By Joe Rindl.
Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi each grabbed a hat-trick of tries as South Africa crushed Romania 76-0 in their second Pool B in Bordeaux.
Reinach’s treble is the second-quickest in World Cup history – he holds the record after scoring three after 20 minutes against Canada four years ago.
In a destructive display, the holders had secured a bonus-point try in the 11th minute and led 33-0 at half-time.
The defending champions, who had beaten Scotland 18-3 in their World Cup opener last week, made 14 changes for the match against Romania in rainy Bordeaux, with only Damian Willemse keeping his place.
They dominated from the off, with Reinach crossing inside three minutes before Mapimpi added a second try moments later.
Reinach went over again in the ninth minute and, after Willemse scored a bonus-point try two minutes later, the scrum-half completed his hat-trick, peeling off a scrum to cross with 25 minutes played.
South Africa did not let up after the restart. Deon Fourie rolled over the line in the 43rd minute and the three-time winners secured a penalty try moments later.
Grant Williams put his side 52-0 up after 55 minutes, diving in following a brilliant solo run, and added another try seven minutes later.
Mapimpi also added his second in the 64th minute, sprinting from the halfway line and going over in the corner.
He completed his hat-trick three minutes later, before Willie le Roux crossed with seven minutes remaining for the final score of a heavily one-sided game.
South Africa, second in Pool B, face leaders Ireland in their next match in six days’ time, while Romania play Scotland after a week off.
The Springboks, meanwhile, have added the fly-half Handrè Pollard to their squad before their Pool B match against with Ireland next weekend.
Pollard, who helped South Africa win the competition in 2019, was left out of Jacques Nienaber’s initial 33‑man squad with a calf injury. The 29-year-old returned to action on Friday as a replacement in Leicester’s 18-14 Premiership win at Sale. He is called up as replacement for the injured hooker Malcolm Marx, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a knee issue.
Line-ups
South Africa XV: Le Roux, Williams, Moodie, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi, Willemse, Reinach; Nche, Mbonambi, Nyakane, Kleyn, Orie, Van Staden, Smith, Vermeulen
Replacements: Fourie, Kitshoff, Malherbe, Snyman, Wiese, Hendrikse, de Klerk, Kriel
Romania XV: Simionescu, Manumua, Tomane, Gontineac, Onutu, Vaovasa, Rupanu; Hartig, Cojocaru, Gordas, Motoc, Iftimiciuc, Gorin, Neculau, Chirica
Replacements: Irimescu, Savin, Cretu, Iancu, Stratila, Boboc, Conache, Pop.