With that I’ll bid adieu as I have to dash to make the post-match pressers.
Keep an eye out for the report from the wires.
Thanks for joining me for that one-sided affair. Still, I enjoyed it. Hopefully enough Romanians did as well.
Til next time…
Finally, Jacques Nienaber, the Boks boss:
I thought, especially the couple of things we tried, the three different hookers, they got some exposure, Faf got some exposure at 10. A lot of the things we wanted to get out of the game, we got out of the game.
This team has always been proud on defence. So extremely happy.
We must enjoy [the win]. Rugby is something we enjoy and love. But knowing it’s a six day turnaround [before Ireland] it will be a controlled enjoyment.
Eugen Apjok, Romania’s coach, is up next:
In the first 25 minutes in the Irish game, and the second 25 in the first half, we can take positives. We need to work on the breakdown.
We need to recover. We have some time off to enjoy the World Cup and work hard for the Scotland and Tonga game.
Now, Bongi Mbonambi, the Boks’ skipper:
We jsut kept it simple. We kept it tight. All respect to Romania. They’re tough in contact and they play with pride.
It’s always an honour and a privilege to represent the Springboks. But it’s never about one person. We’ve got no egos.
“Bonjour Daniel,”
Howdy, Ettiene Terblanche.
“Someonescu is the cult hero here for me. I’m a South African but I appreciate the skilful tradition of Comaneci, Hagi and Nastase at play here.”
Next up. Romania’s skipper, Cristian Chirica:
It’s very important for us to play against the best teams in the world. We’re a young side. It’s very hard to play against a team like South Africa who are physical. But we are here and trying to do our best,
Here’s the player of the match, Makazole Mapimpi:
Thanks to the South African support. We see you guys behind us all the time.
We knew it was going to rain. We spoke about execution and physicality.
It’s always good. I don’t put myself in front of the team. It’s not about me walking over the try line. I appreciate the other guys who did really well.
Full-time: South Africa 76-0 Romania
Esterhuizen knocks on after a quick tap from Hendrikse and we’ll end things there. Hammered, clattered, demolished, destroyed. Take your pick. The Romanians will remember that one for a long time. The Boks march one. Two hat-trick scorers and a clean sheet. Just about the perfect performance.
79th min: This scrum takes an age to get going and eventually ends with a South African feed. They pack down again.
78th min: Oh no. Romania had the ball but lose it shortly after. South Africa charge forward with Van Staden. De Klerk plays one of those lovely drop passes but there’s a spill of the pill and we’ll have a scrum around half-way.
77th min: Romania win a penalty. They’re still battling. They’ve been soundly beaten by the world champions but they’re playing with clear pride. They toe it to the 22 and will have a line-out to set an attack.
TRY! South Africa 76-Romania (Le Roux, 74)
As if they weren’t even there. Off the line-out, South Africa go down the line. Le Roux canters into space and holds his pass for the man outside him. But he doesn’t play it and instead ghosts through the gap and scores himself. De Klerk clatters the pole with the conversion attempt.
70th min: Van Staden hits his second line-out. Kleyn with the haul down. De Klerk drops another one for Williams on the angle. Smith charges up before Hendrikse hoists a high box. SA have it back. Kithoff hands off a tackler in the tram and charges for the line. He’s brought down. Hendrikse picks and darts for the corner but is bundled out.
TRY! South Africa 71-0 Romania (Mapimpi, 67)
Hat-trick for Mapimpi. Off the back of the line-out and from a maul that stopped rumbling, the ball goes down the line for Mapimpi who finishes. It’s just too easy. Romania are getting blown away. Neat from De Klerk who went on the wraparound before Le Roux held and delayed his pass before hitting Mapimpi at the perfect moment.
Updated
67th min: Another penalty win on the ground for South Africa. Vermeulen doing the business there. Van Staden will throw to the line this time. Ever seen a man with No. 6 on his back feed a line-out? They’ll set up another attack inside Romania’s half.
TRY! South Africa 64-0 Romania (Mapimpi, 65)
That’s number 10. A strong counter ruck wins the ball back in their own half. De Klerk spins out a great pass that is bettered by Le Roux’s ball to Mapimpi. He stands up the tackler and puts on the after burners to run 50 metres and slide over in the corner. De Klerk can’t convert from out wide.
