South Africa 76-0 Romania: Cobus Reinach scores second-fastest World Cup hat-trick

South Africa’s Cobus Reinach was the star of the show in a commanding Rugby World Cup performance against Romania, helping his team secure a resounding 76-0 victory in Bordeaux. Reinach’s exceptional feat included scoring a hat-trick within just 25 minutes of play, making it the second-fastest in World Cup history – a record he already held after a similar feat against Canada four years prior.

The defending champions, who had previously defeated Scotland 18-3 in their World Cup opener, made a whopping 14 changes to their lineup for this match, with only Damian Willemse retaining his place. However, the alterations didn’t disrupt their dominance on the field.

The onslaught began early, with Cobus Reinach crossing the try line within three minutes. Moments later, Makazole Mapimpi added a second try to the tally. Reinach continued his scoring spree, registering another try in the ninth minute. Willemse chipped in with a bonus-point try just two minutes later. However, Reinach wasn’t done yet; he completed his hat-trick with a scintillating run, peeling off a scrum and touching down after 25 minutes of play.

The South African team didn’t ease up after half-time. Deon Fourie added to the try count in the 43rd minute, followed by securing a penalty try moments later. Grant Williams extended their lead to 52-0 with a dazzling solo run that ended in a try after 55 minutes, and he wasn’t content with just one; seven minutes later, he scored again. Mapimpi got his second try in the 64th minute, sprinting from the halfway line and touching down in the corner. He completed his own hat-trick just three minutes later. Willie le Roux added the final try with seven minutes left in what had become a lopsided contest.

In the aftermath of the match, South Africa’s head coach, Jacques Nienaber, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. He highlighted some experimental strategies, such as using different hookers and shifting Faf de Klerk to the 10 position, which had paid off. Despite the joy of the win, Nienaber acknowledged the upcoming six-day turnaround and the need for controlled enjoyment before getting back to work.

Romania’s captain, Cristian Chirica, recognized the challenge of playing against top-tier teams like South Africa and emphasized the importance of gaining experience for their relatively young team.

With this impressive victory, South Africa positioned themselves for a crucial clash against Ireland in their next match, while Romania would face Scotland after a well-deserved week off.

Line-ups:

South Africa XV:

Le Roux, Williams, Moodie, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi, Willemse, Reinach
Nche, Mbonambi, Nyakane, Kleyn, Orie, Van Staden, Smith, Vermeulen

Romania XV:

Simionescu, Manumua, Tomane, Gontineac, Onutu, Vaovasa, Rupanu
Hartig, Cojocaru, Gordas, Motoc, Iftimiciuc, Gorin, Neculau, Chirica

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rugby World Cup Dominance

Q: What was the final score in the South Africa vs. Romania Rugby World Cup match?

A: The final score was South Africa 76, Romania 0.

Q: Who scored the fastest hat-trick in Rugby World Cup history?

A: Cobus Reinach of South Africa scored the second-fastest hat-trick in Rugby World Cup history during this match. He previously held the record for the fastest hat-trick, achieved against Canada four years prior.

Q: How many tries did Makazole Mapimpi score in the match?

A: Makazole Mapimpi also had an outstanding performance, scoring a hat-trick in this match, contributing to South Africa’s 12-try total.

Q: How did South Africa perform in their previous World Cup match?

A: South Africa had previously defeated Scotland 18-3 in their World Cup opener before this commanding victory against Romania.

Q: Who did South Africa face next after this match?

A: After this match, South Africa was set to face Ireland in their next Rugby World Cup match.

Q: How did Romania’s captain, Cristian Chirica, describe the experience of playing against South Africa?

A: Cristian Chirica, Romania’s captain, acknowledged that playing against teams like South Africa, known for their toughness and physicality, was a valuable experience for their young team.

Q: How did South Africa’s head coach, Jacques Nienaber, react to the team’s performance?

A: Jacques Nienaber expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting some experimental strategies they had implemented during the match, such as using different hookers and shifting Faf de Klerk to the 10 position.

Q: What was notable about Grant Williams’ performance in this match?

A: Grant Williams made a significant impact by scoring two tries, including a brilliant solo run, contributing to South Africa’s comprehensive win.

Q: Who was the referee for this match?

A: Mathieu Raynal, a French referee, officiated the South Africa vs. Romania Rugby World Cup match.

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