Baby Boks show no mercy as Ireland are pounded in Padova

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.

The Baby Boks had prevailed 42-26 in the side’s previous meeting in the pool stages but Ireland had competed gamely and were in contention up until the last 10 minutes.

However, they were out of this particular contest by the interval, with the South Africans racking up five first-half tries through Cornell Du Preez, Wandile Mjekevu, who struck twice, Arno Botha and Tshotsho Mbovane.