Springboks run rampant in Bordeaux
MATCH REPORT: The Springboks never went into overdrive as they disposed of Romania in their second World Cup Pool B match in Bordeaux on Sunday, stacking up 12 tries in their 76-0 victory.
This was the fifth largest win for the Springboks at a World Cup while they scored four tries in eleven minutes – the quickest bonus point in World Cup history.
Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi both got hat-tricks, Reinach’s was his second at a World Cup.
A late change just before kick-off saw Trevor Nyakane replace Vincent Koch in the front row after Koch picked up an injury during the warm-up. Frans Malherbe entered the fray on the bench.
The Springboks got an early gift of a line-out when Romania kicked out directly seconds into the game.
Reinach got the first try in the second minute of the game on the back of a powerful advancing Springbok scrum. Unfortunately, the conversion by Damian Willemse was not on point.
A Springbok maul ensued minutes later, Marvin Orie gathered in the air, the ball was spread wide and Willie le Roux created space and over goes Magozole Mapimpi for the Springboks’ second try after seven minutes of play.
A second try to Reinhach followed a mere minutes later after Marco van Staden gathered a loose ball and it was classic counterpunch rugby by the Springboks.
With 15 minutes gone, the floodgates well and truly opened up as tries by Willemse, and Reinach (his third) followed in quick succession in the first half.
The Romanians finally had an opportunity to get some points on the board 15 minutes into the game as Duane Vermeulen was penalised for holding onto the ball but the kick went awry.
The Springboks were dominant in every area of the game, especially in the scrums where Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane and Ox Nche showed their superior power.
With two minutes to go before half-time, a high tackle by Jean Kleyn gave Romania the perfect opportunity to launch an attack, opting to kick for the corner and the crowd got behind the underdogs. But they bungled it, holding onto the ball on the ground and the South African tryline remained intact.
Going into half-time, the rain came down in buckets and conditions in the game deteriorated very quickly to a muggy affair.
The second half started with Deon Fourie replacing captain Bongi Mbonambi at hooker and RG Snyman coming on for Orie.
Fourie immediately got into the thick of things, winning a turnover and then had to throw into the line-out and then went on to score three minutes into the second half.
A penalty try followed and then Grant Williams showcased his exceptional pace, slicing past the defenders with his quick feet.
By the 60th minute three of the Springboks’ four scrumhalves were on the field at Cobus Reinach left the fray with Faf de Klerk at flyhalf, Jaden Hendrikse at nine and Williams at wing.
Towards the latter part of the second half Le Roux and Mapimpi proved to be a perfect Bordeaux combination as the latter went on to score his three tries, assisted by the fullback.
What can one say about Romania? Well, they tried their best and the crowd really vied for them to some points on the board.
A trio of tries in a huge team performance ☝️☝️☝️
Congratulations to @Springboks’ Makazole Mapimpi on being the @Mastercard #POTM#RWC2023 | #RSAvROU | #Priceless pic.twitter.com/bu7FFNL1Fm
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 17, 2023
Man of the match: The award goes to Makazole Mapimpi for his second World Cup hat-trick.
Scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Reinach 3, Mapimpi 3, Willemse, Fourie, Williams 2, Penalty try, Le Roux
Cons: Willemse 5, De Klerk 2
Teams
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Grant Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (captain), 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Jesse Kriel.
Romania: 15 Marius Simionescu, 14 Tevita Manumua, 13 Jason Tomane, 12 Taylor Gontineac, 11 Nicholas Onutu, 10 Hinckley Vaovasa, 9 Gabriel Rupanu, 8 Cristian Chirica (captain), 7 Vlad Neculau, 6 Andre Gorin, 5 Marius Iftimiciuc, 4 Adrian Motoc, 3 Alexandru Gordas, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru, 1 Iulian Hartig.
Replacements: 16 Robert Irimescu, 17 Alexandru Savin, 18 Thomas Cretu, 19 Stefan Iancu, 20 Damian Stratila, 21 Cristi Bovoc, 22 Alin Conache, 23 Gabriel Pop.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
