vs Romania team news
With next week’s crunch match against Ireland in mind, Gregor Townsend has made 13 changes to his starting XV with Chris Harris and Kyle Steyn the only survivors from the win over Tonga.
Scotland: Ollie Smith, Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Steyn, Ben Healy, Ali Price; Jamie Bhatti, Ewan Ashman, Javan Sebastian, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Luke Crosbie, Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, WP Nel, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, George Horne, Blair Kinghorn, Huw Jones.
With Romania playing for pride, Eugen Apjok makes 10 changes from the 76-0 defeat to South Africa. Adrian Motoc, Cristian Chirica, Gabriel Rupanu, Jason Tomane and Marius Simionescu are the only players to maintain their places.
Romania: Marius Simionescu, Sioeli Lama, Jason Tomane, Fonovai Tangimana, Taliauli Sikuea, Alin Conache, Gabriel Rupanu; Alexandru Savin, Robert Irimescu, Gheorghe Gajion, Adrian Motoc, Stefan Iancu, Florian Rosu, Dragos Ser, Cristian Chirica.
Replacements: Florin Bardasu, Iulian Hartig, Costel Burtila, Marius Iftimiciuc, Damian Stratila, Florin Surugiu, Tudor Boldor, Nicholas Onutu.
