Scott Bemand is confident that Ireland can make history by sealing a series victory in South Africa with a second win in succession in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Ireland head coach has made two changes to his starting line-up from last Saturday’s entertaining 40-27 victory over the Springbok Women at Athlone Stadium, the venue where the sides will meet again.
“Completing a series win, a historic win in South Africa, that’ll be a first for Irish rugby, that’s massive in our minds,” said Bemand. “We wanted to come out of this competition having new caps, having got some new experiences, and ultimately some winning performances.
“We were really disappointed to let that winning margin slip in the first game against the USA, so it’s going to be really important to finish with another winning performance. We’ve got it in us, but it’s going to be a massive challenge. For us to finish this year on a winning note would be a big, big plus for us.”
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Bemand had been expecting the early barrage that came Ireland’s way on the back of the Springbok Women’s performance against the Black Ferns, when they were so competitive in the first half.
So he was pleased with how his players dealt with South Africa’s massive physicality, particularly in the first half, and felt that his side were ready to kick on when Aoibheann Reilly scored a 65th-minute try.
However, that was disallowed and South Africa responded with a try of their own, making it a more tense finish than the visitors wanted.
“We were delighted last week, that was a really important game. If you’re going to play a series, getting the first win on the board is a massive event,” he said.
“We know it’s going to take an even bigger effort this week. We know we’re going to have to overcome that physicality again. But if we can do that, we’ll make sure this time that we get the scoreboard ticking away from South Africa.
“I’m really confident the girls are going to get our best game out there, which will be able to handle any moments that the South Africans have, but also get more and more moments from us.”
Reilly replaces Emily Lane at scrumhalf as they continue their “toe to toe” battle, as Bemand puts it, for selection.
Niamh Gallagher makes her second start at fullback at the expense of Stacey Flood, who is earmarked to make a big impact in the second half with three backs selected on the bench as opposed to two last week.
“She’s earned the right to come and have a crack at it,” said Bemand of Gallagher. “Stacey’s a good player, we know what Stacey can do at her best.”
IRELAND: N Gallagher; B Parsons, A McGann, A Dalton, R O’Connor; D O’Brien, A Reilly; L Djougang, N Jones, E Cahill; J Clohessy, D Wall; F Tuite-O’Sullivan, E King (Capt), B Hogan. Replacements: B Buttimer, N O’Dowd, S Barrett, G Moore, J Adams Verling, E Lane, E Higgins, S Flood.
