Ireland U-20 Lose to South Africa

Francois Venter

Ireland fell to their second defeat in the Under-20 Junior World Championship when a brave display was not enough to oust the Springboks.

Andrew Conway crossed for two excellent tries for Mike Ruddock's men but South Africa were on top throughout to set up a top of the pool clash with England on Saturday.

Ireland will face Scotland looking for the win which might see them into the second tier knockout stage next week.

South Africa led 27-19 at the end of an opening half where at times the Baby Boks threatened to run away with the game but a dogged Irish performance kept them in the game as Ruddock's men refused to buckle.

Ireland got a good start when James McKinney landed a penalty inside two minutes but the power of the Boks was immediately obvious on the restart as they blasted through the Irish defence for centre Francois Venter to score.

McKinney landed two more penalties to keep Ireland in touch but then Venter nabbed his second after heavy pressure.

McKinney responded with a fourth penalty but then South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth burst through for their third try after the Irish scrum had been turned over on their own 22.

But Ireland refused to die. They got a penalty at the next scrum after South Africa buckled and then Conway produced a moment of sheer magic to skip through a series of tackles to score a magnificent try under the posts which McKinney converted to leave eight between them at the break.

South Africa extended their lead after 56 minutes with one of the scores of the tournament when Goosen landed a drop goal just inside half, ten metres in from the left touchline after a quick throw to put them 30-19 ahead.

Winger Wandile Mjekevu looked to have sealed the win and the bonus but Ireland responded well and Tiernan O'Halloran and Aaron Conneely combined in the right corner to send Conway over for his third try of the tournament.

Paddy Jackson adding the points to leave it 35-26 with eight minutes remaining but South Africa finished strongly with skipper Arno Botha crossing to kill off any notion of an Irish bonus point. 

South Africa Tries: Venter (2), Etzebeth, Mjekevu, Botha

Cons: Goosen (4)

Pens: Goosen (2)

Drop goal: Goosen

Ireland Tries: Conway (2)

Cons: McKinney, Jackson

Pens: McKinney (4) 

South Africa: U Beyers; C Skosan, B Moolman, F Venter, W Mjekevu; J Goosen, L Jacobs; S Kotze, M van Vuuren, JR Jenkinson; R Venter, E Etzebeth; N Carr, C du Preez, A Botha. Replacements: B Mbonambi for van Vuuren, 56; P Rademan for Jacobs, 56; P Jordaan for Mjekevu, 71; J Cook for Venter, 75; S Kolisi for Carr, 77; N Schonert for Kotze, 77.

Ireland: T O'Halloran (Galwegians) A Conway (Blackrock), B Macken (Blackrock), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians, C Gilroy (Dungannon); J McKinney (Queens University), K Marmion (University of Wales Institute Cardiff); J Tracy (UCD), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins), T Furlong (Clontarf); M Kearney (Clontarf), D Qualter (Buccaneers); J Murphy (Lansdowne), A Conneely (Corinthians), E McKeon (Galwegians). Replacements: I Henderson (Queens University) for Qualter, 45; L Marshall (Ballymena) for Hanrahan, 51; D Doyle (UCD) for Annett, 54; P Jackson (Dungannon) for McKinney, 56; P Du Toit (UCD) for Marmion, 66; C Carey (Ballymena) for Furlong, 66; D Gallagher (Dublin University) for Kearney, 71. 

Referee: J White (New Zealand).