The Springbok Women are determined to put things right when they face Ireland in the second Test of the WXV Global Series at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, following their disappointing 40-27 defeat in the opening encounter.

South Africa will enter the rematch with a strong desire to secure a victory and finish their international campaign on a positive note after allowing Ireland to claim the first encounter despite showing promising attacking qualities.

The opening match saw the Springbok Women score five tries through Aseza Hele, Vainah Ubisi, Maria Tshiremba, Lerato Makua and Alichia Arries. However, Ireland proved more clinical in front of goal, scoring six tries to secure a 13-point victory.

The South African side showed flashes of their attacking potential but were let down by unforced errors, defensive lapses and poor discipline at crucial moments.

Captain Sizophila Solontsi acknowledged that the players were disappointed with their performance, particularly because they believed they had the ability to achieve a better result.

One of the biggest concerns identified during the team's review was discipline. South Africa conceded 13 penalties compared to Ireland's eight, giving their opponents unnecessary opportunities to build pressure and control important stages of the contest.

Solontsi believes the team has learned valuable lessons from the defeat and insists that the players are ready to deliver a much-improved performance.

The squad spent the week reviewing their mistakes and working on improving different aspects of their game, including execution, defensive organisation and decision-making.

The Springbok Women have also made several adjustments to their starting line-up as they prepare for the challenge. Experienced prop Yonela Ngxingolo will earn her 51st Test cap, extending her record as the most-capped Springbok Women prop, while hooker Lindelwa Gwala will increase her record to 45 appearances.

The coaching staff will be hoping the changes help strengthen the team's performance against an experienced Irish outfit.

Ireland, meanwhile, will be confident after their impressive opening victory and will be determined to complete a series sweep against South Africa.

The stakes are also significant for the Springbok Women in the World Rugby rankings. A victory would move South Africa up to eighth place, marking a new national record, while defeat could see them drop to 10th.

Solontsi has also called on supporters to turn out in numbers at Athlone Stadium, expressing appreciation for the backing the team received during the first encounter.

The Springbok Women will therefore approach Saturday's showdown knowing that improved discipline, greater accuracy and better execution will be essential if they are to overcome Ireland.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00, with South Africa hoping to turn last weekend's disappointment into a memorable victory in front of their home supporters.

SOURCE