Ion eyes a final scalp
The 2008 IRB Nations Cup winners will be decided on Friday, with the Emerging Springboks defending their crown against challengers Romania in the final.
The 2008 IRB Nations Cup winners will be decided on Friday, with the Emerging Springboks defending their crown against challengers Romania in the final.
The only Romanian playing professional rugby in Great Britain is Bath's Paulica Ion, and he knows Friday's final will be a huge test of Romania's ability.
“We are playing a very strong side, well-drilled and very talented,” Ion told the IRB.
“We want to play well, irrespective of who wins.
“Of course we would like to make history winning the tournament for the first time, but so do the South Africans. We must eliminate unforced errors, do the necessary right and that may help us in the final on Friday. It all depends on the day.”
Ion has become a well respected member of the Romanian squad, displaying great strength and a solid work-rate, although it was not always that way.
The 24-year-old reveals that when he first trained with the Romanian squad the intensity of it all was more than he could handle.
“I was a bit under par, a bit tired,” he added.
“It did not feel right, so I really did not do that well in the first match against Uruguay. Besides, my opposite number Sanchez was a very experienced player so he gave me a hard time.
“I found the second match against Russia much easier, simply because I felt better. I felt more comfortable, although the Russian front five were very abrasive and tight. On top of that winning was very rewarding, after losing to Russia the last three matches.
“The score was really immaterial. A win is a win as they say in England and it is nice to reach the final match unbeaten. We are building the team spirit as well and we started to feel very much like a bunch of brothers.
“I have been together with some of the boys here since we were playing age-grade rugby and the feeling is right. We all want the same thing and we somehow feel that it is now in our own hands to deliver.”
Ion's grasp of English has also become a clear asset in the new Romanian team environment since the arrival of two New Zealanders – Director of Rugby Ellis Meachen and former All Black and conditioning coach Steve McDowell.
Both Meachan and McDowell are former front row men and Ion finds this beneficial.
“It is great working with the New Zealanders. This knowledge is top class as well as their attention to detail and that to a large extent matches very much what we do at Bath,” explained Ion.
“It is attention to detail that makes the difference. Is not that we did not know all that. We knew them but we have been taking them for granted, and ultimately ignoring them.”