LAUNCESTON, Australia, 31 October 2003 — Romania ended a disappointing World Cup campaign on a winning note by beating Namibia 37-7 here yesterday in the Pool A wooden-spoon game.

It was a rare taste of success for their French coach Bernard Charreyre who learned in midweek that his contract would not be renewed and there was some consolation for Namibia in staging a spirited second-half fightback.

The east Europeans ran in five tries with stand-off Ionut Tofan adding 12 points through three conversions and two penalties. The Romanians were 32-0 up at half-time.

Namibia who were the only side in the competition to date not to score a try in a game when they lost by a record 142-0 to Australia, gained a consolation seven points 16 minutes into the second half.

There was a slice of history too for utility back Rudi van Vuuren who came on off the bench in the 70th minute to become the first man to play in both the rugby and cricket World Cup finals.

Charreyre said it was a suitable way to end his term in charge of Romania.

Namibia captain Sean Furter said it been tough to get the side together mentally after the hammering from Australia.

Romania opened with all guns blazing and took the lead in the fourth minute when after a sweeping left to right movement, lock Augustin Petrichei popped up on the wing and crashed over for Ionut Tofan to convert into a 7-0 lead.

Namibia broke briefly upfield only to knock-on, but the Romanian pack was dominant and they forced a penalty after a 25-meter rolling maul drive that Tofan slotted over for 10-0 after 13 minutes.

Despite the bottom dog’s nature of the occasion, the game brought out 15,457 Tasmanians to York Park to see the first rugby union Test to be played on the island with those born on an even number year supporting Namibia and those on odd number years Romania.

And it was the odds who had more to cheer about as their forwards again piled forward with a multi-phase movement which forced the southwest Africans to go offside. Tofan made no mistake from under the posts for 13-0 after 18 minutes.

Twice in the space of a minute Romania crossed the Namibian try line, but on both occasions failed to ground the ball as the east Europeans looked to give Charreyre a farewell gift.