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 17:24 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! Australia 8-12 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 32 mins)

No problem for Simione Kuruvoli! This is simply brilliant kicking - straight between the uprights and the lead is extended. This is almost an English gameplan rather than a Fijian one!

[17 September 2023 17:23 · Luke Baker]

Australia 8-9 Fiji, 32 mins

Oh hello! A driving maul from Fiji from a lineout on halfway, it marches forward and Australia illegally prevent the ball coming back.

Kuruvoli will have another pump at the posts here but it’ll be his toughest kick yet - out on the left, on about the 10-metre line.

[17 September 2023 17:21 · Luke Baker]

Australia 8-9 Fiji, 30 mins

The Wallabies with a sustained spell of pressure just outside the Fiji 22 but Botia with great work at the breakdown, Nawaqanitawase holds on to the ball and they can clear their lines.

Botia is world-class over the ball at the breakdown and showed his value there again.

[17 September 2023 17:20 · Luke Baker]

WATCH: Mark Nawaqanitawase’s quick-thinking leads to opening try

Here’s that first try - the quick brain of Mark Nawaqanitawase paying dividends.

[17 September 2023 17:19 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! Australia 8-9 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 27 mins)

A kicking masterclass from Simione Kuruvoli so far. From out on the right, he curls a penalty just inside the right upright. These are vital points.

[17 September 2023 17:17 · Luke Baker]

Australia 8-6 Fiji, 27 mins

We’ve got a TMO check for a potential high tackle by Nic White. Replays show there is neck contact from the Wallaby scrum half but the carrier is being dragged down at the time, plenty of mitigation, so just a penalty.

Kuruvoli will go from the posts again out to the right.

[17 September 2023 17:16 · Luke Baker]

Australia 8-6 Fiji, 26 mins

Here’s an idea of the physicality of the game so far

[17 September 2023 17:13 · Luke Baker]

TRY! Australia 8-6 Fiji (Mark Nawaqanitawase, 23 mins)

INCREDIBLE QUICK THINKING BY AUSTRALIA!

After that knock-on in contact by Fiji, the loose ball went to Nic White who banged a 50:22 down into Fiji territory.

The Wallabies then race down, Mark Nawaqanitawase is alert enough to take the quick lineout to Samu Kerevi, he passes back to Nawaqanitawase and the winger dives over in the corner! Brilliant quick thinking.

Donaldson’s conversion attempt from the touchline is wide but Australia lead.

[17 September 2023 17:12 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-6 Fiji, 23 mins

Powerful carries in the tight from Fiji and Josua Tuisova then keeps his legs churning to make an extra 10 metres in Wallaby territory. Chants of “FIJI, FIJI” from the crowd but they knock on and turn the ball over.

[17 September 2023 17:11 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! Australia 3-6 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 21 mins)

Really nice kick by Kuruvoli. Their kicking from the tee was a weakness against Wales but the No 9 (starting instead of Lomani) is steadying that ship.

Fair to say it’s not a strength of fly half Teti Tela.