RUGBY JUNIOR WORLD CUP: Ireland U-20 26 South Africa U-20 42: THE HEALTH of Irish rugby has hardly ever been better but just how much it needs to improve to topple the traditional superpowers was again evident in Stadio di Monigo last night.
The traditional Irish traits of passion and skill were present but Mike Ruddock’s men were always chasing this encounter and there was only the briefest hint of a bonus point.
They were unfortunate not to get a bonus point against England but their brave display last night never looked like being enough to topple a Baby Boks side who could well host the tournament next year as champions.
They ruthlessly punished any errors or shortcomings; quick throws followed balls that were not put into row Z, turnovers were seized and the direct route was always the first approach.
But they matched their battering ram technique with superb handling and running in the backline.
Ireland will now need to regroup and get a win over Scotland in their final pool game on Saturday to try reach the second tier knockout stages next week.
But an improving Scotland surprisingly put it up to England in the opening game in Treviso last night and will test Ireland’s resolve as both of them face a third match in eight days.
South Africa led 27-19 at the end of an opening half where at times they 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 needed a good start and they got it from the superb Andrew Conway, who brought from deep, and while South Africa scrambled back they conceded a penalty and James McKinney gave Ireland a 3-0 lead after 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 finally touchdown after a series of bursts.
Johan Goosen converted and added a penalty after McKinney had missed one for Ireland. The two place-kickers traded penalties.
Ireland got further hope with another penalty from McKinney to leave it 13-9 and then South Africa turned the screw. Venter, who got two of their four tries in the 33-0 opening night win over Scotland, crossed for his second after a wonderful inside pass from flanker Nizaam Carr under the posts.
South Africa extended their lead after 56 minutes with one of the scores of the tournament when Goosen landed a drop goal just inside the Irish half.
Ireland’s hopes of a losing bonus point were thwarted when South African captain Arno Botha got his third try of the tournament in the dying moments to send them into a top of the table decider against England on Saturday evening.
IRELAND:T O'Halloran (Galwegians); A Conway (Blackrock), B Macken (Blackrock), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians), C Gilroy (Dungannon); J McKinney (Queen's University), K Marmion (University of Wales Instit 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 (Queen's University) for Qualter (45 mins); L Marshall (Ballymena) for Hanrahan (51 mins); D Doyle (UCD) for Annett (54 mins); P Jackson (Dungannon) for McKinney (56 mins); P Du Toit (UCD) for Marmion (66 mins); C Carey (Ballymena) for Furlong (66 mins); D Gallagher (Dublin University) for Kearney, (71 mins).
Referee:J White (New Zealand).
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