Scotland vs Romania LIVE! Rugby World Cup 2023 match stream, result and latest updates today

Scotland vs Romania LIVE!

Only a perfect finish to their Pool B campaign can save Scotland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Always up against it in a mightily tough group and having lost to South Africa to open their tournament, Gregor Townsend’s men took their next step by hammering Romania tonight.

A bonus-point win was the only requirement in Lille, and a star performance from Darcy Graham saw them home in emphatic style.

Scotland got the better of Tonga last weekend and have now at least put a bit of scoreboard pressure on South Africa ahead of their game tomorrow, before what is primed to be a win-or-bust showdown with Ireland, who are many people’s favourites to win it all, next Saturday.

Scotland vs Romania highlights

• TRY! Watson runs over Scotland’s first score

• TRY! Graham pace blitzes defence

• TRY! Bonus point secured with Graham score

• TRY! Harris starts second half in fine style

• TRY! Graham makes it 84-0

Thanks for joining us!

22:05 , Marc Mayo

Scotland run up a big win over Romania to keep themselves in contention for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

Join us at Standard Sport tomorrow for live coverage of South Africa’s Pool B clash with Tonga.

And you can recap tonight’s action with our match report!

Highlights: Graham rounds off a delightful display

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Scotland 84-0 Romania | FULL TIME!

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It all ends with Romania enjoying a run towards their first points of the day... they’re still giving it a good go and earn an offside to evade the final whistle for a little while longer.

Finally, a Scottish hand attempts a bold intercept but drops it - and that’s full time!

Scotland head to Paris for a showdown with Ireland next week, while Romania will face Tonga to finish their World Cup in the hope of avoiding the Pool B wooden spoon.

TRY! Scotland 84-0 Romania | Graham, 77’

21:47 , Marc Mayo

Graham has been quiet for a little while so it’s no surprise he arrives onto the scene before the final whistle!

A cute reverse pass finds him under the post and he skips around a tackle to score.

The conversion is good.

Highlights: Smith runs in a delightful counter of a counter

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TRY! Scotland 77-0 Romania | Darge, 73’

21:42 , Marc Mayo

And there’s another! That quiet spell has been dismissed with ease by the Scottish replacements as Darge goes over under the posts.

Lots of gaps in the Romanian defence to make use of - that’s try and conversion number 11.

TRY! Scotland 70-0 Romania | Matthews, 72’

21:40 , Marc Mayo

Scotland could do with motoring on again now, they need some points difference gains on Ireland and South Africa.

And that’s more like it as they win the line-out before Kinghorn and Horne lead a break, which Matthews touches down on his World Cup debut!

Scotland 63-0 Romania | 70 mins

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Another Scotland penalty allows a fresh set for Romania and Tomane bursts through a couple of challenges into the 22.

Yet, once again, the ball is fumbled and Scotland kick into touch.

Scotland 63-0 Romania | 68 mins

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Darge and Jones the final Scottish changes as they defend a line-out well inside their own 22.

The neutral, or more likely the French and Romanian fans, in Lille are raising the volume anticipating a first breakthrough for the minnows.

It all ends with a bold crossfield chip into touch! Scotland’s defence survives a rare test.

Scotland 63-0 Romania | 65 mins

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This is the closest Romania have come to scoring, with a number of phases on the verge of Scotland’s try line...

Held up, they at least come back for an advantage from a Scottish offside.

Scotland 63-0 Romania | 61 mins

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Several changes for the Scots, with Horne also on for Price.

Ugo Monye knows

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TRY! Scotland 63-0 Romania | Healy, 58’

21:26 , Marc Mayo

Smooth work from Scotland as Graham collects a pass back inside the ruck and Healy runs the final yards to bag the try - which he then converts from under the posts!

Scotland 56-0 Romania | 57 mins

21:24 , Marc Mayo

Scotland are maintaining their point-per-minute pace that they did drop off from midway through the first half.

France and New Zealand have both clocked 96 points in matches at this Rugby World Cup, will the Scots be the first to breach the 100-point mark? They’ll need their replacements to hit the ground running.

Conversion! Scotland 56-0 Romania | 55 mins

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Healy’s perfect kicking record for the night continues.

TRY! Scotland 54-0 Romania | Smith, 54’

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From one end to the other... and back again!

Rapanu darts out of a line-out and races at the Scottish defence, kicking through and losing out comfortably to Smith.

And then Smith goes on a rampage at the Romanian defence, holding off a bunch of tackles to tumble over!

Scotland 49-0 Romania | 49 mins

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Redpath is held up on the line with some last-gasp defending before Bhatti darts in and over!

