Ireland aim for historic series victory against South Africa

Ireland's women's rugby team is preparing for their second Test match against South Africa in Cape Town this Saturday at 13:00 GMT. Following a 40-27 victory last weekend, head coach Scott Bemand has expressed confidence in his side's ability to secure a historic series win. No Irish team has previously achieved back-to-back Test victories on South African soil.

Team Updates

Coach Bemand has introduced two personnel changes to the starting line-up for the match at Athlone Stadium:

• Niamh Gallagher will start at full-back, replacing Stacey Flood.
• Aoibheann Reilly returns at scrum-half, with Emily Lane moving to the substitutes' bench.

Expectations for the Second Test

Bemand emphasized that while the team is pleased with their initial win, the upcoming match requires an even greater effort. He noted that the squad must again manage the physical intensity posed by the Springboks.

"It's important for us to finish with another winning performance. We've got it in us," Bemand stated. He highlighted that the goal is to end the year on a high note by backing up the previous performance with another success. Supporters can verify the match details and team news through official Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) channels.