Updated
TRY! South Africa 59-0 Romania (Williams, 62)
Slick. A strong scrum with a penalty, that earned a penalty advantage, has de Klerk at first receiver on the front foot. He plays a little inside ball for Williams, again running a delightful angle, who slides through the gap and scores. De Klerk then nudges the extras.
60th min: SA get the scrum feed after Romania give away a free-kick. Hendrikse picks up and goes down the blindside. Hands it to Mapimpi who cuts back into traffic. All the way to the right. Romania knock on the tackle off the back of the ruck so scrum feed for SA about seven out near the tram.
59th min: A shocker from Moodie! If he passed South Africa would have scored. After a steal from Smith back in his own half, SA launch a counte with Moodie running through a spate of tacklers. Hendrikse was inside him and clear but he chose to dummie and go alone. He was tackled instead. They keep the ball but momentum is gone. Le Roux’s attempt to play a basketball style pass in the tackle doesn’t come off and it’ll be a scrum on the 22 for Romania.
57th min: De Klerk, on at 10 for Willemse, grubbers a nothing kick forward. But Romania can’t keep the ball. SA with it again through Nche who carries well. He played a lovely pass for Kleyn earlier, he’s having a top game. The ball bobble about and Romania have it back down the wing. De Klerk makes a brave tackle on a big unit. Romania build slowly through the middle.
TRY! South Africa 52-0 Romania (Williams, 55)
I’m struggling to keep up. SA had a line-out inside Romania’s territory. Rather than set up a maul they went down the line and Williams cut a wonderful slicing line against the grain that caught out the defence. He stepped, jinked and dotted down. Willemse with the extras.
Penalty Try! South Africa 45-0 Romania (54)
Monstrous. That is just monstrous. Better packs than Romania’s struggle against the Boks. This was just immense. Romania’s attempt to spin it around while peddling backwards is all the evidence needed to hand SA another seven points.
52nd min: Yup, no try. Moodie got in the way of the Romanian tacklers. Some nifty feet from Willemse made the space, but it was opened up by Moodie getting in the way. They had a scrum advantage so will pack down five out.
52nd min: Willemse has the ball dotted down over the line but we’re checking for an obstruction call.
50th min: Snyman wins the line-out. He’s been a totem since coming on. Fourie joins a maul that wins a penalty advantage. Hendrikse spins it for Willemse who feeds Esterhuizen. His skip to Le Roux is a good one and now Mapimpi has it. He beats one tackler and cuts infield. There is a call for obstruction but they come all the way back for a penalty at the maul. That’s a long advantage.
49th min: Romania finally win a line-out and set the maul. It’s almost shoved out of touch so they recycle. Big carries are repelled. They go off their feet and concede a penalty. The crowd boos but there can be no complaints.
47th min: Romania win a scrum penalty! Against the Boks. Whatever happens that’s something to brag about for the front rowers. They go to the corner.
46th min: Hmmmm. Again, Romania make a mess of their line-out. This one’s skew. Scrum to SA. Reinach makes way for Hendrikse.
45th min: Snyman secures the restart with an impressive leap. Reinach’s box doesn’t go very far and Romania have the ball inside SA’s half. Gontineac with a carry but they can’t secure it. SA launch a counter. Willemse tries to play a cute pass out the back of the hand to Williams but can’t make it stick. If he had the speedy winger would have been away.
TRY! South Africa 38-0 Romania (Fourie, 43)
What even is a hooker? That’s what Deon Fourie will be asking as he hits his line-out, joins the rolling maul and then completes the try. Snyman with a big involvement in the set-piece and drive. Willemse misses his kick.
Updated
42nd min: Fourie finds his target with his first throw. SA break from the line-out and hammer the midfield with some strong carries. Fourie involved. Snyman juggle but gets the off-load away. They’re a metres away. Reinach tries to snipe round the corner but can’t quite make it stick. There’s a penalty advatnage so we’ll have another line-put in the corner.
41st min: We’re back. Looks like Snyman is on for Orie. SA secure the restart, hoist a box kick and then win a penalty on the ground with Fourie securing the ball. He’s on for Mbonambi. Willemse boots it beyond the 22
“Ha ! Sadly it’s turning out as I’d feared,” says Jeremy Boyce.
