Rep of Ireland - 1 South Africa - 2Toulon International Tournament: Ireland slumped to a third successive defeat to finish bottom of their group with a game still to play after their worst performance of the Toulon Festival in Frejus last night.
Despite the return of John O'Shea and Thomas Butler, and the lead goal from Andy Reid, South Africa came from behind to deservedly beat an Irish team that resembled a poor shadow of the one that won the UEFA Under-16 title in Scotland four years ago.
"It was a bad performance and we'll have a good talk in the morning," said Irish manager Don Givens.
"We were rubbish. We can't seem to be able to control the ball and pass it. We have good players who can play and we get out on the pitch and we are diabolical.
"There were too many individual performances that were not up to scratch.
"Even against a side like South Africa who are not a great team we struggled. And we are going to struggle unless we get our act into gear".
Even the loss of key striker Graham Barrett due to a calf strain didn't seem to hamper Ireland initially as they settled down to take the game to South Africa.
Half chances for Reid and Barrett's late replacement, Paul Heffernan, came to nothing before Reid put Ireland in front on 28 minutes with their first goal of the tournament.
O'Shea's long headed clearance bounced through for Reid who held off the challenge of Ashraf Hendricks to score with a deflected right foot shot.
But, once again, Ireland undid much of their good work by gifting the opposition a soft goal.
An uncharacteristic slip by O'Shea allowed an otherwise innocuous ball forward from Siyabonga Siphika through for Hendricks to run onto and lift over Joe Murphy and into the net.
It scarcely got better in the second half as further poor defended brought about South Africa's winner 15 minutes from time.
Albert Komesti was given time and space on the right to send over a good cross and Lesley Manyathela was left unmarked to beat Murphy with a stunning header.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); S Byrne (West Ham United), Goodwin (Celtic), O'Shea (Manchester United), Tierney (Manchester Utd); Butler (Sunderland), Miller (Celtic), Gamble (Reading), Keane (Preston North End); Heffernan (Notts County), Reid (Nottingham Forest). Subs: Daly (Stockport County) for Heffernan (50 mins), Doyle (Celtic) for Gamble (63 mins.).
SOUTH AFRICA: Mokhasi; Hendricks, Morris, Mokofeng, Evans; Kometsi, Vilikasi, Cele, Siphika; Rector, Manyathela. Subs: Sithole for Rector (63 mins).
Referee: M Sun (China).
