Ireland U20 Beaten by Junior Boks

Ireland's hopes of a first ever win over one of the southern hemisphere's big three in the U20 Junior World Championship came up well short in Padua on Wednesday night.

In the process Ireland's hopes of claiming fifth place went up in smoke against the Baby Boks but they can still secure their highest ever finish in the fledgling competition by defeating Wales next Sunday for seventh place.

Ireland's best ever finish was eighth in Japan two years ago so they still have something to play for after this nine tries to two loss against a South Africa side who failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the tournament was launched in 2008.

Ireland, having lost 42-26 in the pool stages to the Baby Boks nine days earlier, needed a good start but were 14-0 down inside ten minutes following tries from Cornell du Preez and Wandile Mjekevu.

The Baby Boks, still smarting from their loss to England, got a third converted try from skipper Arno Botha to make it 19-0.

James McKinney stopped the rot with a good penalty but South Africa added two more tries by the half hour.

Eoin McKeon pulled back a try for Ireland in the second-half but South Africa kept coming in surges and were well out of sight by the time Paddy Jackson got Ireland's late try.

South Africa: Tries: T Mbovane 3, W Mjekevu 2, C du Preez, A Botha, J Taute, F Venter

Cons: J Goosen (5), J Welthagen

Ireland: Tries: E McKeon, P Jackson

Cons: J McKinney (2)

Pen: J McKinney

South Africa: U Beyers; T Mbovane, J Taute, F Venter (P Jordaan 45), W Mjekevu; J Goosen (J Welthagen 55), P Rademan (L Jacobs 63); S Kotze, M Van Vuuren (M Mbonambi 40), N Schonert (JR Jenkinson 40); J Cook, E Etzebeth; F Kleinhans N Carr 70) , C Du Preez, A Botha (capt).

Ireland: T O'Halloran; A Conway, B Macken (J McKinney 48), L Marshall (A Kelly 45), A Boyle; P Jackson (J McKinney 16), K Marmion; J Tracy (F Bealham 45), N Annett (capt), T Furlong (C Carey 45); M Kearney (D Qualter 45), I Henderson; E McKeon, D Doyle, J Murphy (S Buckley 50).

Referee: F Pastrana (Argentina)