Jones brings up 50 as Bemand makes two Ireland changes for South Africa

Erin King of Ireland is tackled by Japan players Sawa Harada, left, and Maiko Nishi during the International Women's Rugby fixture. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Head coach Scott Bemand has named the Ireland squad for Saturday’s WXV Global Series clash against South Africa in Cape Town (Kick-off 2pm Irish time).

Ireland opened their WXV Global Series campaign against USA and Japan on home soil last month, and now turn their attention to back-to-back showdowns against the Springbok Women at Athlone Stadium.

The Ireland squad arrived in South Africa last week and have been working hard ahead of Saturday’s opening game in Cape Town.

Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons and Robyn O’Connor start in Ireland’s back three, with Aoife Dalton and Anna McGann selected as the midfield partnership, while Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien are named as the half-backs.

Up front, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, who is set to win her 50th Test cap in green, and Eilís Cahill pack down in the front row, Jane Clohessy partners Dorothy Wall in the engine room and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, captain Erin King and Brittany Hogan make up the back row.

There is further experience and depth among the replacements, with Beth Buttimer, Niamh O’Dowd and Sadhbh McGrath providing front-row cover.

Kate Jordan, Grace Moore and Jemima Adams Verling are also named on the bench as forward reinforcements, with backs Aoibheann Reilly and Eve Higgins completing Ireland’s 23.

Head coach Bemand said: “We have reset well after the recent home block of fixtures and are ready to embrace the challenge of playing away from home. 

"The squad have worked incredibly hard since arriving here in Cape Town last week, and there is a real determination to continue to evolve and develop our game during this Tour.

“Testing ourselves in difficult environments against top-quality opposition is vital to our development, and we want to see that resilience and character come through in our performance on Saturday. 

"We know the challenge South Africa will bring, but we are excited by the opportunity.”

Ireland: S Flood; B Parsons, A McGann, A Dalton, R O'Connor; D O’Brien, E Lane; L Djougang, N Jones, E Cahill; J Clohessy, D Wall; F Tuite-O'Sullivan, E King, B Hogan.

Replacements:

B Buttimer, N O’Dowd, S McGrath, K Jordan, G Moore, J Adams Verling, A Reilly, E Higgins.