TMO will check the grounding... he’s dropped it. Wayne Barnes is told to bring it back to Scotland’s advantage for an offside.

Conversion! Scotland 49-0 Romania | 47 mins

21:12 , Marc Mayo

Lovely kick from Healy to set that try up and lovely kick to add the extras.

TRY! Scotland 47-0 Romania | Harris, 47'

21:11 , Marc Mayo

Graham manages to hold onto a bobble or two as he handles the ball before Healy kicks cross field which Redpath reads excellently, and Harris goes over in the corner!

Scotland 42-0 Romania | 45 mins

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A fairly solid start to the half from the eastern Europeans until a knock-on sees them defending a scrum inside their own half.

Romania have actually won the majority of scrums so far and manage to hold on again here!

And yet... the penalty kick misses touch and Scotland are back in possession.

Scotland 42-0 Romania | 43 mins

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Romania’s man disadvantage is back to one with only the No15 Simionescu absent for his high tackle on Smith shortly before the fifth try.

Scotland 42-0 Romania | Kick-off!

21:04 , Marc Mayo

The second half begins with Scotland looking to rack up as many points as possible before next weekend’s showdown with Ireland.

One way traffic in Lille

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Highlights: Fagerson waltzes in for try number five

20:54 , Marc Mayo

Half time! Scotland 42-0 Romania

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Job done for the first half here in Lille as Scotland run through six tries against Romania.

TRY! Scotland 42-0 Romania | Graham, 40’

20:49 , Marc Mayo

That’s 40 points on 40 minutes as Harris breaks the line from kick-off, with a couple of passes via Price reaching Graham to run over for his hat-trick!

The conversion is sealed and Scotland are well on their way after that late flurry of points.

Conversion! Scotland 35-0 Romania | 39 mins

20:47 , Marc Mayo

TMO will review Simionescu’s challenge on Smith before the conversion, and indeed it’s an upright shoulder to the head... that’s a third yellow card of the night for Romania!

Healy then lines up the conversion and it’s good.

TRY! Scotland 33-0 Romania | Fagerson, 38’

20:45 , Marc Mayo

That’s try number five! Graham somehow keeps the ball alive on the right and, with the ball moved left, Smith is on the end of a real cruncher.

Both teams seem to just stop in the moments after and Fagerson takes advantage to go over!

Conversion! Scotland 28-0 Romania | 36 mins

20:42 , Marc Mayo

Healy kicks well from out on the right and Scotland have their valuable bonus point.

We also have a verdict from the bunker... Irimescu’s yellow has NOT been upgraded to a red after his head-clash in the tackle.

TRY! Scotland 26-0 Romania | Graham, 34'

20:40 , Marc Mayo

Romania throw away their line-out and Scotland begin to work it from flank to flank.

Eventually the ball finds its way to Graham and he has really been the key to unlocking Romania tonight, and once again he bursts through the score!

Scotland 21-0 Romania | 32 mins

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Close! The line-out and maul pin Romania in and Ashman attempts to dive out from the back to score... he drops it on the line!

Scotland 21-0 Romania | 31 mins

20:36 , Marc Mayo

Valiant Romanian defending on their try line as Redpath, Darcy and Skinner are all forced back within touching distance.

The ball is down in the ruck and TMO will have a check to see if a penalty try is due amid Scotland being given the advantage.

Replays show Bhatti was certainly short as he dived for the line. No try is the call, but we go back to check the offside in the maul and Rosu is sin binned with no penalty try.

Scotland 21-0 Romania | 30 mins

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TMO review underway for Irimescu’s clash of heads in the tackle... looks like a pretty clear case of sin bin and he jogs off as the bunker begins a review for a potential red card.

Highlights: Darcy Graham steals the show with dazzling try

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Scotland 21-0 Romania | 28 mins

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So nearly another try! Smith just overruns the pass on the line and it scoops out of his hands, dropping a yard away from his tumbling limbs.

Romania are bold and run it clear, eventually kicking well into touch.

Scotland 21-0 Romania | 27 mins

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Romania’s move falls down and Scotland go back in search of their fourth try, and bonus point.

Smith sends Graham down the right... and his kick bounces kindly for the defence to grab.

Highlights: Graham tees up superb second try

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Scotland 21-0 Romania | 25 mins

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Mistake from Healy, who aside from his conversions has been a little error-prone so far - and he drops a high ball to allow Romania a scrum near the Scotland 22.

TRY! Scotland 21-0 Romania | Graham, 21’

20:21 , Marc Mayo

Two tries of the minimum requirement of four down for Scotland’s bonus point.

