Jones hits 50 caps as Ireland make two changes for SA

Neve Jones hits 50 caps as Ireland make two changes for South Africa

Updated / Thursday, 22 Oct 2026 13:37

Neve Jones will win her 50th Ireland cap on Saturday, with head coach Scott Bemand making just two changes for his side's first WXV Global Series Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Just over six years on from making her debut against Italy in the 2020 Six Nations, Jones will become the 17th Irish woman to hit the half century of appearances for Ireland.

The Gloucester-Hartpury player starts for the third game in a row, packing down in the front row between props Linda Djougang and Eilís Cahill in what is the first ever meeting of Ireland and the Springbok women.

Bemand hasn't tinkered much with his side that defeated Japan 43-19 in Cork three weeks ago, with just one change each in the forwards and backs, as Dorothy Wall and Stacey Flood return to the side.

Wall starts in the second row alongside Jane Clohessy, with a positional reshuffle seeing Fiona Tuite O'Sullivan moving to blindside flanker, and Brittany Hogan switching to number 8, as Jemima Adams Verling drops to the bench.

Erin King captains the side from openside flanker, with the skipper celebrating her 23rd birthday yesterday.

In the backline, it's the established half-back pair of Emily Lane and Dannah O'Brien, with Anna McGann starting in the centre for the third game in succession alongside Aoife Dalton.

Beibhinn Parsons and Robyn O'Connor are retained on the wings, with Stacey Flood returning at full-back, with Niamh Gallagher missing out.

Bemand has gone for a 6:2 split on the bench, with Beth Buttimer preferred to Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald as the replacement hooker, with Niamh O'Dowd and Sadhbh McGrath the props.

Kate Jordan, Grace Moore and Adams Verling provide the rest of the forward cover, while Aoibheann Reilly and Eve Higgins are the backline replacements.

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Ireland: Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilís Cahill; Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall; Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Erin King (capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Kate Jordan, Grace Moore, Jemima Adams Verling, Aoibheann Reilly, Eve Higgins

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