The first objective was achieved in a thumping 76-0 win over underdog Romania, with hat tricks by scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and wing Makazole Mapimpi among the Springboks’ 12 tries without reply in Bordeaux.
- South Africa scored 12 tries in crushing win over Romania
- Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi crossed for hat-tricks for Springboks
- Reigning champions scored four tries in opening 12 minutes to secure bonus point
- South Africa joined Ireland in winning first two Pool B games – they meet each other in Paris on 23 SeptemberSouth 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.