Cobus Reinach scored his second World Cup hat-trick as the Springboks shredded Romania in their second Pool B match in Bordeaux on Sunday.
A one-sided match played in wet conditions saw the Springboks claim a 76-0 bonus-point victory, after taking a 33-0 lead into half time.
Reinach, who opened the scoring in the third minute, replicated his efforts against Canada in 2019 by dotting down for a hat-trick.
2 – Cobus Reinach has scored the two earliest hat-tricks in men’s @rugbyworldcup history, his 3rd try against Romania came in the 24th minute while he completed a hat-trick against Canada in the 21st minute at the 2019 tournament. Hurried. pic.twitter.com/CltcWJW1Gl
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 17, 2023
His third try came in the 24th minute, meaning that his missed breaking his own record for quickest World Cup hat-trick by a few minutes.
It took just 12 minutes for the Springboks to wrap up the bonus point when Damian Willemse sidestepped his way to the tryline.
4 tries in 11:13 🤯
South Africa secure the quickest bonus point in Rugby World Cup history 🔝#RWC2023 | #RSAvROU pic.twitter.com/pN4DpC95mS
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 17, 2023
The Springboks experimented in the second half, with Deon Fourie replacing Bongi Mbonambi at hooker, while Faf de Klerk came on at flyhalf to form the halfback combination with replacement scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse.
Marco van Staden, who started at openside flank, also took a couple of late lineout throws and did so successfully as the Boks count on him as a third option at hooker.
It did nothing to disrupt the flow for the world champions, as Fourie got the ball rolling in the second half, while Grant Williams scored a brace and Makazole Mapimpi rounded off his hat-trick.
Next up on the World Cup schedule for each team, the Springboks face Ireland on Saturday, 23 September (9pm kick-off) while Romania take on Scotland on 30 September.
Photo: Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
