Bok Women seek response after Ireland win at Athlone

The Springbok Women will look to tighten their defence after Ireland claimed a 40–27 victory in the opening match of their WXV Global Series double-header at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

South Africa scored five tries but conceded six, with Ireland’s stronger second-half performance proving decisive after the visitors took a 21–17 lead into the interval.

Aseza Hele, Vainah Ubisi, Maria Tshiremba, Lerato Makua and Alichia Arries crossed for the hosts. Jakkie Cilliers added one conversion.

Ireland prop Linda Djougang scored twice, with Aoife Dalton, Jane Clohessy, Béibhinn Parsons and Erin King also touching down. Dannah O’Brien kicked five conversions.

The South Africans remained competitive through an entertaining first half, but Ireland created breathing room after the restart and resisted the hosts’ attempts to recover.

The conversion return also mattered. Ireland collected 10 points from the kicking tee, compared with South Africa’s two, widening the gap in a match separated by only one try.

According to SA Rugby, Springbok Women co-head coach Franzel September attributed much of the defeat to lapses that allowed Ireland scoring opportunities. He nevertheless believed the team could regroup and reverse the result in the return fixture.

Saturday’s encounter was the sides’ first meeting in 20 years and their first women’s Test on South African soil.

The second Test takes place at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, 31 October, with kick-off at 3pm South African time.

Sources: SA Rugby, ‘Bok Women believe they can bounce back against Ireland’, 24 October; RTÉ Sport, match report, 24 October; IOL Sport, John Goliath’s match report, 24 October.