Reinach hat-trick triggers Springbok demolition of Romania

Scrum-half Cobus Reinach and wing Makazole Mapimpi both scored hat-tricks as South Africa ran in 12 tries in a 76-0 demolition of Romania in rainy Bordeaux on Sunday.

Reinach, 33, scored three of South Africa's first five tries to complete his hat-trick in just 21 minutes - 10 minutes slower than the treble he scored against Canada in 2019.

Mapimpi also dotted down in the first half, completing his own treble with two in quick succession in the second period.

"We prepared for the rain, we knew it was coming, but the only thing we spoke about was the physicality. We needed to bring it," said Mapimpi after the game.

"I don't put myself in front (first), it's all about the team. It's not about me walking over to score the tries. A lot of guys did well - Andre (Esterhuizen), Willie (Le Roux) - and I appreciate their work."

South Africa's win followed their 18-3 win over Scotland in their tournament opener.

Romania lost their second game of the tournament, after last weekend’s heavy defeat to Ireland, and failed to score in a World Cup game for the first time since 2007.

With first-choice hooker Malcolm Marx ruled out for the tournament with a knee injury, Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber named Bongi Mbonambi as hooker.

Nienaber made 14 changes from the Scotland game with an eye on facing Ireland in a tie to decide the winner of Pool B in six days' time.

"I'm especially happy with a couple of things we tried," said Nienaber.

"The three different hookers that we used - I thought that paid off.

"Then Faf (de Klerk) got some exposure at 10, so I thought a lot of things that we wanted to get out of the game, we got."

Lock Andre Gorin was handed his World Cup debut for Romania, known as the Oaks, by boss Eugen Apjok, barely two months out from his 36th birthday.

A storm was forecast with the  skies overcast, which led to the 10,000-capacity fan park being closed for the day, but the humid conditions failed to stop the Springboks from starting strongly.

They raced into a 26-0 after less than a quarter of an hour thanks to Reinach’s two early tries, Mapimpi's opener and a  Damian Willemse touchdown for the bonus point, the quickest a side has scored four tries in a game in World Cup history.

The biggest cheer of the game from the 38,000 crowd came as Romania won a penalty just outside South Africa's 22m but winger Tevita Manumua missed his shot at goal, the closest the Oaks came to getting on the scoreboard.

ALSO READ: