Alichia Arries targets redemption as Springbok Women prepare for Ireland rematch

Springbok Women wing Alichia Arries has promised supporters a better performance when her team face Ireland for a second time this Saturday.

Ireland claimed a 40-27 victory in Cape Town at the weekend as both teams resumed their WXV Global Series campaigns.

Scott Bemand’s side controlled much of the contest, trailing for just nine minutes. Individual errors from South Africa and Dannah O’Brien’s astute kicking game contributed to Ireland’s dominance.

Arries scored late on at Athlone Stadium, but her try proved little more than consolation.

“We were poor at times, our handling let us down and even first-time tackling was not great at crucial times,” Arries said.

“Ireland also had a very good kicking game that left us scrambling a bit at times. But that was last weekend. Come Saturday, we promise a better showing.”

The Springbok Women enjoyed strong support on their return to home soil, with plenty of fans turning out at Athlone Stadium.

It had been a month since their previous home fixture, a 52-20 defeat to the Black Ferns, and Arries hopes the supporters will return for Saturday’s rematch.

“There is something about playing at Athlone. The crowds are just amazing and so, so supportive of the Springbok Women,” the 24-year-old said.

“That is one of the reasons why all of us want to go out there this weekend and redeem ourselves by overturning the result against Ireland.

“We can only hope and ask that they come out again this weekend. We are determined to dish up a proper performance.”

Arries is set to make her 12th Test appearance of 2026 on Saturday. She earned her 13th career cap in last weekend’s defeat, a particularly special occasion as her daughter watched her play for the first time.

Scoring a try made the occasion even more memorable, and her daughter will be back in the stands this weekend as the Springbok Women look to end the year with a victory.

“The year was productive. The coaches are showing faith in me, and I try to reward them for that,” she said.

“Every team we play against has something different, and now that we have played Ireland, I believe we can adapt for the second Test.

“With my daughter and the rest of the family among all those amazing supporters at Athlone Stadium, we hope to finish the year on the best possible note.”