THE effects of four games in 12 days were very much in evidence as a jaded Ireland Under-20 side were hammered 57-15 defeat by their South African counterparts in a one-sided IRB Junior World Championship play-off clash in Padova last night.

IRELAND U20s captain Niall Annett insists victory over South Africa tonight (7.10pm Irish time) will erase the pain of their agonising 33-25 defeat to England in their IRB Junior World Championship opener on Friday.