Sean Furter wins a line-out. (Getty Images)

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Namibia rescued some pride from a turbulent World Cup in defeat by Romania at Launceston in Tasmania.

The Pool A minnows were on the receiving end of the World Cup's biggest winning margin when Australia hammered them 142-0 five days earlier and their fortunes continued to slump in the first half this time around as they trailed 32-0 at the interval.

But a spirited fightback in the second period restored some pride, although the result was never in doubt.

Romania, themselves hammered 90-8 by Australia, got off to a flying start when Augustin Petrichei just about managed to finish off a sweeping move after three minutes.

The try was subject to a decision by the video referee after full-back Ronaldo Pedro's last-ditch tackle nearly prevented Petrichei touching down in the corner. Fly-half Ionut Tofan converted.

Tofan made it 10-0 with a penalty soon after after he had been denied what appeared to be a good try-scoring chance by a high tackle from Wolfie Duvenhage. Another penalty from Tofan after 16 minutes added three more points.

Scrum-half Lucian Sirbu almost added a second try after 23 minutes but he could not ground the ball after Schalke van der Merwe - who is a professional lion tamer - halted his penetrating run.

Sirbu did touch down three minutes later when Namibia's defence were caught napping and Tofan added the extras.

As Romania's dominance of possession continued, George Chiriac finished off a spell of heavy pressure by bounding over for try number three with Tofan maintaining his perfect kicking record.

Winger Ioan Teodorescu claimed his first international try on the stroke of half-time when he took advantage of more lax Namibian defending, although Tofan blotted his copybook with a missed conversion.

Namibia improved after the break and held out Romania for 15 minutes with some dogged defending before scoring an immensely popular try themselves.

Second-rower Eben Isaacs claimed his first international touchdown to get Namibia on the scoreboard with a powerful lunge for the line and Emile Wessels added the conversion.

The Namibians did their best to add to that tally but were undone by a series of handling errors while at the other end Romania fared little better, with a promising Ovidiu Tonita break ruined by a knock-on.

Namibia's Rudi van Vuuren claimed a rare distinction on 70 minutes when he made his World Cup debut - a few months after playing for his country in cricket's World Cup.

Romania finally scored their first points of the half after with Cristian Sauan stretching to claim a 79th-minute try which Tofan failed to convert.

Teams

Romania: Dumbrava, Teodorescu, Maftei, Gontineac, Brezoianu, Tofan, Sirbu, Balan, Mavrodin, Socaciu, Petrichei, Petre, Chiriac, Tonita, Socol.

Replacements: Vioreanu for Dumbrava (51), Sauan for Maftei (59), Andrei for Sirbu (59), Toderasc for Balan (49), Popescu for Mavrodin (68), Florea for Socaciu (40), Tudori for Chiriac (47).

Tries: Petrichei, Sirbu, Chiriac, Teodorescu, Sauan.

Cons: Tofan 3.

Pens: Tofan 2.

Namibia: Pedro, Mouton, Grobler, Wessels, Dreyer, Schrender, Swanepoel, Lensing, Meyer, du Toit, Senekal, E. Isaacs, van der Merwe, Duvenhage, Furter, Grunschloss.

Replacements: Powell for Dreyer (35), Grunschloss for Swanepoel (51), Van Tonder for Meyer (29), Blaauw for du Toit (45), Van Lill for Furter (45), Van Vuuren for Grunschloss (71).

Not Used: Lintvelt.

Tries: E. Isaacs.

Cons: Wessels.

Att: 19,000

Ref: Peter Marshall (Australia).