Owen Phillips
BBC Sport Online

It's another really impressive crowd here. Not quite a sell-out but not far off, with just a few patches of empty seating totalling a few hundred at a guess. The majority are supporting Canada but you get the impression a good percentage will be quickly swayed by whoever is playing the most entertaining rugby.

As expected both teams are flinging the ball about, but the men in red are having much more of the play and looking much more dangerous.

Image source, Getty Images

Romania are awarded a penalty up on halfway and scrum-half Florin Surugiu decides to take on a mammoth shot at goal.

He has given it a right old heave. End over end it goes. But it drops well short in the end.

Romania have come back into this after being penned back in the opening 10 minutes.

An eyesore of a handling error from Romania's Viorel Lucaci as his team get in a promising position.

The open-side allows a pass to slide straight through his arms and forward via his thighs.

Hands like hooves.

Image source, Reuters

That slender scoreboard advantage is the least Canada deserve, having totally dominated in the opening 10 minutes. And if you don't believe us, then feast your eyes on this graphic.

Image source, Opta

Canada have hogged more than three-quarters of the ball and been virtually camped in the Romanian half. The North Americans have also already made over 100 metres more than their opponents, making 33 carries compared to six by the Romanians. One-way traffic.

Romania number eight Mihai Macovei clears out the ruck, but has wrapped a meaty forearm around a Canada defender's neck in doing so.

Wayne Barnes doesn't buy his claim that it was round the shoulders and Romania cough up their third penalty.

Image source, AFP

Sweet as maple syrup.

Gordon McRorie steps up and strokes the ball clean through the middle.

Romania are testing the tether of Wayne Barnes.

The scrum-capped Johann Van Heerden has strayed offside in midfield for the Oaks.

Up pops the referee's arm. And this one is bang in front for Gordon McRorie.

Canada's Gordon McRorie has dragged that one wide of the sticks. A tricky angle to compute though.  

Play swinging from one end to the other like a boozy stag-do trying to negotiate their way across a ferry deck.

Paula Kinikinilau is almost through for Romania, but Canada clear up, hack upfield and now have a kickable shot at goal.  

Canada asking all the questions. They should have a penalty five metres from the Romania line. 

Viorel Lucaci is off his feet. But centre Nick Blevins has dragged a Romanian out of the ruck by the scruff of his neck.

Penalty reversed and captain Cudmore promises referee Barnes that he will "have a word". Ominous. 

Image source, Getty Images

Canada show their intent early. They spin first phase ball and there are acres of green out there. Jeff Hassler bustles up to the Romania 22m before he is hauled down.

Daniel Tailliferrer Hauman van der Merwe - or DTH to his mates.

The Canada wing is long on names and long on distance run.

He has racked up 328 metres with ball in hand - second only to Tonga's Telusa Veainu in the World Cup stats.

The 29-year-old is bound for Scarlets from Glasgow at the end of this tournament.

Image source, Getty

We are ready for the off. Wayne Barnes is on the whistle.

Romania boot long. Canada wing DTH van der Merwe gathers and offloads to Gordon McRorie who boots back up towards halfway.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport Online

"So, if we can't bring you Maradona [see 16:38], or unbroken sunshine, then maybe Gheorgi Hagi will show up? He was the Romanian Maradona after all.

"From a Canadian perspective, the world-class footballing cheerleaders are not so obvious. Paul Peschisolido spent time in this neck of the woods though, and Carl Valentine played for West Brom... What do you mean, you've never heard of him. Google him."

"Oh Canada" blares out of the tannoy and the Maple Leafs stand on guard for the tune.

Captain Jamie Cudmore is so eager for the off that he got to the final note about three bars before the rest of his team.

Image source, Reuters

Canada's captain Jamie Cudmore is playing his 14th Rugby World Cup match, equaling his country's record held by Rod Snow.

This is Cudmore's fourth World Cup.

British rugby fans might recognise a familiar face in the Romania camp - their Welsh coach Lynn Howells.

Howells, who has just signed a new two-year contract with The Oaks, is a former Wales assistant coach, briefly leading his nation in 2001 when Graham Henry was leading the Lions.

"The players have worked hard, and now it's time to go and produce a result and for the players to go out and play their best rugby," said Howells, who has also had spells with Pontypridd, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Doncaster.

Image source, Getty Images

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport Online

The weather in the East Midlands is certainly a contrast to Sunday, when a sun-soaked Leicester City stadium hosted the Argentina-Tonga humdinger. And no signs of Diego Armando Maradona who appeared at that one.

I have a feeling his appearance for the match at the home of Leicester City Football Club was more to do with a fierce sense of patriotism than a love of rugby or the fact he has a flat somewhere in the East Midlands. I could be wrong. I'll keep an eye out.