The Springbok Women went down fighting in a 40-27 defeat to a sharp and clinical Ireland Women side at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
Ireland drew first blood in the eighth minute when centre Aoife Dalton powered her way over from close range, with Dannah O’Brien slotting the conversion to hand the visitors an early 7-0 lead.
The Springbok Women responded in the 21st minute through the individual brilliance of Aseza Hele, who utilised a clever show-and-go to slice through the defence and dive over in the left corner. Jakkie Cilliers pushed her conversion attempt wide, keeping Ireland narrowly ahead at 7-5.
The momentum swung briefly when Ireland's Erin King received a yellow card in the 23rd minute following a TMO review for a swinging arm in the build-up to a scrum.
The South Africans capitalised immediately during the numerical advantage, with lock Vainah Ubisi stretching out a long arm in the 28th minute to force the ball over the whitewash from close quarters, with Cilliers adding the extras to put the hosts 12-7 up.
The Boks extended their lead just before the break in the 38th minute. When a planned rolling maul stalled, the hosts quickly shifted the ball to the short side, allowing wing Maria Tshiremba to finish smartly in the left corner.
However, Ireland struck a decisive psychological blow right on the stroke of half-time. After turning down shots at goal in favour of tapping and building patient phases through their forwards, flanker Jane Clohessy powered over under pressure. O’Brien's conversion sent the visitors into the interval with a 21-17 advantage.
The second half began in the worst possible fashion for the hosts. Just a minute after the restart, Ireland exploited space on the flank, sending winger Béibhinn Parsons racing over for an early try.
Ireland continued to press, and after a botched Springbok clearance kick from their own try line, where Byrhandre Dolf's attempted chip was safely gathered, the visitors launched a sustained multi-phase attack that ended with Erin King crossing in the 53rd minute. Though O’Brien missed the conversion, Ireland held a commanding 33-17 lead.
Drama ensued on the hour mark when Aoibheann Reilly crossed following slick interplay involving Brittany Hogan and King. Although O'Brien slotted the extras, the TMO intervened to spot a knock-on in the build-up, sparing South Africa.
The Boks seized a lifeline when Ireland's Anna McGann was yellow-carded in the 66th minute for cynically slowing the ball down near her own line. Replacement forward Lerato Makua immediately burrowed over from close range, and Cilliers added the extras to narrow the gap to 33-24.
Any hopes of a late Bok comeback were extinguished in the 73rd minute.
After opting to run a penalty awarded inside South Africa's 22 for a no-arms tackle, prop Linda Djougang powered through heavy traffic to score her second try of the afternoon, converted comfortably by O’Brien.
The hosts fought to the bitter end, grabbing a consolation try in the 79th minute when Alichia Arries brilliantly collected a cross-field kick on the bounce to dot down in the right-hand corner.
Cilliers could not add the difficult conversion, leaving the final score at 40-27 in favour of the visitors.
Point-Scorers:
Springbok Women — Tries: Aseza Hele, Vainah Ubisi, Maria Tshiremba, Lerato Makua, Alichia Arries. Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (1).
Ireland — Tries: Aoife Dalton, Jane Clohessy, Béibhinn Parsons, Erin King, Linda Djougang. Conversions: Dannah O’Brien (5).