# Springbok Women face Ireland after 20 years apart > South Africa's women's rugby team meets fifth-ranked Ireland for the first time in two decades, but injuries threaten their chances in the WXV Global Series. - Title: Springbok Women face Ireland after 20 years apart | Shortify - Summary: South Africa's women's rugby team meets fifth-ranked Ireland for the first time in two decades, but injuries threaten their chances in the WXV Global Series… - Keywords: springbok women, ireland rugby, wxv global series, women's rugby, south africa, babalwa latsha, sizophila solontsi, news, politics, Springbok, Women, face - Source: Daily Maverick — https://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-21-bok-women-face-stern-ireland-challenge-in-first-clash-in-two-decades - Author: Annemieke Thomaidis - Published: 2026-10-21T11:47:38+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: springbok women, ireland rugby, wxv global series, women's rugby, south africa, babalwa latsha, sizophila solontsi, news, politics ## First meeting in two decades The Springbok Women face fifth-ranked Ireland in a double-header at Cape Town's Athlone Stadium on October twenty-fourth and thirty-first, marking their first encounter in twenty years. ## South Africa's mixed series form The Springbok Women sit on two wins and one loss in the WXV Global Series. They lost fifty nineteen to Wales on September eighteenth, beat Italy forty-one twenty-nine, then shut out Spain twenty nil. ## Ireland's recent form Ireland reached the quarter-finals of the twenty twenty-five Women's Rugby World Cup and finished third in this year's Women's Six Nations. They won two Tests against Japan and lost narrowly to the USA. ## Why the series matters The WXV Global Series aims to give women's national teams consistent international fixtures and raise competitive standards. More than one hundred international matches are planned across the twenty twenty-six to twenty twenty-eight cycle. ## Building toward twenty twenty-nine South African Rugby Union chief executive Rian Oberholzer says regular fixtures against stronger teams are crucial for the Springbok Women to build on their World Cup success and close the gap on world leaders. > It's imperative for our women to play against better-ranked teams than themselves, and the two games against Ireland provides them with that opportunity. ## Captain Latsha ruled out Springbok skipper Babalwa Latsha has been ruled out of the Ireland Tests after suffering an ankle injury. Sizophila Solontsi will take over the captaincy duties for the final two Tests. ## Backline injuries mount Libbie Janse van Rensburg sustained an ankle injury against Italy and Ayanda Malinga suffered a knee injury against Wales. Playmaker Nadine Roos, who injured her knee during the Sevens season, has not been included. ## Squad continuity despite losses Co-coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt opted for continuity with the same group of players from recent matches. Anacadia Minnaar and Insaaf Levy have been included in the training squad to bolster the group. > We opted for continuity as we have good momentum from the last couple of matches on tour, hence the call to stay with the same group of players. ## Key players to watch Vainah Ubisi, Logan Welman, Lindelwa Gwala and Catha Jacobs will be key in the forward pack. Aphiwe Ngwevu, a hybrid centre, will serve as a key link between backs and forwards. ## Set-piece strength as weapon South Africa's set-piece strength, particularly its scrum and driving mauls, could prove decisive. Co-coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt has described the driving maul as a potent weapon against well-ranked opposition. ## Discipline will decide it If South Africa can maintain discipline, limit handling errors and avoid a nervous start, they will give themselves a chance of securing a result against Ireland in the two Tests. > Ireland are not the fifth-ranked team in the world for nothing, they will really test us. ## Key takeaway The Springbok Women play Ireland on October twenty-fourth and thirty-first in their first meeting in twenty years, but three key injuries may hamper their bid to end the WXV Global Series strongly.