Springbok Women set straightforward goal for historic Ireland clash

Springbok Women forward Catha Jacobs believes the job for her team is simple against Ireland this weekend: win.

The two-Test WXV Global Series encounter over the next fortnight will be the first time South Africa and Ireland have ever met.

This year, South Africa have beaten the USA Women’s Eagles, completed a tour whitewash of Fiji and defeated both Italy and Spain in WXV Global Series action.

Having earlier stated their desire to climb higher than tenth in the World Rugby rankings this year, Jacobs now believes the team’s objectives have become simpler.

“We need to beat them irrespective of what that will do to improve our ranking,” Jacobs said. “The rankings are important, as we had a target at the start of the season for where we wanted to finish, but that wasn’t our only goal.

“We have already beaten the USA and Italy [in 2026], who had a better ranking than us, and now we have the opportunity to get one over Ireland. To do that successfully, we need to win the small battles first on the day, and the rest will follow.”

Ireland arrive in South Africa after an eventful autumn so far. Scott Bemand’s side began the WXV Global Series with a 40-36 loss to the USA Women’s Eagles.

Two matches against Japan, one of which was played outside the WXV Global Series window, have seen Ireland get back to winning ways. However, they will be without star back-row forward Aoife Wafer.

The Springbok Women have endured their own ups and downs this year, including the departure of Swys de Bruin as head coach ahead of their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash with the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium in Soweto.

Following his departure, South Africa suffered a heavy defeat to the Black Ferns before opening their WXV Global Series campaign with a 50-19 loss to Wales in Cardiff.

Jacobs has an idea of the dangers posed by some members of the Ireland squad. Before returning to South Africa after Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the 28-year-old turned out for Saracens and Leicester Tigers in Premiership Women’s Rugby.

Over the past year, the versatile Jacobs has also represented South Africa Women’s Sevens in HSBC SVNS 2 and HSBC SVNS World Championship competition.

“Those players are very skilful, and that carries over to their national team as well,” she said. “Ireland have an all-round game, so we will be tested in multiple areas for sure.

“They have a good set-piece, especially at lineout time, and their players have a good skill set across the team. They also have a very good kicking game and will no doubt use that to put us under pressure.”