Under-21/Ireland - 25 Sth Africa - 42: Ireland will be among the third group of four countries in the final two rounds of the Under-21 World Championship after failing to secure a losers' bonus point yesterday at the Liceo ground in Mendoza.
It is cruel luck for the current Under-21 team who seem to have paid the price of success last year with a difficult draw that included matches against two of the top four sides, France and South Africa.
Ireland needed a bonus point from their match against South Africa and for much of the match they looked to be on course to achieve their objective after taking an interval lead of 18-13 with six penalty goals from Dungannon outhalf Gareth Steenson.
Even in the second half Ireland held the advantage when they led 25-20, but from then on South Africa used their pace, power, and skilful back play to secure an eventually comfortable win.
The result means that Ireland will contest positions nine to 12 in the final two rounds and (subject to confirmation) will face bottom placed Canada in round four next Tuesday.
Ireland made a dream start to their match with two penalty goals by skipper Gareth Steenson.
South Africa, chasing tries and a place in the top four, quickly responded with powerful forward play, rapid recycling and crisp handling to open the door for the Blue Bulls Super 12 outhalf Morne Steyn's try and conversion.
The junior Boks, however, had not reckoned on the accuracy of Steenson, who guided Ireland back into the lead with his third penalty and then stretched his side's lead with a fourth success.
The penalty kicking contest continued as Steyn replied with two penalty goals for a 13-12 lead, only for Steenson once more to shift the balance of the game with his fifth accurate kick.
Ireland, playing with confidence, came close to scoring a try when Greg Stafford combined with winger Paul Hurley but the winger was tracked down. But the points dividend came with a sixth penalty goal by Steenson.
Five minutes into the second half South Africa flanker Derick Kuun broke clear from a maul to score in the corner. Steyn converted.
From the restart Ireland gathered possession for number eight Stephen Ferris to burst over for a try, converted by Steenson giving his side a 25-20 lead.
South Africa hit back again, this time from a try by number eight Pieter Louw who charged down Steenson's attempted clearance kick.
A Steyn drop goal opened the lead to five points and laid the platform for a two more tries for the Springboks.
Scorers: Ireland U-21: Tries: Ferris. Cons: Steenson. Pens: Steenson (6). South Africa U-21: Tries: Steyn, Kuun (2), Louw, Vermas. Cons: Steyn (4). Pens: Steyn (2). Drop Goal: Steyn.
IRELAND U-21: R McCarron (UCD); P Hurley (UCC), A Trimble (Ballymena), G Stafford (Lansdowne), P McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins); G Steenson (Dungannon, capt), C Willis (UCD); G Maxwell (Dungannon), S Philpott (Saracens), J Andress (Belfast Harlequins), R Noonan (UCC), R Caldwell (Dungannon), K McLaughlin (UCD), C Henry (Malone), S Ferris (Dungannon). Replacements: J Merrigen (Corinthians), R Loughney (Galwegians), T Richardson (Buccaneers), G Hurley (UCC).
SOUTH AFRICA U-21: H Daniller; C McKize, R Cooke, E Rose, L Sogldashe: M Steyn, R Pienaar; H Van der Merwe, C Ralepelle, S Mxoli, N Blignaut, C Milton, D Kuun, D Raubenheimer, P Louw.
