Uruguay & Romania to battle for last RWC spot

Uruguay and Romania will battle for the last remaining spot at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand after crushing victories in their zonal play-offs on Saturday.

Uruguay routed Kazakhstan 44-7 in Montevideo in an America-Asia play-off while Romania trounced Tunisia 56-13 in Buzau to take their Europe-Africa clash.

The Uruguayans, who played in the 1999 and 2003 World Cup, were never in trouble against Kazakhstan whose preparations for the game were hampered by their late arrival in South America.

Romania ran in seven tries with fly-half Dan Dumbrava kicking five conversions and three penalties.

The two countries will meet on a home and away basis on November 6 and 20 with the winners going into Pool B at the 2011 finals alongside Argentina, England, Scotland and Georgia.

Romania, who have qualified for all six previous World Cups, entered Saturday’s cross-continental play-offs courtesy of finishing third in the European Nations Cup behind Georgia and Russia, who have both qualified for the 2011 showpiece.