Rugby Union's pretensions to be a global sport suffered another crushing blow as Romania, like Japan, Tonga and Italy in recent years, conceded a century of points. In the amateur era, much used to be made of the gap between the hemispheres; in the professional age, the contrast is between the rich and the poor.

The match was of interest only to the statistically minded as England recorded a record-winning margin for an international involving an alleged major nation.

Romania will probably take years to recover from the humiliation, and instead of being awarded another Test against England in four years, they would be better served if the International Rugby Board drew up a programme to help developing nations.

After one-third of the game, one-third of the England team had scored tries. They were 72-0 ahead at half-time having been awarded all 11 penalties in the first-half and winning the lineout 6-1. Romania had no possession after Petrache helped himself to an England throw in the fourth minute: they drove to the line only to be penalised and they were not seen as an attacking force again.

The next World Cup is less than two years away and now is not the time to be peaking, but Woodward knows that in backs like Mike Tindall and Jonny Wilkinson and in forwards such as Ben Kay, Lewis Moody, Joe Worsley and Alex Sanderson, he has more than adequate cover for his stalwarts who are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning: Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Back, Richard Hill and Mike Catt.

The Sale outside-half Charlie Hodgson was a post away from breaking Simon Culhane's world record of 45 points in a Test match. But his real contribution was in the way he quickly imposed himself on the game.

ENGLAND: Robinson; Cohen, Greenwood (Catt, 62min), Tindall, Luger; Hodgson, Healey (Bracken, h-t); Rowntree (White, h-t), Regan, Leonard, Kay (Grewcock,62 mins), Borthwick, Moody, Back (capt; Sanderson, h-t), Worsley.

ROMANIA: Brezoianu; Teodorescu, Dobre, Oprea (Ciolacu, h-t), Ghioc; Tofan, Sarbu (Codea, 76); Dima (Toderasc, 64), Balan, Socaciu (Florea, 56), Petre (Dragomir, 39), Nedelcu, Corodeanu, Samuil (Pasache, 56), Petrache (capt).

Referee: P DeLuca (Argentina).