“France and Romania have a long history of cooperation, only interrupted briefly by nonsense like World Wars. That’s maybe how rugby came to be played in Romania. There are many Romanians in France as a result and they will obviously have the support of the neutrals this afternoon, don’t be fooled by the shirts.”
I hear that, but I also spoke with a few before the game and there are definitely a bunch of authentic Romanians knocking about.
Half time: South Africa 33-0 Romania
That was about as one-sided as one-sided gets. Stephen Vallely asked me via email what the point of that was and, at one stage, I was wondering myself. It looked far too easy and it seemed as if South Africa would score with every attack. But Romania showed some heart and kept the champions try-less for 16 minutes. Now if they can fix their line-out and keep hold of the ball a bit more they might land a point of their own.
Updated
40th min: Another penalty for South Africa as the rain lashes down. It’s really bucketing here. Line-out for South Africa but Mbonambi misses his jumper. Romania with some nice interplay off the back of it make some metres but the play breaks down. That’ll be that.
38th min: They do win the line-out but give away a penalty about a metre out from the try line. Boos ring out but there’s no doubt that Smith was over the ball. You have to release and that’s a missed opportunity for Romania.
37th min: Reinach wraps up his opposite number at the back of the scrum. Williams cleans up the hack ahead. Nyakane has it in the tram. He gives it to Mbonambi who wins a strong collision out wide. Possession changes hands. Romania charge in midfield. Van Staden goes looking for a steal. There’s a call for a penalty on the ground and Romania opt to kick into the corner. Now’s a good time to fix the line-out.
36th min: SA steal another line-out. Is that four? They attack down the line. Willemse toes a kick ahead. It skipps off the greasy surface and goes out beyond the dead ball line. Williams can’t quite get there in time. Scrum for Romania.
Updated
35th min: Massive cheers as Gontineac picks up the ball from the back of a ruck, looks up, sees space and charges into it. He stands up le Roux and then bounces him in the tackle. Rupanu hacks it from the ground and Willemse cleans up.
33rd min: SA’s maul is set after the line-out win. Reinach goes to the short side and pops to Williams. He goose steps but is tackled out before he can off-load. It’s OK. They have it back as Romania can’t secure their own ball yet again from the line-out.
31st min: Romania just about resist the Bok scrum. Chirica picks up at the back and motors into contact. SA have it back though thanks to their blitz defence. Mbonambi with a bug hit followed by Smith nicking the ball. He has a penalty advantage so we come back after Mapimpi can’t set a counter.
30th min: Romania do really well on this defensive scrum. They almost turn it but the Boks have it. Willemse nudges a low kick for Williams to chase down the blindside. The ball is sent back with a monster shunt from Simionescu. Orie can’t win the ball. Romania has it they knock on. A bit of kicking and it ends with a Romanian scrum on SA’s 22 after Le Roux spills it under no pressure.
27th min: Vermuelen catches the restart and Reinach clears with a hefty box kick. They have a great exit, do the Boks. Romania can’t get the line-out working. This is very skew so South African have the scrum feed inside Romanian territory.
TRY! South Africa 33-0 Romania (Reinach, 25)
A hat-trick for Cobus Reinach. A correction on my part as well. Romania actually had the scrum feed after keeping the Boks maul at bay. But the South African pack monstered their Romanian opponents and had the ball on their side. Reinach picked up and scored from five metres out. Willemse converts.
24th min: South Africa are over the line but then repelled after winning an uncontested line-out through Vermeulen. But Romania keep them at bay illegally. Reinach darts but can’t ground. He knocks on so another penalty. This time the Boks choose to set up a scrum.
23rd min: SA punch the line-out. Two in a row. Orie this time. They attack down the line. Moodie with the ball and he spins it for Mapimpi who kicks. Pressure on the chase and they win the ball back and get a penalty. They’ll go to the line-out in the corner.
21st min: Better kick this time from Romania. But they can’t secure the ball after the line-out. Pity. South Africa with and Reinach boots a good looking box kick that goes out just before the half-way line.
20th min: Romania win the line-out and get a good shove with the maul. They box kick into space and Le Roux needs to clean up. He passes to Williams who dances round a tackler. Reinach kicks, then Moodie kicks from the floor. Romania have it back and attack down the left. Now with a penalty advantage which they’re aware of so hoist a high ball for Manumua to gather. But it’s long and out so they come for the penalty.
But first, a drinks break.
