Springboks too strong for Ireland U19s
South Africa U-19 32 Ireland U-19 8
Centre Dave Cave scored a brilliant second half but failed to prevent Ireland's Under-19 side from going down 32-7 to hosts South Africa in today's IRB World Cup clash in Pietermaritzburg.
Sullivan Upper School speedster Cave struck in the 52nd-minute, and with captain Robert Kearney converting - the Irish were only 17-7 in arrears.
Ireland were denied what could have proven to be the game's opening try on 21 minutes, when South African hooker Deon Fourie gained a yellow card when slowing a quick ruck release on his own tryline.
Down to 14-men, the Boks strangely began to fire and centre Francois Stevn was on hand to convert Marlon Lewis' 26th-minute try and kick a late penalty for a 10-0 interval lead.
Kearney - who had earlier missed his only penalty shot at goal - added the extras to Cave's score under the posts, but that was only cancelling out South African substitute flanker Hilton Lobberts' barge over effort.
Then a Baby Boks' burst of two tries from substitutes Jody Rose and Shande Frolick - with one converted - and a Steyn penalty in the final quarter simply blew Pat Murray's Ireland youngsters away.
Afterwards, full-back Kearney conceded: "It was a very tough match. We held them until half-time, then their pace and strength just got too much for us."
Ireland's South African-born technical advisor Hendrik Kruger added: "We competed well in the first half and should have taken the lead. But then their pace out wide caught us off-guard."
Murray's charges face a must-win meeting with Australia on Saturday.
South Africa U-19: Gqobo Andisa; Jerome Williams, Jowayne van Niekerk, Francois Steyn, Randall April; Ricardo Croy, Marlon Lewis; Zander de Kock, Deon Fourie, Jan Volschenk, Hendrik van Niekerk, Alistair Hargreaves (Capt), Pieter Myburgh, Francois Uys, Yssl Swanepoel. Replacements used: Jakobus van Rensburg for Volschenk (13-19 mins), van Rensburg for de Kock, Johan Snyman for van Niekerk (both 19), Chilliboy Ralepelle for Uys (24-31), Ralepelle for Fourie, Hilton Lobberts for Uys, Richardt Strauss for Swanepoel (all 36), Shandre Frolick for Andisa (45), Jody Rose for Croy (48). Not used: JC Strauss, Warren Malgas, Petrus Vermeulen, Luvuyo Mhlobiso.
Ireland U-19: Robert Kearney (UCD) (Capt); Eric Moloney (UCC), Fergus McFadden (Clongowes), Darren Cave (Sullivan Upper School), Dale Black (Portadown); Evan Ryan (UCC), Matthew D'Arcy (Dublin University), Callum Black (Hartpury), Gavin O'Meara (Lansdowne), Kevin Griffin (Shannon), David McGowan (Buccanneers), Fergal Walsh (UCC), Diarmuid Laffen (Dublin University), Barry O'Mahony (Crescent College Comprehensive), Darren O'Reilly (Blackrock College).
Replacements used: Devon Toner (Lansdowne) for Walsh (39), Gary Walsh (UL Bohemians) for Griffin (40), Daniel Dawson (Cooke) for McGowan, Adrian Saunderson (Ballyclare) for O'Mahony, Conor Muldoon (Galwegians) for O'Meara (all 67). Not used: Greg Cooney (Old Belvedere), Killian Lett (UCD), Robert Boles (Colstons Collegiate School), Frank Daly (Thomond), Kieran Moloney (Blackrock College RFC).
Sin-bin: Deon Fourie (South Africa) (21 mins)
HT: South Africa U-19 10 Ireland U-19 0
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Scorers: South Africa: Tries: Marlon Lewis, Hilton Lobberts, Jody Rose, Shande Frolick; Cons: Francois Steyn 3; Pens: Steyn 2
Ireland: Try: Darren Cave; Con: Robert Kearney
