Ireland defeated South Africa 40-27 in the first of two WXV Global Series matches in Cape Town, securing a victory in their first visit to the Springboks. The encounter was marked by six Irish tries, while the hosts responded with five tries and one conversion.
Ireland took the lead after seven minutes when Aoife Dalton broke the line from close range, after Robyn O'Connor and Jane Clohessy had driven the home team towards the posts. The hosts replied through number eight Aseza Hele, who burst through the Irish defence for a brilliant individual try, and Vainah Ubisi gave South Africa the lead in the 27th minute. However, tries from Dalton, Linda Djougang and Jane Clohessy secured a narrow half-time lead for Ireland, while Hele, Ubisi and Maria Tshiremba scored for the hosts in the first half. A total of six tries were seen in the first half.
In the second half, Beibhinn Parsons and captain Erin King extended Ireland's advantage. Parsons scored her 26th international try within 90 seconds of the start of the second half, after being set up by scrum-half Emily Lane. King scored after having been sent off for a high tackle in the first half. Lerato Makua replied for the Springboks, and Djougang's second try made the result beyond doubt. Alichia Arries scored a late consolation try for the hosts two minutes before the end.
Irish fly-half Dannah O'Brien was the key difference with her precision from the tee, successfully kicking five conversions. Ireland was, however, guilty of 13 handling errors. Substitute scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly scored a try, but it was disallowed for a knock-on by Brittany Hogan. Ireland played with two yellow cards: King (23) and Higgins (67), and the referee was Jess Ling.
This was only the second meeting between these two teams; the first was played in 2006 at the Women's Rugby World Cup in Canada, where Ireland won 37-0. Ireland had previously lost to the United States in Dublin last month, and then lost to the USA in the WXV opener before beating Japan. Djougang played as loose-head prop on this occasion, after spending most of her career as a tight-head.
Ireland will aim to finish their campaign with a third win in four matches when they meet the Springboks again in Cape Town on 31 October at 13:00 GMT, with the match taking place at Athlone Stadium.
