Tincu one of the best, says Thompson

Romania captain Marius Tincu, on the verge of winning his 50th cap, has been hailed as one of the best players at Rugby World Cup 2011 by fellow hooker, England's Steve Thompson.

But after his team's 43-8 defeat by Argentina in Invercargill last Saturday, the seasoned veteran was left to lament his side's lack of big-match experience - something which cannot be said of the man himself.

In the rugby-rich south of France, Top 14 club Perpignan stands by the Catalan slogan Sempre Endavant or ‘Always forward’ - an appropriate motto for Tincu, one of the club's most revered players.

Tincu, a member of Perpignan's championship-winning team in 2009, has been plying his trade with the club for six years. His power, spirit and indomitable passion have made him an overwhelming favourite with the club's fans.

It is a similar story when the 33-year-old pulls on Romania's yellow strip for international duty.

“Players like Marius Tincu are important to Romanian rugby," says Robert Antonin, the Oaks team manager.

Originally from France, Antonin is a former IRB Europe rugby development manager and established a rugby academy in Bucharest in 2004 to nurture the country’s rising talent.

Role model

"Rugby needs strong role models and Marius is one such example,” he says.
England hooker Thompson is also a big fan of Tincu and the Romanians, insisting: "He’s one of the outstanding players of the tournament so far.

"Their scrum is probably the best scrum in the tournament. They’re very persistent. It’s not that they are just one big scrum. They are a very good outfit."

Tincu blossomed late in Rugby World Cup terms, only making his debut in 2007 after being an unused member of Romania's squad in 1999 and missing the 2003 tournament through injury.

He stamped his mark in 2007 with a try as the Oaks pushed Italy before losing 24-18.
In the lead-up to RWC 2011, he was handed the captaincy when Sorin Socol withdrew from the squad, and Antonin knows only too well how much his hooker's Heineken Cup and French Top 14 experience brings to the table.

"Players like Marius enrich Romanian rugby," Antonin said. "He's had a successful career in France and he is interested in taking those experiences and knowledge back to Romania.

'Speak with my heart'

“He is someone who wants to see rugby evolve and to help other players discover opportunities."

Tincu's captaincy style is a blend of leading from the front foot and inspirational words.

"Firstly, I try to do my job as a hooker and then I want to give everyone confidence," he says.

"On the field I try to work, to show everyone to do the same things as me - or better - and, when I speak, I speak with my heart. I say, 'I do this just for you, not for me'."

His job as hooker includes an appetite for tries that has seen him cross 12 times in his 48 caps. Three of those were scored at RWC 2007, which put Tincu top of Romania's list of players with the most World Cup tries.

Despite his experience and achievements, Antonin says Tincu's biggest asset is that he has never forgotten his roots.

"He’s not like other players who become professional only to dismiss the efforts of those still struggling back home," Antonin said. "There is no 'us and them’ with Marius."

Tincu will reach 50 caps if he plays in Romania's two remaining Pool B matches against England on 24 September and Georgia on 28 September, a fitting reward for the loyal ambassador of the Oaks.