Cobus Reinach sets World Cup hat-trick record as Springboks thrash Canada
- South African scrum-half scores three tries inside 11 minutes to better Australia’s Latham’s mark set in 2003
- Springboks are all but assured of a quarter-final place after leading their opponents 47-0 at the break
South Africa’s Cobus Reinach scored the fastest hat-trick in Rugby World Cup history as the Springboks all but assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals with a 66-7 hammering of Canada in Kobe on Tuesday.
The Springboks ran in 10 tries, including seven in a first-half that featured scrum-half Reinach’s 11-minute treble.
That was quicker than Australia fullback Chris Latham’s 25-minute hat-trick in a 142-0 thrashing of Namibia at Adelaide during the 2003 World Cup.
South Africa led 47-0 at the break against an outclassed Canada, who had to play more than half the match a man down after replacement lock Josh Larsen was sent off.
But Canada, just six days on from a 63-0 loss to reigning champions New Zealand, avoided a whitewash thanks to flanker Matt Heaton’s try.