If Ireland can take nothing away from this under 20 World Championship then they will still have Andrew Conway emerging as a true International quality winger.
The Blackrock boy was once again the sharpest weapon in Ireland’s arsenal, scoring two tries as they fell to a 42-26 defeat against South Africa.
The Springboks were a vastly superior outfit. That Ireland clocked up a healthy 26 points was down to a mix of some Conway brilliance and Bokke indiscipline which provided 12 points for James McKinney, three of which were from inside the 22 meter mark.
South Africa made a full raft of 11 changes following the win over Scotland. The four men retained were key figures here and at least two of them must surely be in line to make a mark in the senior side before the 2015 World Cup comes around.
Second row Eben Etzebeth and centre Francois Venter were to the fore and the latter grounded two close range scores in the first half to give his side a comfortable lead.
While Venter was picking flawless running lines through the Irish midfield, Etzebeth had no need for such subtleties. Weighing in at over 18 stone, the Western Province lock is a mountain of a man and still only 19 years old.
Summing up the game in a microcosm, Etzebeth’s first big carry of the day shoved Ireland firmly onto the back foot as he rumbled towards the right hand corner. Following the next phase Johan Goosen fed Venter who applied his trademark, smashing through the smallest of gaps and under the posts. That put his side ahead after conceding an early penalty from McKinney.
Like Friday’s defeat, it was an early blow to Irish confidence. This time however there would be no recovery. McKinney traded penalties with the metronomic Goosen as Ireland kept in touch at 13 -9 before Venter’s straight running brought another seven-pointer after 24 minutes.
After that, the southern hemisphere side were pretty much in cruise control. Concentration seemed their biggest hurdle as the penalties kept the Irish scorecard ticking upwards.
Once they got up the other end however, the Boks were single minded. Etzebeth – that freak of nature – proved his wrecking ball credentials once again, bull-dozing across Tadhg Furlong and Jordi Murphy for a shortcut to another five points.
Then came time for Conway to conjure up some magic of his own. After Ireland moved the ball left from a scrappy scrum, the winger stepped in to act as scrum half and sniped through a crack left by Cornel DuPreez.
The break left just three more players to speed and side-step past. He did the lot, and left DuPreez swiping at thin air a second time as he was planting the ball beneath the posts.
Emerging for the second half 27 -19 down Ireland had to force the play. The Boks were still capable of holding them at arm’s length and it was a monster drop goal from Goosen which opened the second half scoring.
By the time Conway snagged his second try, after a sweeping move involving Murphy and McKeon put him in space in the right corner, Wandile Mjekevu had already sealed a bonus point to ensure the Tri-Nations side would stay top of pool C. And further green gloss was put on the score by the captain, Arno Botha, who crossed in the last play of the game.
But for Ireland, this level is all about development, and in Conway we have winger who has all the style talent and electric pace to ensure Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls will not be allowed to rest on their laurels after the World Cup.
Indeed September’s tournament could be the making of Conway, who will stay in Ireland throughout September and October for a chance to earn some more invaluable experience in the rebranded RaboBank Pro 12 League.
IRELAND: T O’Halloran; A Conway, B Macken, JJ Hanrahan, C Gilroy; J McKinney, K Marmion; J Tracy, N Annett, T Furlong; M Kearney, D Qualter; J Murphy, A Conneely, E McKeon.
Replacements: D Doyle (for Annett ’52), C Carey (, I Henderson (for Qualter ’45) D Gallagher (for Kearney ’71) P Du Toit (For Marmion ’68) P Jackson (for McKinney ’56), L Marshall (for Hanrahan ’51).
SOUTH AFRICA: U Beyers; C Skosan, B Moolman, F Venter, W Mjekevu; J Goosen, L Jacobs; S Kotze, M van Vuuren , JR Jenkinson; R Venter, E Etzebeth; N Carr, C du Preez, A Botha.
Replacements: B Mbonambi (for VanVuuren ’56) N Schonert, J Cook (For R Venter ’73), S Kolisi (for Carr ’77) P Rademan (for Jacobs ’56) J Welthagen, P Jordaan (for Mjekevu ’70)
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