Ireland under-20s head coach Richie Murphy has described how difficult a time it was for players and staff around the deaths of St Michael's schoolboys Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall in Greece and also of Munster coach Greig Oliver - whose son Jack is a member of the Ireland squad - in Cape Town.
With the players already dealing with the news from Greece, Oliver's tragic paragliding accident occurred on Monday, the day before Ireland's final World Rugby U20 Championship pool game against Fiji.
A discussion was later held internally whether to go ahead with the game, and it was decided to do so, with Jack Oliver withdrawing from the bench.
Ireland's win has put them into the semi-final against hosts South Africa on Sunday afternoon (3.30pm Irish time).
"You deal in five-day cycles, so the captain's run day which was Monday, into a Tuesday game," said Murphy this evening.
"It was a very difficult time for everybody involved, we had a number of things going on with the squad, and then obviously what happened with Greig was particularly tough.
"From there, when that actually happened, we had a decision to make in relation to where we go from here.
"We got some support in from the South African union, they sent in a lovely lady who helped us through those initial few hours, and the players got together, had a discussion, and on the back of some information we had got from Fiona (Greig's wife) and Jack himself, we decided that the game would go ahead, and we would go out and play.
"From that point on, the guys got their head down and done the best they can under those circumstances, and we just tried to deal like we do every week - be where your feet are and deal with the things right in front of your face.
"I thought the guys did a really good job in relation to that. We got through that game and into the following day."
Murphy then spoke of the pride he feels in his players for the way they dealt with everything.
"Extremely proud," he said. "I was extremely proud of these guys way before that happened, like everything that's happened to them over the course of the year, they take everything in their stride.
"They've the ability to deal with disappointment and upset, and still be able to go out and put in a performance. It definitely wasn't the performance we would have wanted, but Fiji on a dry track are a handful for any team.
"They scored 37 points against Australia. I thought the guys showed great character getting through that."
In terms of team selection, having made wholesale changes for the final pool win over Fiji, Murphy has named 14 of the side that started the second game against Australia in a show of strength.
Gus McCarthy returns to the starting XV to captain the side against the Baby Boks at Athlone Stadium.
Henry McErlean, Andrew Osborne and James Nicholson make up the Ireland back three, with Hugh Gavin and John Devine named in midfield.
In the half backs, Sam Prendergast and Fintan Gunne return to resume their partnership.
Paddy McCarthy, skipper McCarthy and Ronan Foxe return to the pack, with Charlie Irvine partnering Conor O'Tighearnaigh in the second row.
In the back row, Diarmuid Mangan is at blindside flanker, Ruadhan Quinn at openside - he missed the Australia game due to a head injury - and the impressive Brian Gleeson is at no 8.
Murphy has a strong replacements bench to choose from with Danny Sheahan, man of the match in Tuesday's win over Fiji, George Hadden, Fiachna Barrett, Evan O'Connell and Dan Barron providing the forward options, while Oscar Cawley, Matthew Lynch and Sam Berman complete the Ireland 23.
"South Africa are probably a different kettle of fish," said Murphy, stressing that winning the power game won't be enough.
"The Australia game disintegrated with the weather. It's supposed to pick up for the game on Sunday.
"The team that we've picked there, we feel that we can play a number of different of ways with that team.
"When the weather became pretty poor against Australia, we proved we could put it up our jumper a bit and maul, play field position and squeeze them.
"South Africa's pack are big and strong, it's a typical South African team with plenty of speed in the backline and loads of elusive runners.
"Up front, you have to get at least parity to be able to be in the game. We picked what we would see to be our biggest front five.
"Our back row, with the way things have gone with suspension and other things is probably the best back row we have available to us at this stage."
Ireland U20: Henry McErlean; Andrew Osborne, Hugh Gavin, John Devine, James Nicholson; Sam Prendergast, Fintan Gunne; Paddy McCarthy, Gus McCarthy, Ronan Foxe; Charlie Irvine, Conor O'Tighearnaigh; Diarmuid Mangan, Ruadhan Quinn, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Danny Sheahan, George Hadden, Fiachna Barrett, Evan O'Connell, Dan Barron, Oscar Cawley, Matthew Lynch, Sam Berman.
South Africa U20: Hakeem Kunene; Jurenzo Julius, Katlego Letebele, Ethan Hooker, Michael Annies; Jean Smith, Imad Khan; Corné Lavagna, Juann Else, Dian Heunis; Coetzee le Roux, JF van Heerden; Paul de Villiers (capt), Ghudian van Reenen, Corné Beets.
Replacements: SJ Kotze, Phatu Ganyane, Zachary Porthen, Jannes Potgieter, Abulele Ndabambi, Asad Moos, Damian Markus, Regan Izaks.
