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 17:09 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-3 Fiji, 20 mins

There’s still an element of these sides feeling each other out as we reach the midway point of this first half.

Samuel Matavesi and Levani Botia with powerful carries before a penalty at the breakdown. Kuruvoli will go for the posts from long range - 44 metres out, slightly left of the posts

[17 September 2023 17:08 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-3 Fiji, 18 mins

Fiji always happy to spread the ball wide, even from set-pieces deep in their own half. It makes for fantastic rugby to watch.

A spill on halfway gives Australia decent position but Nic White with a wry smile as his chip over the top just bounces out the side of the in-goal area. Millimetres away from that bouncing out on the other side of the corner post and being a lineout on their own line for Fiji.

[17 September 2023 17:05 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-3 Fiji, 16 mins

A couple of scrum resets but eventually Fiji win the ball and Radradra takes them into the Wallabies half as they spread the ball left.

BOOM! Great hit by Samu Kerevi on Radradra stops him in his tracks though and they win the penalty at the breakdown.

Rob Valetini then knocks on in contact though. Plenty of turnovers in the early going due to the physicality of the hits.

[17 September 2023 17:02 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-3 Fiji, 13 mins

BANG! Fiji prop Eroni Mawi lays a huge hit on Australia fly half Carter Gordon - no room down the blindside there, Carter...

The ball squirts free and gives Fiji a scrum on their own 22. Good defensive hit from Mawi.

[17 September 2023 17:00 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! Australia 3-3 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 11 mins)

Fiji earn a penalty, fairly central, on about the ten-metre line. Without starting 10 Caleb Muntz, they have struggled from the tee but scrum half Simione Kuruvoli is the man on duty today and that’s a great start as he bangs it over.

[17 September 2023 16:58 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-0 Fiji, 10 mins

Mark Nawaqanitawase and Semi Radradra compete in the air for a high ball. Advantage Radradra as Nawaqanitawase knocks on. That’s a battle to watch.

A second scrum and Fiji solid on their own ball, although a wheel means a reset. Solid enough again and a Jiuta Wainiqolo takes them into Australian territory

[17 September 2023 16:55 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-0 Fiji, 7 mins

A patented one-handed carry from the captain Waisea Nayacalevu . The crowd stir when he gets up to speed.

Fiji attacking the wide areas and making some early ground but they’re pinged for a forward pass. on the ten-metre line. First scrum of the day upcoming.

[17 September 2023 16:53 · Luke Baker]

Australia 3-0 Fiji, 5 mins

First bit of ball in hand for Fiji. They look to win collisions with their physicality and Australia are happy not to contest the rucks for the time being.

It’s a good defensive set and the ball is spilled after some overly-ambitious offloads. It squirts out for a Fiji lineout on halfway however.

[17 September 2023 16:50 · Luke Baker]

PENALTY! Australia 3-0 Fiji (Ben Donaldson, 3 mins)

Good physicality in the early carries from Australia. A second high tackle from the Fijians and the Wallabies have a penalty bang in front of the posts.

Ben Donaldson takes his time lining it up but a simple kick and 3-0 to the Aussies. Perfect start from them

[17 September 2023 16:49 · Luke Baker]

Australia 0-0 Fiji, 2 mins

Carter Gordon hit hard after taking a high ball - Fiji laying down a physical marker immediately. But they stray slightly high on a subsequent tackle and the Wallabies can kick into the 22 and build from the lineout