18th min: Romania have a chance to clear and get a line-out up field but they can’t find touch thanks to some acrobatic work from Willemse. They launch an attack but cough up another penalty in Romania’s 22. Moodie, I think, took the man out in the air after chasing a high ball. This time Romania find touch around half-way.
No try! South Africa 26-0 Romania
Obstruction call! So no try. A let off for Romania.
TRY! South Africa 31-0 Romania (Van Staden, 17)
Pure power. Orie gathers at the top of the line-out, the maul sets, it rumbles over the men in yellow and Van Staden, splintering off the back, dots down.
16th min: Back up field and South Africa have a line-out. Vermuelen brings it down. The maul collapses and there’s a penalty. Willemse punts it further into the corner.
14th min: He’s shanked it! Oh my, that’s a poor miss. Manumua slices it across the face of the posts. Romania still not off the mark.
13th min: A big cheer as Romania win a penalty on the ground inside South African territory. They’ll line up a shot at goal. Now a Mexican Wave. It’s going to be that sort of day.
TRY! South Africa 26-0 Romania (Willemse, 12)
Outrageous. We’re going to get a cricket score. And I mean a Bazball cricket score. Romania can’t secure their own ball so Smith steals it. South Africa just steamroll forward and Willemse cuts off his right foot and suddenly he has a clear run to the line. He then gets up to slot the extras.
Updated
TRY! South Africa 19-0 Romania (Reinach, 10)
And another one! Romania spill the ball after securing it from the restart. The midfield opens up with Kleyn pouncing on the loose ball. Reinach picks up from the back of a ruck, shows and goes with no one to stop him before sliding under the poles. Willemse slots an easy conversion.
TRY! South Africa 12-0 Romania (Mapimpi, 7)
Like a hot knife through butter. Mapimpi with the score after receiving a cut-back against the grain from Le Roux. He was fed by Willemse who had front foot ball after Orie’s take-down was followed a maul that allowed Esterhuizen to carry into contact. Everything just clicked there for the Boks. This time Willemse nails the kick from the left.
5th min: Vermeulen gathers the restart and takes it into contact. The clearance from the back of the ruck goes beyond the halfway line.
TRY! South Africa 5-0 Romania (Reinach, 3)
Too easy. South Africa get the shove on and go to the blindside. Reinach dummies and easily cuts a hole in the Romanian defence to dot down.
Willemse misses. South Africa’s goal kicking woes continue.
Updated
3rd min: SA’s lineput is scruffy but they have the ball. They work it with the foirwards across the park. Nche with a powerful charge. They spill it as they look to up the tempo but will come back for a penalty. They opt to take a scrum eight metres out.
1st min: Romani with a meaty carry up field after the kick-off. They recycle and kick up field but it’s straight out. SA with the line-out just outside the 22.
There’s a late change for the Boks. Vincent Koch is out. Trevor Nyakane starts with Frans Malherbe shifting to the bench.
That’s the anthems done. Seven Nation Army keeps the energy pulsing. Romania in yellow and navy shorts (I quite like their gear). The Boks back in green after their toothpaste strip last week. Willemse has the ball at the centre mark. He’ll get us going with the referee’s peeeeeeep!
Five minutes to go. Big cheers for all the Bok players, but there’s a smattering of yellow around the ground, especially to my left, and the Romanians will get plenty of love if they can land a couple of blows.
One for the Saffa fans wherever they may be.
Sister Bethina booms through the speakers as the @Springboks get ready for their @rugbyworldcup game against Romania in Bordeaux...@Sport24news pic.twitter.com/xBb9cG4E8K
— Khanyiso Tshwaku (@kaymorizm) September 17, 2023
It’s worth remembering that Romania qualified for the World Cup through the back door.
Spain had actually earned the right to take part but they were booted out after news broke that they’d fielded an ineligible player in the process of qualifying.
Romania know all about that particular heartache. Back in 2019 they suffered the same fate for the same breach of the rules.
Romania’s rugby union declared that “justice is done” after learning of the decision to axe Spain from the tournament.
Ceea ce vine în jur merge în jur.
That’s ‘What comes around, goes around’ in Romanian. At least according to Google translate.
Siya Kolisi has been involved in everything so far. He’s not part of the 23 taking part today (unless there’s been a late change I’m unaware of). Still, he’s got about the backs to help run lines and carry tackle bags. He’s had a word with the goal kickers. He’s now helping to lift jumpers as they practice in the line-out. The man just won’t stop!
