Reinach scores fastest Rugby World Cup hat-trick as Boks book quarterfinal spot

A strong first-half showing that saw scrumhalf Cobus Reinach score the fastest hat trick in World Cup history was a major highlight of the game. The Springboks scored ten tries in total, rounding off their pool stages on a strong note. 

Reinach’s three tries beat the previous record set by Australia’s Chris Latham back in 2003. 

While the first half belonged to the Springboks, the second half of the match saw a drop in intensity from South Africa but Rassie Erasmus’s side did enough to secure a spot in the knockouts of the competition.  

A major positive is that Erasmus has fully rotated his squad and all of his players have clocked a good amount of game time ahead of the quarterfinals. 

Springbok lock RG Snyman was named man of the match for a sublime performance in the second row. It must be said that Snyman might as well have been playing at centre for the Springboks, given that he was popping up all over the park. 

While the game may have been a foregone conclusion, there was an intimate and upbeat atmosphere at the Kobe Misaki Stadium.  

The Springboks now turn their attention to the quarterfinals while Canada eye up an exciting clash with Namibia in their final match of the competition.

 Reinach hattrick lights up first half

The Springboks got off to a perfect start with an early foray into the Canadian 22 after receiving the kickoff. After a number of phases, the Boks were camped on the Canada try line. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies sniffed an opportunity and attacked down the blind and offloaded to outside centre Damian de Allende, who opened the scoring. Jantjies converted to make it 7-nil. 

It didn’t take long for the Springboks to grab their second try. Receiving the restart, South Africa worked their way up the field and into Canada’s half. The ball was shifted wide to blindside flank Kwagga Smith, who got a good offload to left wing Sbu Nkosi, who cruised over the tryline in the left corner. Jantjies wasn’t able to convert from the touchline, leaving South Africa leading 12-nil. 

Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach then produced a moment of individual brilliance from the restart, showing off the speed his father was renowned for. The Bok half back made a break from inside his own half and then chipped the ball over Canada fullback Andrew Coe before regathering and scoring. Jantjies then made amends by converting to take his side into a 19-0 lead. 

The Springboks scrumhalf grabbed his second try soon after, sniping around a ruck just short of the tryline after a great break by lock RG Snyman. The conversion from Jantjies extended his side’s lead to 26-nil. 

Reinach then rounded off a hat trick of tries from the following restart. Jantjies opted for a crosskick to Gelant inside their 22, before the right wing linked up with De Allende who found Reinach in support on his inside. The scrumhalf took the final pass and scored before Jantjies converted to make it 33-nil. 

 READ: Boks ring changes for final pool clash with Canada

The Springboks’ 6th try came from a scrum deep inside Canadas half. Attacking the blindside, Janties found Gelant unmarked in space and the wing danced past two defenders to score in the right-hand corner. The Springbok pivot converted to make it 40-nil. 

Canada then went on the attack for the first time in the game and managed to secure a penalty after a break into the Springbok half. A penalty against South Africa allowed Canada to kick for the corner. 

From the set-piece, Canada punched it up the midfield before flyhalf Peter Nelson produced a pinpoint cross-kick that nearly saw Canada score. Nkosi managed to dot the ball down as it went loose and Canada then had put into an attacking scrum.

The North American’s went on the attack but foul play at a ruck was quickly sent upstairs. Canada’s reserve lock Josh Larsen was given a red card for leading with a shoulder into a ruck - and the replay showed him clearly making contact with the head of Thomas du Toit.

After a lull in play, South Africa resumed their assault of the scoreboard as inside centre Frans Steyn grabbed an intercept as Canada looked to attack down the blindside from a scrum inside their 22. Jantjies converted to make it 47-nil as the half-time hooter sounded.

Slow second stanza 

The roars of the Kobe Misaki Stadium immediately told you that the underdogs Canada had scored the first try of the second half. 

Soon after kick off a couple of penalties against South Africa gave Canada the chance to kick for the corner and set up a lineout. From the set-piece, Canada attacked with a lethal strike move. Right-wing Jeff Hassler was brought down just before the line. 

The ball was quickly recycled and blindside flank Matt Heater ran a good line and barged his way over to score. The conversion made it 47-7. 

The Springboks scored their first try of the second half in the 54th minute after a number of phases on attack in the Canadian 22. Hooker Schalk Brits danced his way through the defence to get over the whitewash. Jantjies knocked over the extras to make it 54-7.

After a scrappy ten minutes of play South Africa got the scoreboard ticking once again from a scrum on Canada’s five metre line. The Springbok backline just played simple hands and fullback Damian Willemse ran in his first try in his first game of the competition. Jantjies added the extras to make it 61-7.

Reserve prop Frans Malherbe got on the try-scorers list next as he made the final charge at the line following a long passage of play on attack for South Africa. The tighthead stretched out to score in the tight-loose. Jantjies couldn’t convert, leaving the score at 66-7. 

The two sides wrestled it out for the remaining five minutes but South Africa booked their spot in the quarterfinals with a 66-7 win.

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