Venter gives Irish dose of Baby blues

IRELAND Under-20s saw their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the IRB Junior World Championship dashed by a 42-26 defeat by South Africa in Treviso last night.

After going down 33-25 to England in their tournament opener last Friday, Ireland needed to win if they were to have any hope of making the last four.

However, despite another spirited showing and a brace of tries from the electric Andrew Conway, they were ultimately overpowered by a Baby Boks side which racked up five tries in total, with star centre Brendan Venter helping himself to a brace, and Eben Etzebeth, Wandile Mjekevu and Arno Botha all scoring one apiece.

Ireland had initially shown no ill-effects from the heartbreaking defeat by England, a terrific surge down the right wing from Conway putting Ireland on the front foot before the South Africans strayed offside, allowing fly-half James McKinney to open the scoring just two minutes in with a simple penalty.

However, South Africa replied in devastating fashion, with Venter crashing over from close range after Johan Goosen had initially been held up just short.

Goosen and McKinney then exchanged penalties before Ireland butchered a glorious try-scoring opportunity when Conway surprisingly fumbled a pass from full-back Tiernan O’Halloran with the line at his mercy.

Ireland still came away with three points, on account of a South African offence in the build-up, but their profligacy was soon punished, the Baby Boks registering a second try moments later. Again Venter was the scorer, the Blue Bull cruising over under the sticks after a nicely-timed pass from flanker Nizaam Carr.

McKinney reduced his side’s arrears once more with a penalty but South Africa continued to prove impressively clinical once inside the red zone and they plundered a third try shortly before the break when Etzebeth shrugged off two tacklers to score.

Irish heads were in danger of dropping but in the dying seconds of the half Leinster winger Conway left a succession of would-be tacklers in his wake as he blazed over after a terrific run from outside the South Africa 22.

McKinney’s successful conversion attempt drew Ireland to within eight points and they could have reduced the arrears even further shortly after the restart but, after yet another scintillating burst down the wing from Conway, his clever cross-field kick just failed to find the embrace of Craig Gilroy.

As it was, South Africa pulled further clear when Goosen landed a long-range drop goal shortly before the hour and secured the victory when wing Mjekevu dived over.

There was still time for Conway to bag his second try of the game but Botha then stormed through to score with the last play of the game.

Scorers for Ireland — Tries: Conway 2. Pens: McKinney 4. Cons: McKinney 2.

Scores for South Africa: Tries: Venter 2, Etzebeth, Mjekevu, Botha. Pens: Goosen 2. Cons: Goosen 4. DG: Goosen.

IRELAND: T O’Halloran; A Conway, B Macken, JJ Hanrahan (L Marshall 22), C Gilroy; J McKinney (P Jackson 58), K Marmion (P du Toit 70); J Tracy, N Annett (D Doyle 54), T Furlong (C Carey 70); M Kearney (D Gallacher 74), D Qualter (I Henderson 46); J Murphy, A Connelly, E McKeon.

SOUTH AFRICA: U Beyers; C Skosan, B Moolman, F Venter, W Mjekevu (P Jordaan 72); J Goosen, L Jacobs (P Rademan 58); S Kotze (N Schonert 80), M van Vuuren (B Mbonambi 58), JR Jenkinson; R Venter (J Cook 76), E Etzebeth; N Carr (S Kolisi 79), C du Preez, A Botha.

Referee: J White (New Zealand).

Picture: Ireland’s Craig Gilroy is tackled by South Africa’s Arno Botha. Picture: INPHO/Francesca Soli