24 years in 140 characters: Ever-presents with dim memories of 80s strength. Won first World Cup match, against Zimbabwe in 87, and last but one, against Portugal in 07

Record in 2011: P7 W4 L3

World Cup record

1987: Pool Stages

1991: Pool Stages

1995: Pool Stages

1999: Pool Stages

2003: Pool Stages

2007: Pool Stages

Coach: Romeo Stefan Gontineac

Captain: Marius Tincu

How are they likely to get on? Romanian rugby has still not recovered from the death of communism and the advent of professionalism. In the 1980s they were a genuine force, beating Wales, France and Scotland, with the Romanian army supplying the backbone of the national team. These days the Mighty Oaks are ranked 17th in the world, one place below Georgia, and they had to beat Uruguay in a two-leg play-off to qualify. Will do well to win a game.

Key player: Marius Tincu. The 33-year-old hooker is a legend in Perpignan and is among the best players in his position in the world.

Commentator's kit: One of Romania's leading try-scorers, the wing Catalin Fercu, refused to travel to New Zealand. He is scared of flying.

Squad

Nicolae Dragos Dima, prop, age 32, caps 35

Silviu Florea, prop, age 34, caps 25

Paulica Ion, prop, age 28, caps 40

Mihaita Lazar, prop, age 24, caps 12

Nicolae Nere, prop, age 30, caps 17

Marius Tincu, hooker, age 33, caps 42

Bogdan Zebega Suman, hooker, age 27, caps 30

Cristian Petre, second-row, age 32, caps 77

Valentin Poparlan, second-row, age 24, caps 4

Cosmin Ratiu, second-row, age 32, caps 28

Valentin Ursache, second-row, age 26, caps 33

Stelian Burcea, flanker, age 27, caps 27

Daniel Ianus, flanker, age 24, caps 8

Mihai Macovei, flanker, age 24, caps 20

Daniel Carpo, No8, age 26, caps 27

Ovidiu Tonita, No8, age 31, caps 55

Valentin Calafeteanu, scrum-half, age 26, caps 35

Lucian Sirbu, scrum-half, age 34, caps 67

Florin Surugiu, scrum-half, age 26, caps 9

Ionel Dimofte, fly-half, age 26, caps 52

Danut Dumbrava, fly-half, age 30, caps 55

Ionel Cazan, centre, age 22, caps 6

Csaba Gal, centre, age 26, caps 34

Constantin Gheara, centre, age 30, caps 6

Stefan Ciuntu, wing, age 25, caps 24

Adrian Apostol, wing, age 21, caps 1

Madalin Lemnaru, wing, age 22, caps 7

Catalin Nicolae, wing, age 31, caps 17

Iulian Dumitras, full-back, age 29, caps 30

Florin Vlaicu, full-back, age 25, caps 40

Average age 27.5

Average caps 28.7