CAPE TOWN – The Springbok women came unstuck on Saturday at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town against Ireland in their first WXV Global Seriestest against the Irish.
Ireland won the match 40-27 after leading 21-17 at half-time. The visitors used their experience and composure in crucial moments to gain the upper hand.
The match was an important test for South Africa against Ireland, who are ranked fifth in the world, while the Springbok women approached the match as part of their preparation and development with an eye on the 2029 World Cup.
The Bok women showed in the first half that they could compete with the Irish, but unforced errors and defensive gaps proved costly. Ireland capitalised on the pressure and went into half-time with a lead.
The match was also a special occasion for Yonela Ngxingolo, who came off the bench and played her 50th test for South Africa. She is thereby only the second South African woman to reach this milestone.
Springbok women face Ireland again at Athlone
The two teams will meet again next Saturday, 31 October, at Athlone Stadium in the second WXV Global Series test. The match starts at 15:00.
For the Springbok women, the second encounter offers an opportunity to learn quickly from the first match and return stronger against an Irish side that has begun their visit to South Africa with a win.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