Steyn rises highest to nab a good kick as the ball is worked through the midfield. And then it’s Graham again who emerges and sears past the defence to score! Blimey.

No trouble from Healy for the extra pair of points.

TRY! Scotland 14-0 Romania | Price, 17’

20:17 , Marc Mayo

It had threatened to be a slightly frustrating start for Scotland given their need to pile on the points.

But Graham pops up off a scrum move to slice through Romania’s defence, and turns on the afterburners to tee up Price for an easy finish!

Healy kicks from under the posts.

Scotland 7-0 Romania | 14 mins

20:13 , Marc Mayo

A knock-on hands Romania the chance to reply to that try but a kick is blocked and snaffled up by a sea of blue shirts.

Scotland come down the right again but concede the penalty for not releasing the ball.

Conversion! Scotland 7-0 Romania | 10 mins

20:10 , Marc Mayo

Healy converts from wide on the right and Scotland are on their way.

TRY! Scotland 5-0 Romania | Watson, 9'

20:09 , Marc Mayo

Smith scampers into space as an off-the-ball incident brings advantage to Scotland.

Will they need it? Nope! Redpath breaks the line and pops the ball up to Watson to run in the first try!

Scotland 0-0 Romania | 5 mins

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The line-out is lost but Scotland come again with some rapid feet by Graham, although Skinner can’t handle the quick pass as their first attacks end.

Scotland 0-0 Romania | 2 mins

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Scotland are looking to get ball in hand early and run at Romania, and indeed earn a penalty advantage as they hammer down the right flank.

The move breaks down and the penalty comes, which gets kicked to touch in pursuit of a try in these opening exchanges.

Scotland 0-0 Romania | KICK-OFF!

20:00 , Marc Mayo

It’s time to begin this Pool B clash as Scotland take on Romania!

A great roar at kick-off as Gregor Townsend’s side look to make this the next step in their triumphant comeback to qualify out of the group.

Time for the national anthems

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It’s a packed house in northern France with Scotland certainly enjoying the bulk of the support.

Romania’s anthem up first, the stirring rhythm of ‘Deșteaptă-te, române!’. Then it’s the turn of ‘Flower of Scotland’.

Here come the players!

19:54 , Marc Mayo

A big chance for these Scottish players, who remember were largely called up to this World Cup as reserves, to impress and rack up some points.

A reminder of the teams before they emerge from the tunnel

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Scotland vs Romania: Countdown to kick-off

19:45 , Marc Mayo

Just 15 minutes until we bring you Scotland and Romania’s Rugby World Cup clash in Lille.

The Scots need a bonus-point win to move to within touching distance of South Africa and Ireland ahead of the final weekend of pool matches.

And the award for best dressed fans goes to...

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Scotland star speaks out on how his career nearly ended early

19:38 , Marc Mayo

Starting at tighthead prop for Scotland tonight is Javan Sebastian.

His rise to the World Cup is far-from established and we detailed to The Guardian in the week about his drop down to working at a butchers having seen his pro rugby chances seemingly fade.

“That was a dark time,” he said.

“It was after I left Glasgow, having been there for a year. I went back home [to Wales] to have my first-born. I took a year out of rugby and didn’t really end up having a job, so I applied to be a butcher and play semi-pro.

“I worked in the butcher’s for about two months. I couldn’t hack it any longer than that. It was dark, not a nice place. I thought my professional rugby career was pretty much over, so I took a year out to reflect and get back to normal life.

“It made me open my eyes to what I could potentially do.”

More of the same tonight would do nicely for Scotland

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More than one eye on Ireland for Scotland

19:27 , Marc Mayo

Scotland performance analyst Gavin Vaughan has revealed his extensive work on beating Ireland next week, when Scotland will need a victory to have any chance of reaching the last eight.

He said: “The plans are well in place and we’ve definitely got a few things up our sleeves.

“It’s going to be very tough. Obviously, we saw the result at the weekend [when Ireland defeated South Africa] and they’re not the number one team in the world for nothing but there are definitely opportunities and I think we did stress them in certain areas at Murrayfield [in this year’s Six Nations game]. We’ll be hoping to do the same.

“I’m presenting [on Ireland] to the coaches on Wednesday and Thursday. It’s great to be watching them. I’ll take all that stress away from the coaches and let them focus on Romania for the rest of this week.”

Scotland fans hoping for a big win tonight

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Romania out to learn from defeats

19:17 , Marc Mayo

Eugen Apiok hopes his Romania players can learn from their drubbings at the hands of Ireland and South Africa, with another potentially to come tonight.

