Decibels rise inside the stadium as a French maul forms from the line-out, the indestructible Louis Picamoles taking charge. But France are unable to string phases together as Romania buzz around the breakdown. 

Captain Dimitri Szarzewski fails to get away from the tackle and Romania win turnover ball! From defence to attack and toward the halfway line they go. 

Image source, Getty Images

Florin Vlaicu recovers from the disappointment of not scoring a try and boots over the simplest of penalties in front of the posts. Easy peasy. 

"At no point has the ball touched the ground," says the TMO and the crowd hiss. Jaco Peyper content to be the pantomime villain on this occasion. But Romania are awarded a kick at the posts for offside. 

Image source, Reuters

More fist-pumping from the men in yellow, winning a penalty in the French 22 and they opt for the touchfinder. Roars from the crowd as they applaud the underdogs' derring-do. 

Line-out secured and forward Romania rumble... the men in the boiler room content to keep the ball and cause damage inch by inch until they spin it out to Florin Vlaicu, who charges through and over the line. Does he ground the ball? The TMO will decide. 

Image source, AP

Romania making a nuisance of themselves on France's line-out ball, scrappy possession for the men in blue, and eventually the Oaks turnover ball - Mihaita Lazar doing the necessary at the base of the ruck. France being stifled at the moment. 

Image source, EPA

Romania have made 18 tackles already in this opening quarter, missing three, and there's a sense that they'll have to endlessly throw their bodies at blue shirts this evening. 

A stop to play as both front rows collapse at the scrum. Romania have put-in on the halfway line. Can they overpower the France pack and spark more fist-pumping celebrations? 

Non, non, non. Hands-on-the-heads moment as the scrum spins like a wheel, and it'll be France's put-in next. 

Image source, Reuters

France switch play at lightning speed, Wesley Fofana punching a hole in Romania's defence with a bulldozing run. Les Bleus controlling this match... attempt the diagonal kick but nothing comes of it and referee Jaco Peyper blows for an earlier infringement at the breakdown. 

Morgan Parra with the simplest of penalty attempts in front of the posts. He could backheel it over the uprights if he wanted. 

The line-out could be a problem for the Romanians, or should we call them The Oaks? They lose their own ball from a promising position. "Allez les bleus," ripples around the stadium. 

Another look at a French scrum. This one steadier and Louis Picamoles escapes from the base and goes on a rampage...

Quick ball from France's first line-out of the evening, but as Les Bleus attempt to recycle Romania steal the ball. Cheeky. 

An early glimpse  at the scrum too, Morgan Parra with the put-in, and France are retreating. A mighty shove by the Romanians and they're high-fiving and fist-pumping.

Jaco Peyper, who was in charge of England's match against Fiji, puts his whistle to his mouth and gets this party started.

Image source, AFP

Andrew Priestley: The Olympic Stadium looks very well tonight, brilliant to see it full. It was a great decision to use it as a venue for the RWC.

Dimitri Szarzewski leads out Les Bleus and the flashbulbs start popping. Minutes until this one gets started but first to the national anthems. Chests puffed out? Check. Players shoulder-to-shoulder? Check. Here we go...

Image source, Getty Images

Romanian fans have brought a bit of colour and noise to the capital today. Here's one band of supporters, captured on the team's Instagram account, enjoying London life.

Image source, Instagram

Those of you who have done your homework will know that Romania have named their most experienced World Cup team, with the starting XV sharing 684 Test caps.

In the only change from their final warm-up match, a 21-16 defeat by Tonga in Bucharest, Mihaita Lazar comes in at loose-head prop in place of Andrei Ursache.

Image source, BBC Sport

The players limbering up on the pitch, hoping the spirit of Bolt, Farah and Ennis-Hill can inspire them for the next 80 minutes. Ten minutes or so until kick-off. 

Life in Croydon doesn't seem so bad after all, eh. Last week there were whispers that Les Bleus weren't particularly enjoying their Croydon base. 

But France's number eight Louis Picamoles, fly-half Remi Tales, scrum-half Morgan Parra and prop Vincent Debaty seemed in good spirits as they endured an ice bath at a plush Health Spa in the English capital. 

Image source, Getty Images

Who will entertain us this evening? France centre Wesley Fofana returns after recovering from a thigh injury and is one of 13 changes from the starting XV that won 32-10 against Italy.

Number eight Louis Picamoles and wing Noa Nakaitaci are the two to keep their place from that opening match.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sing the Romanian national anthem? It might take more than 30 minutes for this sports desk to learn the words and the tune but we'll give it a go...

Two of today's matches are done and dusted and the outcomes were as many would have predicted - victories for both Scotland and Australia - but how will this one swing? 

France are the overwhelming favourites against a Romanian team which failed to win any of their World Cup matches in 2011. 

But a lot can happen in four years, improvements can be made, and do we need to whisper the result of Japan against South Africa as an example of this World Cup's potential to surprise?