It’ll be interesting to see who kicks for the Boks today. Manie Libbok isn’t taking part. Not that his goal kicking form has been exemplary.
Willemse looks to be the most likely canditate but de Klerk can also do a job. In fact he fulfils that role with his Japanese club, Yokohama Canon Eagles.
Both sides are going through their warm-ups on the field.
Lots of kicking practice from the Boks while the Romanians are engaged in some forwards drills.
While they get ready, why don’t you get stuck into the reports from yesterday.
Samoa held off a spirited Chile side who huffed and puffed but ultimately ran out of gas.
Then Louis Rees-Zammit scored a nifty try and did a the ‘Siuuuu’ celebration as a disjointed Wales did enough to beat Portugal.
To round things off, a very slick looking Ireland steamrolled Tonga to underline their status as the top ranked team in the world.
Four South African scrum-halves! That's insane
Insert Peep Show meme here. Yes it’s true. There are four scrum-halves in the match-day 23 for South Africa. Only one of them, of course, is starting with 9 on his back. That’s Cobus Reinach. Grant Williams will begin on the wing with Faf de Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse two of three backs on the bench.
Vincent Koch in the front row makes his first start for South Africa since the 2019 World Cup pool game against Canada in October 2019. Since then he’s made 28 appearances off the bench.
Bongi Mbonambi captains as Siya Kolisi takes a breather. Deon Fourie, a flanker by trade, named as the replacement hooker. With Handre Pollard joining the squad to replace the injured Malcolm Marx, Fourie will be asked to step up in a big way as the competition drags on.
South Africa: Le Roux; Williams, Moodie, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Willemse, Reinach; Nche, Mbonambi (cap), Koch, Kleyn, Orie, Van Staden, Smith, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Fourie, Kitshoff, Nyakane, Snyman, Wiese, Hendrikse, De Klerk, Kriel.
The #Springboks team to face Romania in their second #RWC2023 pool game in Bordeaux on Sunday - more here: https://t.co/aip2LcSPV3 🇿🇦🏉#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/CBSZXLQgoI
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 13, 2023
Updated
Romania hoping for a miracle
They were soundly trounced by Ireland in the first round. No really expects them to cause an upset here.
Still, they’ve made three changes from that first outing. Keep an eye out for second-rower Adrian Motic who plays his club rugby with French side Biarritz. Also keeping tabs on the livewire scrum-half, Gabriel Rupanu, who scored the opening try in the match against Ireland.
Romania: Simionescu; Manumua, Tomane, Gontineac, Onutu; Vaovasa, Rupanu; Hartig, Cojocaru, Gordas, Motoc, Iftimiciuc, Gorin, Neculau, Chirica (cap).
Replacements: Irimescu, Savin, Cretu, Iancu, Stratila, Boboc, Conache, Pop.
🇿🇦🇹🇩 #Stejarii care vor înfrunta @Springboks, campioana mondială en-titre, în cel de-al doilea meci la Cupa Mondială de Rugby.
— Rugby Romania (@RugbyRomania) September 15, 2023
3️⃣ schimbări în echipa de start față de meciul cu Irlanda;
🗓️ 17 septembrie, ⏰ 16:00 (📺 Orange Sport 3 și Digi Sport 2)#RugbyRomania pic.twitter.com/k0MkmwJ3UB
Preamble
Bonjour! Welcome to the first live blog of a tasty three course rugby meal this Sunday.
It’s been a muggy morning in Bordeax but that hasn’t kept the hordes of Saffas at bat. They’re everywhere! From the port to the city centre, it’s been a wave of bottle green.
It’s been a busy week for the defending champs with the loss of their star hooker, Malcolm Marx, to an ACL injury. It’s a huge blow but the Boks have plenty in reserve.
We’ll see some of those fringe players today as they meet Romani for the first time since their one and only meeting at the 1995 World Cup. That one ended in a 21-8 win for the Boks. I bet head coach, Eugen Apjok, would be more than happy with that.
I’m thrilled to be here in person for this and I’d be thrilled to hear from you. Got a picture of yourself at the ground? Have an intersting thought you’d lile to share from the comfort of your coach at home? Send ‘em all my way.
Kick off at 3pm local time/2pm BST.
More updates, including team news, to come.