“We know we are in the death pool,” said Apiok. “It’s a big challenge for the team and I hope we take something from the first two games.

“It wasn’t what we were looking for but I hope the players will learn a lot of things.

“They understand against Scotland, we need to do it more on the field but I’m sure they’ll give everything and it will be a better game for us. Any mistakes will cost us at this level.”

Gregor Townsend explains team selection

19:12 , Marc Mayo

The Scotland coach was up front that his raft of rotations for tonight’s game was with the match against Ireland in mind.

He explained: “We go a lot on what players have done for us in the past and players have been training well, we know the players are in really good physical shape, but the best way to influence selection is going out there and play well.

“The things we'll be looking for in terms of playing well is sticking to process, showing huge effort, being really physical and helping the team win.

“We're looking to get better than we were against Tonga. This group has the opportunity to do that now.”

Elsewhere at the Rugby World Cup

19:06 , Marc Mayo

In the early evening kick-off in Pool C, Fiji came from behind to edge Georgia and press their case for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Scotland vs Romania: Countdown to kick-off

19:00 , Marc Mayo

One hour until this Pool B clash at the Rugby World Cup!

Head-to-head record

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This is the two teams’ fourth meeting at the Rugby World Cup, with Scotland having won the previous three,

Scotland wins: 11

Romania wins: 2

Draws: 0

Match odds

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Scotland to win: 1/200

Romania to win: 50/1

Draw: 50/1

Odds via Befair and subject to change.

Tonight’s refereeing team

18:43 , Marc Mayo

Experienced English referee Wayne Barnes will continue to make his case for taking charge of the final by officiating this game.

Irish duo Andrew Brace and Chris Busby are his assistants with New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill on TMO duties.

Elsewhere in the Rugby World Cup

18:36 , Marc Mayo

Argentina romped past Chile in Pool D to set up a last-weekend decider with Japan.

Countdown to kick-off

18:30 , Marc Mayo

We will be getting underway in just 90 minutes in northern France!

Scotland vs Romania prediction

18:26 , Marc Mayo

Romania were, as expected, knocked for six by the Irish and Springboks, and Scotland have the flair and drive in attack to achieve a similar result.

Scotland to win, with a bonus point.

18:19 , Marc Mayo

Romania XV: Simionescu; Lama, Tomane, Tangimana, Sikuea; Conache, Rupanu; Savin, Irimescu, Gajion; Motoc, Iancu; Rosu, Ser, Chirica (c)

Replacements: Bardasu, Hartig, Burtila, Iftimiciuc, Stratila, Surugiu, Boldor, Onutu

Romania team news

18:13 , Marc Mayo

Romania head coach Eugen Apjok has made 10 changes to the side thrashed 76-0 by the Springboks in Bordeaux.

18:08 , Marc Mayo

Scotland XV: Smith; Graham, Harris, Redpath, Steyn; Price, Healy; Bhatti, Ashman, Sebastian; Skinner, Gilchrist (c); Crosbie, Watson, M Fagerson

Replacements: Matthews, Sutherland, Nel, Cummings, Darge, Horne, Kinghorn, Jones

Scotland team news

17:59 , Marc Mayo

Gregor Townsend has made 13 changes in all to his starting XV to face Romania, with only back duo Chris Harris and Kyle Steyn keeping their places from the Tonga match and a number of key faces rested.

Edinburgh’s Welsh-born prop Javan Sebastian, a summer addition from the Scarlets, makes his first start at tighthead, while Stuart McInally’s career-ending neck injury means Glasgow hooker Johnny Matthews is in line for his debut off the bench.

Back-rowers Luke Crosbie and Hamish Watson make their first appearances at the tournament, along with Irish-born fly-half Ben Healy, Edinburgh’s signing from Munster who deputises for Finn Russell.

Usual captain Jamie Ritchie is going through concussion protocols after that high hit from Afusipa Taumoepeau against Tonga that only led to a yellow card and left Townsend incensed, with Edinburgh team-mate Grant Gilchrist leading the side instead this weekend.

Where to watch Scotland vs Romania

17:52 , Marc Mayo

TV channel: In the UK, Scotland vs Romania will be shown live on free-to-air channel ITV1, with coverage starting at 7:15pm.

Live stream: The game is also available to watch for free online via the ITV website and ITVX app.

Scotland vs Romania LIVE!

17:46 , Marc Mayo

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s coverage of Scotland vs Romania at the Rugby World Cup!

Kick-off from Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille comes at 8pm BST as Gregor Townsend’s side face a must-win clash with the minnows.

Join us for all the build-up, match action and reaction from this Pool B meeting.