A scintillating second half performance saw Ireland overwhelm South Africa, 31-12 to seal their slot in the final of the U20s World Cup.

After a scoreless but engrossing opening, Ireland dogged in defence, the men in green won penalties to hike their way into the South African twenty-two.

From Gus McCarthy’s accurate throw, the lineout was won, and flanker Diarmuid Mangan thought he had the opening score, extending his arm reach to the line.

It was ruled no try by the referee and after consultation, that verdict was agreed with by the TMO, South Africa escaping as Mangan, and Ireland, were denied by yards.

The pressure was building as half time approach though and when a South African substitute, Jannes Potgeiter was sent to the sin bin for a brutal late and high tackle on Andrew Osborne, Ireland immediately capitalised.

Exploiting the extra player’s vacated space, fly half Sam Prendergast kneaded a perfect cross field kick wide left, James Nicholson grasping, sprinting, and grounding it with grace.

A fine finish to a fantastic bit of vision.  Prendergast followed that up with a pinpoint touchline conversion.

Jean Smith attempted a drop goal to reduce the arrears, but it dropped short, and Ireland went in, shading a closely fought first half, by 7-0.

A sloppy start to the second half saw Ireland given a reprieve as Smith dropped a penalty short of the posts with ill-discipline hurting their cause.

Not heeding their warnings, Ireland coughed up another kickable penalty, this a long-ranger which Smith drifted wide as six potential points were left unclaimed.

That proved immaterial shortly after though as Ireland were scalped open all too easily by Regan Izaks’ spellbinding charge, his footwork wrongfooting the defence.

Although he was eventually hauled to ground, his offload found the support runner, scrum half, Imad Khan who gleefully dotted down under the sticks, Smith making it a seven-pointer to level matters.

Resilience though has been rubber stamped into Richie Murphy’s squad throughout this tournament however and that was fully on display in the next attack.

Number eight, Brian Gleeson, charging hell for leather from close range, his momentum took him through Juann Else on the line as Ireland roared back, retaking the lead, which was extended with Prendergast’s second successful conversion.

As the hour mark ticked by, Ireland refused to relinquish their lead for a second time, instead giving themselves breathing room with another excellent try of quality and composure.

It was, literally, a replica of the first score as Prendergast had a look up and casually, like he was nonchalantly kicking about with his mates in the park, poked a precise kick out left once more.

Where Nicholson was poised, hugging the touchline, to take and canter in, cool as a cucumber with Ireland’s third try, Prendergast three from three as Ireland moved 21-7 ahead.

Murphy’s men then found themselves in dreamland, substitute Sam Bernan finishing smoothly in the opposite corner after a slick Prendergast pick out, this time through the hands.

He remained lethal with the boot as well, converting again from wide and then adding a penalty to take his tally to eleven, a pretty good haul in any match, especially timely in a World Cup semi-final!

South Africa roused themselves and scored a second, four minutes from the end, Coetzee Le Roux getting the try to leave it 31-12.

Finishing on the front foot, Ireland got themselves on the ball and the full-time whistle went to cue echoes of deliria!

Another fine performance from the most mature U20s squad, who have overcome tragedy back at home and South African scores to, ultimately, hockey them, the hosts after all, 24-12 in the second half and advance easily.

Friday’s final is now a date with destiny against the winners of England-France tonight. 

Already though, this is an Ireland squad to cherish, a chance to crown their talent awaits.