Ireland battle to victory in first-ever Women's Test on South African soil

Ireland captain Erin King and team-mates celebrate after Linda Djougang, hidden, scored her second try. Pic: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile.

SOUTH AFRICA 27 IRELAND 40

Victory was hard-earned for the tourists in Ireland's first-ever Test on South African soil, and a faced-paced encounter sets it up nicely for the second meeting in a week at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town next Saturday.

Skipper Erin King was sin-binned midway through the first half but was outstanding otherwise as Ireland, ranked fifth in the world, dogged it out to deservedly see off their 10th-ranked opponents in this WXV Global Series fixture.

Scott Bemand's side edged a ding-dong first-half, with Jane Clohessy's converted try moving them 21-17 in front, before the girls in green exerted more control after the break and were comfortable enough winners in the end, scoring six tries in total and with Dannah O'Brien landing five conversions.

However, the home side scored five tries of their own and Ireland will be taking a close look at their defensive work ahead of the rematch.

King was very prominent early on, stealing a lineout and winning two breakdown penalties, and Ireland punished their opponents in the eighth minute off the second one.

Attacking off a stalled lineout maul, Robyn O'Connor carried well before Aoife Dalton finished the move, holding off two tacklers to cross the try line and O'Brien added the conversion.

The visitors kept the pressure on, with O'Brien again kicking a penalty into the 22 after O'Connor had been tackled high by Jakkie Cilliers. They had the chance to increase their lead in the 14th minute, but King couldn't find the right pass for Beibhinn Parsons.

South Africa took advantage of that let-off - and, subsequently, Ireland's failure to properly clear their lines - with a try of their own in the 20th minute.

The visitors had a let-off when a lineout throw for the home side five metres from their own line was deemed not straight, but moments later No.8 Aseze Hele capitalised on poor defending by Ireland to charge through a gap to score.

The conversion was missed but it got harder for the tourists when King was sin-binned in the 24th minute, referee Jess Ling and her officials penalising the 23-year-old for a shoulder to head tackle on Unam Tose as the scrum-half won possession close to the ground.

A second try for the hosts quickly followed and it was all the work of the front five, with props Sanelisiwe Charlie and Xoliswa Khuzwayo involved before lock Vainah Ubisi stretched for the line. This time Cilliers nailed the extras for a 12-7 lead.

Ireland players after the WXV Global Series match between South Africa and Ireland at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

Another high challenge, this time on Parsons, provided another penalty and attacking lineout opportunity for Ireland. Anna McGann trucked it up and Linda Djougang did the rest, charging her way through traffic to dot down under the posts. O'Brien restored her side's lead just as King returned.

Back came the Springboks, however, and after Ireland conceded two penalties inside their own 22, Byrhandre Dolf came up just short.

However, a quick recycle allowed Maria Tshiremba to score out wide.

Still, it was Ireland who went in with the half-time lead courtesy of Clohessy's try, a brilliant effort that showcased her determination to score despite the efforts of Lerato Makua, and O'Brien's conversion made it 21-17.

The visitors made a blockbuster start to the second half, with Parsons racing in for the four try thanks to Neve Jones' quick-thinking at the ruck.

It was Jones' last act on her 50th Test appearance, and the arrival of Aoibheann Reilly saw Ireland keep the pedal down.

The replacement scrum-half came close to scoring in the 51st minute, before King determinedly did so as she latched onto an off-load from Niamh O'Dowd, who had also been introduced off the bench. O'Brien was successful with the conversion.

Indiscipline was creeping into South Africa's play and Reilly thought she put the game beyond them on the hour after Brittany Hogan's break, but the score was ruled out for a knock-on by the back row.

Forced onto the backfoot, Ireland were saved by superb defensive work by King on her own line but still conceded a fourth try in the 68th minute through Makua, just moments after substitute centre Eve Higgins saw yellow.

Any fears of a winning comeback by the hosts were ended by Djougang's reply six minutes from time, the loosehead getting the vital grounding after Ireland battered South Africa's try line.

O'Brien brought up the 40-point mark to complete the victory, although Alichia Arries added a late consolation for the home side.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilís Cahill; Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall; Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Erin King (capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Aoibheann Reilly for Jones, Niamh O'Dowd for Cahill (both 46 mins); Grace Moore for Clohessy, Eve Higgins for McGann (both 61 mins); Kate Jordan for Wall, Sadhbh McGrath for Djougang, Beth Buttimer for Jones, Jemima Adams Verling for Hogan (all 76 mins).

South Africa: 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, Lerato Makua, Aseza Hele.

Replacements: Danelle Lochner for Jacobs (47 mins); Logan Welman for Hele (48 mins); Lindelwa Gwala for Yonela Ngxingolo for Charlie, Thandile Mazwi for Groenewald (all 49 mins); Aphiwe Ngwevu for Sizophila Solontsi (67 mins); Mary Zulu for Dolf (79 mins).

Yellow cards: Erin King (Ireland), Eve Higgins (Ireland).

Referee: J Ling (Australia)