Home World Cup dream over as Junior Boks outclassed by Ireland

A game but ultimately outclassed South Africa Under-20 side finally saw an end to their spluttering run through the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, losing 31-12 to Ireland in Athlone on Sunday in a defeat that eliminated the hosts from the semi-final stages.

The game was a confirmation of the gulf in class between Six Nations champions Ireland and a Junior Boks side which has struggled with its basics throughout the tournament and was lucky to make it to the last four at Georgia’s expense.

Ireland overcame a slow start and were aided and abetted by a South African team which failed to strike while it had the majority of the momentum in the first half, but once they warmed to their task they delivered a clinic in execution, set-piece play and possession-based rugby.

After the kick-off dust had settled, the hosts emerged as the team in the ascendancy, bossing the territory stats and creating a slew of half-chances they unfortunately failed to convert.

All four of their forays into the opposition red zone were undermined by captain Paul de Villiers and lock Coetzee le Roux losing the ball in contact, a grubber by scrumhalf Imad Khan beating every Junior Bok but the Irish defence into the in-goal area, and replacement flanker Jannes Potgieter knocking on at the base of the ruck.

Blindside flanker Ghudian van Reenen, the player Potgieter replace for head injury assessment purposes, also failed to pass to winger Jurenzo Julius after drawing his man in defence. Julius would show his teammates why passing to him isn’t such a gamble by returning a speculative kick ahead with interest, ghosting past three players before Khan’s ill-fated grubber.

During their time in the ascendancy, number eight Corne Beets led the hosts’ attack by