Romania's Carpo out to impress scouts
Wednesday 21 September 2011, 5:26PM
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With the years ticking by, Romania's Daniel Carpo is hoping Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the showcase that helps catapult him from home-based rugby to the international club scene.
The powerful number 8, who won his 33rd cap when he played against Argentina in Invercargill on 17 September, sees the tournament as his best opportunity to catch the eye of club scouts.
“I would love to play in Europe. I am 27 this year and I think it is a good age to go with my maturity and experience for an outside championship," said Carpo, who plays for Farul Constanta in Romania's main domestic competition.
“The Romanian market is hard. We are not so good but we do play some good games. We have to play well to impress the European markets,” said Carpo, who made his international debut against Spain in 2008 and before RWC 2011 had been a replacement in a little more than half his Test appearances.
“The World Cup is a big opportunity," he added. "I have talked to agents. The World Cup is a gateway to opportunity and I must play well.”
About teamwork
Carpo felt he had taken his opportunity to impress in the Pool B opener against Scotland, when he ran in for his sixth international try in the 66th minute as Romania lost 34-24.
He was not so pleased, however, with his showing against Argentina. “In the second game, the strategy didn’t suit me," he said. "We concentrated more on the scrum so my speed and agility were not apparent. We tried to keep the ball in close. It was more about teamwork.”
While he is eager, if selected, to impress against England at Dunedin on Saturday, Carpo is realistic about Romania's chances when they face the unbeaten pool leaders, saying he hoped it would ”not be more than 30 points difference".
He added: "They’re a good team and I think they could win this championship. They’re very physical and their backs are very good. Like any team they have their bad points and we hope to exploit those.”
Despite his ambition to play club rugby outside Romania, Carpo is optimistic about the future of the national team, “We feel some important changes with new management and a new president and very soon we hope to be in the first tier.”