NZ to meet Australia in under-21 final

8.45am UPDATE

A brilliant second-half display by New Zealand earned them a resounding 38-16 semifinal win over South Africa in the Under-21 rugby World Cup in Oxford, England, today (NZ time).

New Zealand scored 29 unanswered points in the second half on a warm and muggy afternoon at Kassam Stadium to eliminate the defending champions.

They will meet Australia in Monday's (NZ time) final, after Australia beat Argentina 48-25 in their semifinal in London this morning.

After an injury-time win over France and a 37-37 draw with Australia in a game New Zealand lost their way in the second half, they emerged with a convincing performance and victory today.

Fullback Ben Atiga scored 20 points from a try, three penalties and three conversions.

But there were superb performances from the entire team, especially in the second half when they turned a 9-16 deficit around in stunning fashion to avenge last year's one-point semifinal loss to the South Africans.

"I thought we played some good rugby in the first half and maybe just one defensive lapse let us down," coach Bryce Woodward said.

"But I told the boys at halftime that you can't just use the wind to win the game, we must keep the ball and play rugby."

With a strong wind sweeping in their favour, South Africa used the booming boots of first five-eighth Derick Hougaard to drive New Zealand back constantly.

He kicked three penalties -- including one from 54m -- to keep the South Africans on the front-foot. Flanker Bennie Adams scored a try and Hougaard added the conversion.

But the South Africans appeared to lean heavily on a one dimensional attack and the writing was on the wall as New Zealand threatened their line on a couple of occasions.

But they could not break down a resolute South African defence close to the line and only had three Atiga penalties to show for their efforts by halftime.

The second half was an entirely different story.

With South Africa continuing to kick, into the wind this time, New Zealand controlled the ball and ran it back hard.

"South Africa looked like they wanted to kick the whole day and not play rugby," Woodward said.

"It's a great win especially after the disappointment of last year. It hurt me badly after we had worked so hard, so this was very sweet.

"At halftime I thought it would be a nail-biter but we had it wrapped up with some time to go and I was able to relax, which doesn't often happen."

It took just six minutes into the second half for replacement winger Anthony Koonwaiyou to cross in the corner after a patient build-up.

Atiga converted from a difficult angle.

New Zealand's pressure on the South Africans told most when the South African lineouts started to crumble and their defence buckled.

In the 56th minute halfback Jimmy Cowan sniped over in the left corner after the Boks' defence had been run ragged. The try put New Zealand into the lead for the first time since the third minute of the game when Atiga slotted his first penalty goal.

First five-eighth Stephen Donald slammed home a 50m penalty which took the wind out of South Africa's sail.

The pressure added on the South Africans when lock Ross Skeate was sin-binned for professional foul close to his own line.

The numerical advantage was rammed home by New Zealand when Atiga finished off a fine move that started with a turnover-ball and clever kick into the corner by Cowan.

Then replacement flanker Adam Thomson crashed over to seal the victory.

New Zealand 38 (Anthony Koonwaiyou, Jimmy Cowan, Ben Atiga, Adam Thomson; Ben Atiga 3 pen, 3 con; Stephen Donald pen)

South Africa 16 (Bennie Adams try; Derick Hougaard 3 pen, con)

Halftime 9-16.

New Zealand: 15-Ben Atiga, 14-Hayden Pedersen, 13-Lifeimi Mafi, 12-Sam Tuitupou (captain), 11-Pehi Te Whare (Anthony Koonwaiyou-44), 10-Stephen Donald, 9-Jimmy Cowan, 8-Thomas Waldrom (Adam Thomson-71), 7-Thomas Harding, 6-Jerome Kaino, 5-Ross Kennedy, 4-Kane Thompson; 3-Tim Fairbrother, 2-John Pareanga (Roger Dustow-79), 1-John Afoa (Soane Tonga'uiha-78).

South Africa: 15- MJ Mentz (Dewey Swartbooi-61), 14-Alshaun Bock, 13-Braden Ferreira, 12-Lafras Uys (Swys Swart-68), 11-Tonderai Chavanga, 10-Derrick Hougaard, 9-Fourie du Preez (Ricky Januarie-68); 8-Jacques Cronje, 7-Bennie Adams (Hannru Haupt-54), 6-Schalk Burger (captain), 5-Ross Skeate, 4-Gordon Gilfillan, 3-Neil Fullard (Kenny McKenzie-68), 2-David Britz (Ebrahim Moerat-68), 1-Jannie du Plessis.

- NZPA