'Focused' Ireland U20s ready for shot at South Africa

Whatever happens across the next week, Ireland's U20 players know they have 180 minutes of rugby in which their World Cup will be defined.

Win or lose in Sunday's semi-final against South Africa (3.30pm kickoff Irish time), Richie Murphy's side will be back in action next Friday, meeting one of France or England. It could be a World Cup final. It could be a third or fourth place playoff.

In a week in which the camp was hit by tragedy, rugby has been put into perspective, but it's also been a distraction.

As well as being the father of Jack in the Ireland U20 squad, Greig Oliver was also a coach to several others in the group back at Munster, and his death on Monday after a shocking paragliding accident has rocked Irish rugby.

Murphy spoke of his thanks to the South African rugby union yesterday, after they arranged for a grief counsellor to come into the squad earlier this week. Having stayed with the squad for a couple of days after the accident, Jack Oliver returned to Ireland with his mother Fiona on Thursday.

And while Murphy says it's been a difficult week for his side, he says rugby has been a welcome release for his group of 19 and 20-year-olds.

"We're obviously checking in on guys on a regular basis but I suppose they've probably found comfort in the regular week," he said.

"So after getting through Tuesday and Wednesday, yesterday and today have been...I wouldn't say business as usual, but there are things that are at regular intervals that guys have to turn up for and have to concentrate on, they have to put their best foot forward and we've seen that over the last two days prep.

"Our session today [Friday] was affected by rain but in relation to the commitment and guys trying to get themselves into the team, and the