South Africa power too much for battling Irish

A SECOND-HALF Ireland fightback was not enough as South Africa secured back-to-back wins to go top of Pool A.

Ireland couldn’t find an answer to the Baby Boks’ formidable pack that scored all five of South Africa’s tries.

South Africa made a fast start and scored the first try through No.8 Cameron Hanekom who was on hand to take the ball off Tiaan Lange and power through three defenders to the line.

It was a lesson in how to carry but that was not the end of his good work. He was seemingly everywhere in a South African defence which suffocated Ireland in the first-half.

After a succession of penalties, captain Reuben Crothers opted for a shot at goal and Sam Prendergast had the simple task of striking Ireland’s first three points of the game.

However, lock Reinhardt Ludwig powered over from close-range as the Irish pack struggled to compete with the intensity of their Bok counterparts and the forwards were lining up by this point, with Lange next, followed by Corne Rahl.

There was cause for Irish optimism going into the break, however, as Lange was penalised again, this time for a high tackle which prompted a yellow card.

Winger Aitzol King came within metres of the whitewash, only to lose his footing with the line at his mercy but fellow flyer Dylan O’Grady was on hand to finish off the move.

That proved the highlight of the game for the Irish though, as South Africa soon struck back.

Replacement hooker Lukhanyo Vokozela powered his way over for a fifth score for the pack.

As the game began to meander, Ireland did muster a second score. Prop Oisin Michel pushed through after a tap penalty from in front of the posts.

Then with the clock in the red, captain Ruben Crothers scored to end the game on a positive note ahead of Ireland’s final pool fixture against England on Tuesday.

Despite the convincing win, South Africa’s backs did not play with the same flair and freedom as they did against England, which was surprising considering coach Bafana Nhleko named an unchanged backline.

If they can marry together the performance of their backs against England, and the sheer brutality of their forwards in the first-half against Ireland, no side in the tournament will be able to stop them.