16 Jun 2014

NZ under-20 rugby side beaten by South Africa

11:28 am on 16 June 2014

The New Zealand under-20 rugby team has been beaten 32-25 by South Africa in the Junior World Championship semi-finals in Albany.

The South Africans scored the winning try two minutes from time and will play England in the final after they beat Ireland 42-15.

New Zealand played the first half at speed at led 15-10 at the break, however the South Africans wrestled back control of the pace of the game in the second half and levelled the scores at 25-25 with just 10 minutes to play.

The prospect of playing extra time looked likely until the South African forwards pushed over the try line with hooker Corniel Els claiming the points.

Head coach Chris Boyd says he couldn't fault the team's efforts in the loss.

Boyd says it was just those little things inside the structure that killed them in the end, while they slightly got their kicking game wrong after half-time.

The final and third placed play-off are at Eden Park on Friday.