Rugby Under-19 World Cup/ Ireland 5-31 South Africa:The ever-reliable trait of bravery was evident from this Irish team but rugby at underage level has moved on. The IRFU have not.
Ireland were well out of their depth against a powerful South African outfit who now play Australia in the semi-final. The winner of which will face New Zealand or Wales, almost certainly the former, in next Saturday's final.
Ireland play France in the fifth-to-ninth semi-final on Tuesday.
To his credit, Irish coach Charlie McAleese refused to shy away from the realities of last night's comprehensive defeat. "They were a bigger, faster, stronger. They had a narrow, predictable game plan but it was very effective."
McAleese stressed the need for a reassessment of player preparation at underage. He was not only referring to Ireland falling behind competitively but the danger element of playing such physically superior specimens. "The nations that are serious are now conditioning players at a specialist level from the age of 15 . . . If we are to be seriously competitive in the future we are going to have to start looking at getting players out of schools at 15, to condition them. Skills-wise we need more access to the players. We got to tread carefully because one of the core products of our rugby is the schools system, which we want to support. But as long as schools' cup rugby maintains its importance player accessibility will be diminished.
"What we need to be careful of when we get to international level is that a danger level does not creep into it. We could very soon get to that as the others countries make progress in terms of conditioning and strength."
The death knell sounded early here. A try seemed certain when lock Cornell Hess carried from five yards but he was emptied by centre Eoin O'Malley. Ireland cleared but the opening try came from the ensuing lineout after tighthead prop Frederick Kirsten peeled off a relentless maul. The second try came off a missed tackle in midfield. Stefan Dippenaar surged past Scott Deasy before offloading to winger Vainon Willis - 23 minutes: 14-0.
Ireland were crucified at the contact areas. Their scrum crumbled, they struggled to secure clean ruck ball while one attacking lineout maul was driven back 20 yards. Captain Paul Ryan was even singled out for special attention early on. But before any inquisition begins the grit of McAleese's team must be applauded.
The obvious game plan of making the bigger South African forwards turn on their heels failed as Deasy missed the safety of touch with three early kicks.
With so many players being committed to the breakdown a plan B never materialised. Deasy also scuffed a long-range penalty in first-half injury time. As the Baby Boks chatted on the pitch at half-time, the Irish sought the sanctuary of the dressing-room.
On the restart Ireland forced themselves into the 22 but the excellent St Michael's winger Paddy Brophy was denied a try in the corner by Francois Brummer.
South Africa broke quickly,Stefan Watermeyer outsprinting Alan Gaughan 80 metres downfield. He then nailed his third conversion from wide right: 21-0.
Brophy did eventually make it to the line, before touching the corner flag - the touch judge was well positioned.
McAleese introduced six players but the visitors set up camp in the Irish 22 for the dying minutes. There was the small matter of a bonus point for tries scored. Willis eventually scampered over for his second try with three minutes remaining.
The Belfast crowd headed off into the night. Most of them missed replacement Tshepo Masuga streaking clear for a fifth try deep in injury time. Watermeyer missed his easiest kick of the night from under the posts.
SCORING SEQUENCE:18 mins: F Kirsten try, 5-0; S Watermeyer conv, 7-0; 23: V Willis try, 12-0; S Watermeyer conv, 14-0. Half-time. S Watermeyer try, 19-0; S Watermeyer conv, 21-0; 44: P Brophy try, 21-5; 67: V Willis try, 26-5; T Masuga try, 31-5.
IRELAND:J Smith; A Gaughan, E O'Malley, M Kinsella, P Brophy; S Deasy, H McAleese; P Karayiannis, S Douglas, P McCabe; D Foley, I Nagle; K Essex, R Reilly, P Ryan (capt). Replacements: B Cawley for R Reilly (43 mins), M Sherry for J Douglas, I Leonard for P McCabe (both 46 mins), J Harris-Wright for K Essex (49 mins), K Greene for H McAleese (50 mins), N Morris for M Kinsella (51 mins).
SOUTH AFRICA:W Pietersen; V Willis, S Dippenaar, S Watermeyer, B Botha; F Brummer, F Hougaard; JJ Rossouw, H Bantjes, F Kirsten; C Hess, M Muller; T Marole, J Van Deventer, G Van Velze (capt). Replacements: Y Hartzenberg for T Marole (half-time), EJ Snyman for S Dippenaar (54 mins), C Fourie for JJ Rossouw (56 mins), T Masuga for EJ Snyman (63 mins), A McDonald for F Brummer (66 mins), W Herbst for F Kirsten (69 mins), S Nhiapo for C Hess (70 mins), B Botha for J Van Deventer (74 mins).
Referee: M Stanish(New Zealand).
