South Africa v Romania LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction as Springboks run riot

South Africa 76-0 Romania: The Springboks thump the Oaks with a 12-try thrashing in Bordeaux

(PA)

South Africa thrashed Romania 76-0 to secure a bonus-point win in Bordeaux and mirror the ominous form shown by Pool B leaders Ireland in the Rugby World Cup’s toughest group.

The Springboks, despite 14 changes from the win versus Scotland in their opener, were merciless against Romania, who beat the 74-point margin from their 82-8 opening loss to Ireland, racking up the bonus point inside 20 minutes.

After missing out on a bonus point in their opener, South Africa’s goal was to score as many tries as possible to keep up with Ireland and ran in a dozen with scores for Cobus Reinach (3), Makazole Mapimpi (3), Damian Willemse, Deon Fourie, Grant Williams (2) and Willie Le Roux as well as a penalty try.

Few teams in World Cup history have had tougher opening fixtures than Romania after they faced an Ireland side on a 13-game winning streak and now the world champions but they look a shadow of the side that posed a real threat in the 1990s.

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South Africa vs Romania latest updates

• South Africa thrash Romania with a 12-try showing their second Rugby World Cup game
• FULL-TIME! South Africa 76-0 Romania
• 74’ - TRY! Le Roux gets his first World Cup try (RSA 76-0 ROM)
• 67’ - TRY! Mapimpi completes his hat-trick (RSA 71-0 ROM)
• 63’ - TRY! Mapimpi races clear down the left for long-range score (RSA 64-0 ROM)
• 62’ - TRY! Williams crashes over after neat move off the scrum (RSA 59-0 ROM)
• 55’ - TRY! Williams shows his pace for an eighth try (RSA 52-0 ROM)
• 53’ - TRY! The Springboks scrum earns a penalty try (RSA 45-0 ROM)
• 43’ - TRY! Fourie rumbles over from a driving maul (RSA 38-0 ROM)
• 24’ - TRY! Reinach completes his hat-trick from close range (RSA 33-0 ROM)
• 12’ - TRY! Willemse wraps up the bonus point inside 12 minutes with an individual score (RSA 26-0 ROM)
• 9’ - TRY! Reinach races through a gap at the base of the ruck for a simple try (RSA 19-0 ROM)
• 7’ - TRY! Mapimpi goes over after a neat inside pass from Le Roux (RSA 12-0 ROM)
• 3’ - TRY! Reinach snipes over from the scrum (RSA 5-0 ROM)

[17 September 2023 14:30 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 26-0 Romania, 23 mins

The maul gets South Africa with a metre or so but they knock on while diving for the line. Back for a penalty and the pack will get a chance to cause more havoc with a scrum

[17 September 2023 14:29 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 26-0 Romania, 22 mins

Romania can’t afford basic errors like that. A lineout on halfway overthrown and the Boks attack once more.

Mapimpi’s clever kick over the top initially dealt with but a great counter-ruck by South Africa and they win a penalty. A kick to the corner, lineout incoming...

[17 September 2023 14:26 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 26-0 Romania, 20 mins

Here was Makazole Mapimpi’s try, a lovely piece of play by Willie Le Roux to set it up. One of four Springboks tries int he first 12 minutes...

[17 September 2023 14:25 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 26-0 Romania, 20 mins

We’ve reached the first water break. Romania have managed to stop the bleeding in the last five minutes or so.

Marius Simionescu was challenged unfairly in the air to win a penalty and the Oaks pack kept things tight with a couple of big carries in midfield.

The Springboks will be delighted with this opening quarter though

[17 September 2023 14:21 · Luke Baker]

NO TRY! South Africa 26-0 Romania, 16 mins

Try number five for South Africa? A five-metre lineout, the driving maul gets rolling, Marco van Staden comes through the middle with the ball and rumbles over in the corner.

But it’s checked by the TMO and the two Springboks locks detach from each other and end up blocking the Romania defenders. So the score is chalked off and the Oaks can clear from the penalty

[17 September 2023 14:18 · Luke Baker]

MISSED PENALTY! South Africa 26-0 Romania (Hinckley Vaovasa, 14 mins)

Oh no! Romania get a chance for some points on the board as the Boks are off their feet at a ruck on the 22 but Hinckley Vaovasa slides his penalty wide right.

That’s a shame for the Oaks

[17 September 2023 14:15 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 26-0 Romania (Damian Willemse, 12 mins)

A bonus point sealed in just 11 mins and 15 seconds...

Kwagga Smith with a punishing carry, barrelling through defenders. Then a lovely bit of individualism from Damian Willemse and he shows and goes, scythes through the defensive line and glides in for the try.

Irrepressible from the Springboks so far.

[17 September 2023 14:13 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 19-0 Romania (Cobus Reinach, 9 mins)

Oh dear. This is too easy for the Boks. Romania have absolute no defence around the base of a ruck, Cobus Reinach picks and goes, charges through a gaping hole in the middle of the defence with the slightest of dummies and races over the line.

Simply conversion for Willemse and it’s 19-0 inside 10 minutes. Reinach only needs one more try for that hat-trick we mentioned.

[17 September 2023 14:09 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 12-0 Romania (Makazole Mapimpi, 7 mins)

The maul is actually well defended by Romania but South Africa go wide and Makazole Mapimpi scores.

Willemse fires a long pass out to Willie le Roux who draws two defenders and flicks out the back of his hand to Mapimpi to run inside and touch down. Lovely touch by Le Roux.

A seventh try in his seventh RWC appearance for the winger. This time Willemse nails the extras

[17 September 2023 14:08 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 5-0 Romania, 5 mins

Romania off their feet at the breakdown and it’s another attacking opportunity for the Springboks as they boot to the corner.

Lineout secured and the maul sets up...