Ireland score six tries to beat South Africa in Cape Town in WXV meeting
Ireland beat South Africa in Cape Town in the first of two WXV Global Series meetings on Saturday, scoring six tries to secure victory. The Irish scorers were Aoife Dalton, Linda Djougang (2), Jane Clohessy, Beibhinn Parsons and captain Erin King, with Dannah O'Brien kicking five conversions.
Ireland's six-try performance marked their first trip to South Africa with a win, while the hosts crossed three times in the opening half through Aseza Hele, Vainah Ubisi and Maria Tshiremba. O'Brien's accuracy from the kicking tee was cited as the difference, despite Ireland committing 13 handling errors; the visitors relied on line speed and multi-phase play to break the Springbok defence.
The scoring opened after seven minutes when Dalton drove over from close range following carries from Robyn O'Connor and Clohessy. South Africa responded when number eight Aseza Hele powered through the Irish defence, then Ireland's captain Erin King was sin-binned for a high tackle with King off the field Ubisi put the home side ahead. Djougang then crossed under the posts and, after Tshiremba dotted down in the corner late in the half, Clohessy's try — converted by O'Brien — gave Ireland a slender lead at the interval.
Ireland extended their advantage within 90 seconds of the restart when Parsons raced clear for her 26th international try. King returned from the sin-bin to score in the second half, and a potential Reilly touchdown was disallowed for a knock-on by Brittany Hogan. South Africa hit back when Lerato Makua finished following a yellow card to Ireland replacement centre Eve Higgins, but Djougang's second try put the result beyond doubt before Alichia Arries added a late consolation score two minutes from time.
Linda Djougang was again used at loose-head prop after spending much of her career at tight-head, and her two tries proved decisive in the away victory. The match followed Ireland's recent domestic disappointment, having been stunned by the United States' second-half comeback to lose in Dublin last month.
Ireland named Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilis Cahill, Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Erin King (capt), Brittany Hogan. Replacements were Beth Buttimer, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Kate Jordan, Grace Moore, Jemima Adams Verling, Aoibheann Reilly, Eve Higgins. South Africa started Jakkie Cilliers; Alichia Arries, Maceala Samboya, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Maria Tshiremba; Byrhandre Dolf, Unam Tose; Sanelisiwe Charlie, Anushka Groenewald, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Vainah Ubisi, Catha Jacobs, Sizophila Solontsi (capt), Lerato Makua, Aseza Hele, with replacements Lindelwa Gwala, Yonela Ngxingolo, Thandile Mazwi, Danelle Lochner, Logan Welman, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Anacadia Minnaar, Mary Zulu.
Yellow cards were shown to Erin King (23) and Eve Higgins (67). The sides meet again at Athlone Stadium on 31 October (13:00 GMT); Ireland, having lost their WXV opener to United States before beating Japan, will aim for a third win from four games in the competition.
