Ireland U20 record big win
South Africa U20 19 - Ireland U20 23
Published Tuesday, 05 June 2012
Ireland produced a superb performance to beat hosts South Africa 23-19 in their opening pool game at the Junior World Championship in Stellenbosch.
Luke McGrath clears the ball up field during an U20 Six Nations game in March (© Getty)
JJ Hanrahan rattled over two penalties to give Ireland the early ascendancy, before Jordan Coghlan stormed over to make it 13-3 at the interval.
However the Springboks hit back - Paul Willemse with a try - but Ulster's Iain Henderson went over for a converted try to put the Irish 23-16 ahead.
Tony Jantjies scored a penalty to set up a nail-biting ending, however the Irish defence held firm to win.