Under-19 World Cup Semi-final/ South Africa 32 Australia 18:Australia were expected to at least contain this monstrous South African pack but, in a near replica scoring sequence to Ireland's defeat last Friday, the defending champions were comprehensively outmuscled before being torn asunder by a quality backline.

They were spared a hiding only by the raft of South African replacements once victory was secured, at 27-8, midway through the second half.

There really is no margin for error against these Baby Boks, who looked like a senior international side as they lined out for the anthems.

South Africa did cough up an early penalty, struck by Rowan Kellam, only to take control thereafter with hooker Henri Bantjes surging through several tackles for the first of five tries after seven minutes.

Elusive fullback Wilton Pietersen then cut through the midfield defence to touch down under the posts.

Australia had a 10-minute period of dominance before half-time but were unable to secure a solid platform off their set piece, twice losing attacking scrums at the put in, before South Africa lifted the siege.

Like in the defeat of Ireland, the match seemed over as a contest early in the second half when prop Corne Fourie went over for a third try.

The opening collisions of Saturday's final will not be for the squeamish.

SCORING SEQUENCE - 2 mins: R Kellam pen, 0-3; 7: H Bantjes try, 5-3; 14: W Pietersen try, 10-3; S Watermeyer conv, 12-3; 28: S Watermeyer pen, 15-3. Half-time. 37: C Fourie try, 20-3; 43: R Simmons try, 20-8; 52: F Brummer try, 25-8; S Watermeyer conv, 27-8; 58: R Simmons try, 27-13; 70: A Mafi try, 27-18; 70: S Dippenaar try, 32-18.

SOUTH AFRICA: W Pietersen; Bernado Botha, S Dippenaar, S Watermeyer, V Willis; F Brummer, F Hougaard; C Fourie, H Bantjes, F Kirsten; C Hess, M Muller; T Marole, J Van Deventer, G Van Velze (capt). Replacements: W Herbst for F Kirsten (44 mins), Y Hartzenberg for T Marole (49 mins), JJ Rossouw for C Fourie (52 mins), PJ Van Vuuren for H Bantjes, Berend Botha for C Hess (both 57 mins), M Ngoro for Bernado Botha (60 mins), S Nhlapo for Y Hartzenberg (69 mins), C Fourie for JJ Rossouw (70 mins).

AUSTRALIA: A Barrett; B Connor, R Kellam, M Inman, A Mafi; B Gillespie, J Su'a; T Faulkner, J Hanson, D Palmer; R Simmons, S Wykes; B McCalman, R Maa, M Uoka. Replacements: P Betham for A Barrett (30 mins), B Daley for D Palmer (half-time), A Anae for T Faulker (57 mins), D Penca for J Hanson (64 mins).

Referee: M Stanish(New Zealand).