EMERGING IRELAND FINISHED second to South Africa at the IRB Tbilisi Cup in Georgia after a bonus-point win over Uruguay.

Ian Keatley scored 22 points – two tries and six conversions – in a high-scoring 42-33 win over the South Americans. Allen Clarke’s men raced into a 21-7 lead in in first half and led 42-14 after 60 minutes before a stirring fightback by Uruguay.

Niall Morris of Leicester Tigers also scored two tries, with Tiernan O’Halloran and Niall Annett also touching down.

Ireland were denied a return home with silverware as the South Africa President’s XV defeated hosts Georgia 21-16 to finish the competition unbeaten and capture the cup.

Emerging Ireland: Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers/Exile),  Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht), Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster),  Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht); Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), John Cooney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Michael Bent (Leinster); Dave O’Callaghan (Dolphin/Munster),  David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster); Rhys Ruddock (capt, St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht).

Replacements: Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Ricky Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution/Munster), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster),  Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster), Peter Nelson (Dungannon/Ulster).

The first great flag of the Lions Tour has arrived