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 14:06 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 5-0 Romania (Cobus Reinach, 3 mins)

That didn’t take long. The South Africa front row splinter their Romania opponents, Cobus Reinach picks up from the base, throws a dummy and darts over the line.

He scored a hat-trick in his last World Cup start, another today? Willemse misses the conversion wide to the left - that is a slight Achilles heel for the Boks.

[17 September 2023 14:05 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 0-0 Romania, 2 mins

Some battering carries from the Boks, as you would expect - with Ox Nche driving defenders backwards.

Damian Willemse knocks on in contact but penalty coming and it’s a first scrum of the afternoon

[17 September 2023 14:04 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 0-0 Romania, 2 mins

Not an ideal start from Romania as Marius Simionescu kicks out on the full from outside his own 22 and it’s an attacking lineout for South Africa. Nicely claimed and they’re into the 22 already

[17 September 2023 14:02 · Luke Baker]

KICK-OFF! South Africa 0-0 Romania, 1 mins

And we’re off as Matthieu Raynal blows his whistle! Ireland beat Romania 82-8 a week ago, will South Africa match that today?