2023 World Cup – South Africa too strong for Romania, left fanny
At the end of a logically one-sided match, South Africa crushed Namibia and continued its flawless performance in this World Cup. Final victory 76-0 for the Springboks, with twelve tries scored. Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi each scored a hat-trick. The Romanians did not score a single point.
South Africa, who made fourteen changes to the team against Scotland, did not need to force themselves to overcome Romania, for his second World Cup match (76-0), in the Bordeaux downpour. The Springboks only needed twelve minutes to win the offensive bonus point.
Read Springboks started the meeting very strongly. The reigning world champions only needed four minutes to score the first try of the match thanks to Cobus Reinach, author of his tenth try in the South African jersey, coming out of a scrum. Two minutes later, Makazole Mapimpi, on a cross from Willie le Roux, crossed a second time the Chênes goal. Cobus Reinach, once again, took advantage of a hand fault from the Romanians to score a second try. The scrum half even scored a hat-trick during this first period following a big push from the South African forward pack on a 5-metre scrum introduced by the Romanians. It was Damian Willemse, promoted to opening half for this match, who scored his team’s fourth try after blowing the opposing defense into the wind with a hook. Opposite, Romania tried to hang on and had the opportunity to score three points, but Tevita Manumua’s penalty escaped the poles.
South Africa begins the second half in the same way as the first. On a carried ball, Deon Fourie, who entered at the break, flattened his team’s sixth try into the goal, three minutes after returning from the locker room. Ten minutes later, the Springbok scrum showed its power again to obtain a penalty try after pushing the Romanian forwards into their in-goal. Grant Williams will increase his team’s lead with an eighth try. The winger scored twice after a nice combination with Jaden Hendrikse at the end of a scrum where the South African substitute found Faf de Klerk, replaced at the opening, just had to cross for Williams.
South Africa lacking a scorer
Already author of a try in the first period, Makazole Mapimpi scored a double in his turn on a magnificent run. Starting from 22 meters, the winger gets rid of a Romanian defender and is not seen again. The winger will also score a third try, the eleventh for the Springboks. Willie le Roux will go for his try at the end of the match and allows South Africa to come back one step behind Ireland in the Group B standings.
Once the Springboks’ strong point with Percy Montgomery and Morné Steyn, the Springboks are showing deficiencies in terms of scorers. Established at the opening today, Damian Willemse did not convince and Faf de Klerk, who replaced him, missed twice in his four transformations.
South Africa will return to the XV du Trèfle, at the Stade de France, for one of the group matches of this World Cup, on September 23. Romania, exempt from next week’s match, will face Scotland at Pierre Mauroy on September 30.
