NZ cut down by South Africans in U21 semi

South Africa destroyed the New Zealand scrum in the second half and sent them crashing out of the International Rugby Board under-21 championship in France today (NZ time).

Forced into numerous errors by the powerful South Africans, New Zealand lost the semifinal 23-40 and will play-off for third place against Australia who lost 17-32 to France in the other semifinal today.

Down 0-10 in the first quarter, the New Zealanders fought back to lead 17-13 at halftime through tries by lock Ryan Wilson and fullback George Pisi, with first five-eighth Stephen Brett kicking both conversions and a penalty after missing two penalties in the first seven minutes.

Defending champions South Africa, led by the frontrowers who anchored their victory last year -Henke van der Merwe, captain Chiliboy Ralepelle and Sangoni Mxoli - upped the tempo in the second half in which they scored 27 points to New Zealand's 6.

An injury time try by openside flanker Pierre Spies, who snatched the ball off New Zealand backs and made 20m untouched inflated the margin of victory.

Even when the South Africans led 30-23 after lock Wilheim Steenkemp had scored the third of their four tries, New Zealand still looked good with the backs and forwards moving the ball around swiftly on attack.

But New Zealand's scrum that had creaked all night were destroyed twice - in the 64 and 66th minutes - adding further inspiration to the South African game that grew in confidence in the second half.

Despite that New Zealand still moved the ball around quickly but handling errors crept into their game and killed some promising attacks.

"This is a very good South African side," New Zealand coach Greg Cooper said.

"We should have never let them in.

"Had that try not been disallowed we may have stayed on top," Cooper said of the forward pass called by Australian referee James Leckie on Brett's pass that had put winger James Somerset clear just after halftime.

New Zealand took the lead for the first time in the game in the 34th minute when their second try was scored by Pisi.

Brett stretched their 17-13 halftime lead with a penalty in the 43rd minute but from there the much bigger South Africans became more accurate with their pick-and-drive and started chipping away on the scoreboard.

First five-eighth Ismaeel Dollie kicked a penalty and converted livewire Daniel's try - the result of a sharp angled run by the blindside flanker.

With the scores 23-23, the South Africans maintained the pressure to score two more tries in the last quarter to take the game away from New Zealand.

South Africa 40 (Cedric Mkhize, Keegan Daniel, Wilheim Steenkemp, Pierre Spies tries; Ismaeel Dollie 3 pen, 2 con; Scott Spedding pen, 2 con)
New Zealand 23 (Ryan Wilson, George Pisi tries; Stephen Brett 3 pen, 2 con). Halftime 13-17.

- NZPA