Springboks thrashed Romania 76-0 to secure a bonus-point.

BY: Simtho Dladla

The Rugby World Cup Champions, Springboks have made a big statement with a convincing 76-0 victory over Romania in thier Rugby World Cup match in Bordeaux.

Hat-tricks for Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi are the highlights for the Boks, who also moved players around the positions as the second half wore on. Twelve tries for the Boks, and Romania missed their one penalty attempt in the first half.

Everything started up front and the way the forwards dominated the scrums and rolling mauls, provided the perfect platform from which the Boks could launch attacks. Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux start an attack from inside their own 22, with Makazole Mapimpi then racing clear from deep inside his own half to touch down near the corner flag.

The defending champions, who had beaten Scotland 18-3 in their World Cup opener last week, made 14 changes for the match against Romania in rainy Bordeaux, with only Damian Willemse keeping his place. The Springboks, despite 14 changes from the win versus Scotland in their opener, were merciless against Romania, who beat the 74-point margin from their 82-8 opening loss to Ireland, racking up the bonus point inside 20 minutes.

South Africa and Ireland have two wins from two in Pool B, ahead of their meeting in Paris on Saturday.