Sunday afternoon’s kick-off in Pool B will pitch a heavily rotated Springboks side against the eastern European minnows, who were demolished by Ireland in a 12-try blitz a week ago.
Having beaten Scotland 18-3 in a bruising first encounter, the holders have overcome the first major hurdle to reaching the quarter-finals and are expected to pick up a bonus point with a big win in their next game.
Such a result should see the Boks soaring with confidence ahead of that blockbuster showdown with No1-ranked Ireland in Paris next weekend.
Date, kick-off time and venue
South Africa vs Romania takes place today, Sunday September 17, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm BST.
The Stade de Bordeaux will host the match.
Where to watch South Africa vs Romania
TV channel: In the UK, the game is to be shown live and free to air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 1.30pm.
Live stream: The ITV website and ITVX app will also offer a free live stream service for fans online.
The Springboks outlasted Scotland in a physical showdown in Pool B on opening weekend
/ REUTERSSouth Africa vs Romania team news
The Boks have unusually named all four of their scrum-halves in their matchday squad for the weekend, with Cobus Reinach getting the nod to start. Faf de Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse will be on the bench with Grant Williams starting on the wing.
Canan Moodie and Jean Kleyn return from injury as South Africa heavily rotate the side that beat Scotland, with head coach Jacques Nienaber making 14 changes in total. Only Stormers star Damian Willemse retains his starting berth from round one.
A huge injury blow for South Africa for the tournament relates to Malcolm Marx, with their influential hooker having been sent for scans on an undisclosed injury sustained in training on Wednesday.
It has since been confirmed that the 29-year-old suffered a serious knee problem that will rule him out for the rest of the tournament.
South Africa have lost starting hooker Malcolm Marx to injury for the rest of the World Cup
/ Getty ImagesDeputy Bongi Mbonambi starts and captains the Boks against Romania, with Deon Fourie providing extra hooker cover along with Marco van Staden, a flanker by trade who has been training at the position.
South Africa will not call up another hooker to replace Marx, though they do plan to make another addition to their squad later this week.
Romania head coach Eugen Apjok has made three changes to the team hammered 82-8 by Ireland, with Marius Iftimiciuc and Andre Gorin into the pack and Taylor Gontineac drafted in at centre.
Stefan Iancu, Florian Rosu and Fonovai Tangimana all drop out, with Tevita Manumua and Nicolas Onutu switching wings.
South Africa vs Romania lineups
South Africa XV: Le Roux; Williams, Moodie, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Willemse, Reinach; Vermeulen, Smith, Van Staden; Orie, Kleyn; Koch, Mbonambi (c), Nche
Replacements: Fourie, Kitshoff, Nyakane, Snyman, Wiese, Hendrikse, De Klerk, Kriel
Romania XV: Simionescu; Manumua, Tomane, Gontineac, Onutu; Vaovasa, Rupanu; Hartig, Cojocaru, Gordas; Motoc, Iftimiciuc; Gorin, Neculau, Chirica (c)
Replacements: Irimescu, Savin, Cretu, Iancu, Stratila, Boboc, Conache, Pop.
South Africa vs Romania referee
Mathieu Raynal, the referee from England’s win over Argentina, takes charge in Bordeaux on Sunday.
Australian official Angus Gardner and Pierre Brousset of France are the assistants with Australia’s Brett Cronan overseeing TMO duties.
South Africa vs Romania prediction
The dominant holders up against a minnow that has already been taken to the cleaners by another pre-tournament favourite? It should only go one way.
South Africa to win, with a bonus point.
Bongi Mbonambi starts and captains the Boks against Romania in Bordeaux this weekend
/ Getty ImagesHead to head (h2h) history and results
These two teams’ only previous meeting came in the 1995 World Cup pool stage, which the host nation Springboks won 21-8 in Cape Town.
South Africa vs Romania latest odds
Some bookmakers have stopped taking bets on South Africa to win.
Romania to win: 50/1
Draw: 50/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
