Emerging South Africa saved their best performance for last when they outplayed a spirited Romania by 25-13 earlier tonight to clinch the IRB Nations Cup in convincing fashion in Bucharest.

South Africa has now won the tournament in successive years after Peter de Villiers and his team also won the Cup with an unbeaten run last year.

After playing the tournament in scorching heat and difficult humidity, the two teams played out the last 15 minutes in a heavy downpour.

Emerging SA led 10-6 at halftime thanks to a converted try and a penalty.

Captain Morgan Newman missed with two earlier penalties but succeeded with his third attempt at goal. Fullback Bjorn Basson then raced through for a brilliant solo effort to score the first try of the match.

Norman, the Vodacom Western Province centre, assumed the kicking duties after regular kicker Isma-eel Dollie was named as one of the replacements for the deciding fixture.

Romanian centre Ionel Cazan replied with two well-taken penalties to keep Romania within distance at the break.

The youthful Emerging SA pack did well to keep the heavier Romanian forwards in check and they performed particularly well in the scrums.

Norman succeeded with his second penalty just after halftime and six minutes later (52 min.) it was the turn of Springbok Sevens speedster Howard Noble to display his attacking abilities with a memorable run down the right flank to score unchallenged under the posts (20-6).

Romania refused to give up and after several forward assaults on the Emerging try line 37-year old flanker Florin Corodeanu, picked at second row in the no. 4 jersey for this match, finally drove over to much delight of the home fans. The successful conversion meant Romania was suddenly within striking range again at 20-13.

But with only a few minutes left on the clock burly hooker Jody Jenecker caught the Romanian defence napping when he stormed through the front of a lineout to score, the unconverted effort finally taking the match away from the hosts.

Points scorers:
Emerging South Africa:
Tries: Bjorn Basson, Howard Noble, Jody Jenecker; Conversions: Morgan Newman (2); Penalties: Newman (2)

Romania:
Try: Florin Corodeanu; Conversion: Ionel Cazan; Penalties: Cazan (2).