EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) _ Frank Hadden wants his Scotland lineup
to take the high ground against Romania.
Scotland coach Hadden picked his biggest forward pack, wanting to
match muscle with Romania, and recalled goalkicking utility Chris
Paterson for Tuesday's World Cup Group C match at Murrayfield.
He wants to avoid the stuttering form of Scotland's Six Nations
contemporaries, who have been unconvincing so far in the tournament.
``Romania will be tough and dangerous opponents. We've seen great
improvements in their game over the last two years,'' Hadden said.
But, ``we will be trying to impose a quality of rugby on them that
they won't be able to handle.''
The Scots crossed for eight tries in an opening 56-10 win over
Portugal, but Hadden said handling errors cost them more points and
he wants to see those mistakes erased against Romania.
``Our focus is to reduce certain sloppy sequences or set pieces
in our game that a stronger side would take advantage of,'' he said.
``We need to extend our quality play and are making distinct signs
of progress.''
Scotland captain Jason White said his lineup needed to focus on
the best options on and off the ball, and not get sucked into an arm
wrestle against the big Romanian forwards.
``Romania are tough opponents, but we play a quicker, sharper,
more intelligent game,'' he said.
The Romanians tested Italy in their opening match, earning a
point from a 24-18 loss.
And Romania coach Daniel Santamans has retained the same starting
lineup to meet Scotland.
James Hamilton, one of five changes in the Scottish starting XV,
said his team is ready for the physical confrontations.
``The Romanians are really physical and abrasive,'' Hamilton
said. ``Their forwards were dominant against Italy in the set piece
and around the breakdown.
``We've worked on that area and training has been that bit more
physical so we get in the mindset.''
Hamilton replaced Scott Murray in the second row, while Gavin
Kerr replaces the injured Allan Jacobsen at prop and Ross Ford was
preferred to Scott Lawson at hooker.
In the backline, Simon Webster switched from wing to centre,
displacing Marcus Di Rollo, and Paterson was included on the wing.
Paterson played at fly half in Scotland's World Cup warmups
against South Africa and Ireland, but Dan Parks was given the
starting No. 10 role against Portugal.
Hadden wanted to make room for Paterson, who has played at
fullback, wing, fly half and centre for Scotland.
``Before the tournament I knew that I might play in a number of
positions,'' Paterson said. ``I don't see myself in a set position,
I just see myself as a rugby player.''
His goalkicking ability means Romania risks conceding points if
it gives away penalties anywhere in its own territory.
Despite never having won at Murrayfield, nor beaten Scotland
since 1991, Sorin Socol says Romania did not mind travelling to
Edinburgh because it would break the monotony of the training venue.
``It will be really good for us, this change of scenery. For us,
being in Agen it doesn't feel like the World Cup,'' the Romania lock
and captain said. ``It's not like it was in Australia, where there
were people on the streets, World Cup signs and posters everywhere.
``We are really looking forward to the atmosphere in Scotland.''
Romania loomed in the 1980s as an expansion team for the old Five
Nations tournament, but tumbled down the rankings when rugby was
caught up in the backlash following the fall of the Communist
regime.
It has slowly started to regain some ground and now selects the
bulk of the national squad from professionals who play in the French
leagues.
The forwards have a reputation for being granite hard.
Romania packed down against a delivery van on Saturday but
Santamans denied it was training for Scotland.
``No,'' he said, ``it was for a photo in a book.''