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South Africa will look to continue their impressive start to the Rugby World Cup as they face minnows Romania in Bordeaux this afternoon.
The Springboks laid down an early marker by shutting down Scotland 18-3 in their opening match in Pool B and the Oaks shouldn’t pose too big a problem, having been thrashed 82-8 by Ireland last weekend – although they did grab the opening try of the game.
South Africa did endure some bad news during the week as they suffered a major injury blow with hooker Malcolm Marx ruled out of the tournament with a torn ACL. Marx, one of the world’s best hookers, suffered the injury in training and is yet to be replaced in the 33-man squad.
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South Africa vs Romania latest updates
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TRY! South Africa 12-0 Romania (Makazole Mapimpi, 7 mins)
The maul is actually well defended by Romania but South Africa go wide and Makazole Mapimpi scores.
Willemse fires a long pass out to Willie le Roux who draws two defenders and flicks out the back of his hand to Mapimpi to run inside and touch down. Lovely touch by Le Roux.
A seventh try in his seventh RWC appearance for the winger. This time Willemse nails the extras
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:09
South Africa 5-0 Romania, 5 mins
Romania off their feet at the breakdown and it’s another attacking opportunity for the Springboks as they boot to the corner.
Lineout secured and the maul sets up…
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:08
TRY! South Africa 5-0 Romania (Cobus Reinach, 3 mins)
That didn’t take long. The South Africa front row splinter their Romania opponents, Cobus Reinach picks up from the base, throws a dummy and darts over the line.
He scored a hat-trick in his last World Cup start, another today? Willemse misses the conversion wide to the left – that is a slight Achilles heel for the Boks.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:06
South Africa 0-0 Romania, 2 mins
Some battering carries from the Boks, as you would expect – with Ox Nche driving defenders backwards.
Damian Willemse knocks on in contact but penalty coming and it’s a first scrum of the afternoon
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:05
South Africa 0-0 Romania, 2 mins
Not an ideal start from Romania as Marius Simionescu kicks out on the full from outside his own 22 and it’s an attacking lineout for South Africa. Nicely claimed and they’re into the 22 already
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:04
KICK-OFF! South Africa 0-0 Romania, 1 mins
And we’re off as Matthieu Raynal blows his whistle! Ireland beat Romania 82-8 a week ago, will South Africa match that today?
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:02
South Africa vs Romania
Anthems done. We’re about to get underway in Bordeaux. How many points can the Boks stick on the Oaks today?
Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:00
South Africa vs Romania teams
A reminder of the team news. Although a late change for the Springboks as Vincent Koch has suffered an injury during warm-ups, so Trevor Nyakane comes off the bench to start at tighthead and Frans Malherbe comes on to the bench.
South Africa XV: 15-Willie Le Roux, 14-Grant Williams, 13-Canan Moodie, 12-Andre Esterhuizen, 11-Makazole Mapimpi, 10-Damian Willemse, 9- Cobus Reinach; 1-Ox Nche, 2-Mbongeni Mbonambi (c), 3-Trevor Nyakane, 4-Jean Kleyn, 5-Marvin Orie, 6-Marco van Staden, 7-Kwagga Smith, 8-Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16-Deon Fourie, 17-Steven Kitshoff, 18-Frans Malherbe, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Jasper Wiese, 21-Jaden Hendrikse, 22-Faf de Klerk, 23-Jesse Kriel.
Romania XV: 15-Marius Simionescu, 14-Tevita Manumua, 13-Jason Tomane, 12-Taylor Gontineac, 11-Nicolas Onutu, 10-Hinckley Vaovasa, 9-Gabriel Rupanu; 1-Iulian Hartig, 2-Ovidiu Cojocaru, 3-Alexandru Gordas, 4-Adrian Motoc, 5-Marius Iftimiciuc, 6-Andre Gorin, 7-Vlad Neculau, 8-Cristi Chirica (c).
Replacements: 16-Robert Irimescu, 17-Alexandru Savin, 18-Thomas Cretu, 19-Stefan Iancu, 20-Damian Stratila, 21-Cristi Boboc, 22-Alin Conache, 23-Gabriel Pop.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 13:57
South Africa vs Romania
The Boks fans are out in force ahead of this clash. We’re less than 10 minutes away from kick-off now.
(PA)
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(AFP via Getty Images)
Luke Baker17 September 2023 13:53