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
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 52-0 Romania, 59 mins
Romania captain Cristi Chirica makes a few metres on an overlap down the left flank to take the Oaks into opposition territory.
For the first time, they’re making inroads as Damian Stratila keeps his legs turning to reach the 22 but again, the green wall steps up. Kwagga Smith over the top and steals the ball at the breakdown for maybe the third or fourth time this match - he’s been brilliant today.
The Springboks probably should score on the counter as they stream forward but Moodie goes outside rather than in towards his support and Le Roux then forward passes.
TRY! South Africa 52-0 Romania (Grant Williams, 55 mins)
Wow! The pace and class of Grant Williams on full display for try number eight!
A lovely scissors move as Williams runs a hard line to the outside, he skips past Nicolas Onutu and accelerates away from everyone else for the try. Conversion added and the Boks are past 50 points.
PENALTY TRY! South Africa 45-0 Romania, 53 mins
Still a scrum to South Africa though as they had advantage coming and it leads to a penalty try!
The Springboks pack march the scrum towards the line, the Oaks are pinged as it collapses and it would’ve have been a try so Matthieu Raynal raises his arm and runs under the posts. Try number seven in the books
NO TRY! South Africa 38-0 Romania, 52 mins
South Africa on the attack once more. Calmly going through the phases and eating up ground in the 22.
And then Damian Willemse goes over! Gorgeous step off his left foot to slide between defenders and touch down!
TMO check though. Did Canan Moodie block off defenders? Yes he did, show the replays so it’s chalked off. Willemse denied his second try of the game
South Africa 38-0 Romania, 49 mins
Adrian Motoc cleanly takes the lineout and they maul for a couple of metres before being stopped. Now time to go through the phases.
They keep it tight with the forwards but Andre Gorin penalised for sealing off the ball by going off his feet and South Africa win the penalty. Boos from the crowd.
South Africa 38-0 Romania, 48 mins
Romania’s lineout have been devastatingly poor this afternoon. This one isn’t straight and turns the ball over in a good position.
The scrum does better though! They win the scrum penalty and then kick to the corner. A five-metre lineout, can they get this one right and score their first points? The crowd roar them on.
South Africa 38-0 Romania, 46 mins
Romania get a bit of ball in Boks territory and Iulian Hartig powers into contact. But a couple of phases later, they turn the ball over trying to offload.
Willemse’s attempted flick then doesn’t find Williams and bounces into touch.
Hat-trick hero Cobus Reinach comes off, with Jaden Hendrikse on at scrum half.
TRY! South Africa 38-0 Romania (Deon Fourie, 43 mins)
The Boks immediately down into Romania territory and it’s a five-metre lineout. Same result as the first half, the inexorable driving maul rumbles towards the line and this time it’s Deon Fourie to touch down.
Fourie immediately picking up this hooker lark! The 37-year-old, who was 35 when he made his international debut, finds Snyman at the lineout and then directs the maul over the line where he can flop down on the ball.
Willemse misses his first conversion since the opening try as he pushes it wide of the right upright.
South Africa 33-0 Romania, 42 mins
A couple of half-time changes for the Springboks as Deon Fourie and RG Snyman come on. Fourie playing hooker for the first time in years as South Africa protect Bongi Mbonambi - their only specialist hooker left after the injury to Malcolm Marx. Snyman playing his normal position of lock
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