The Bok Women went down 40-27 to Ireland at Athlone Stadium in the opening WXV clash, conceding six tries to five in a game co-head coach Franzel September pinned on self-inflicted damage — unforced errors, spilled ball in the red zone, and two mauls stopped five metres out — rather than being outclassed. Both co-coaches are confident the errors are fixable ahead of the rematch at the same venue on 31 October, with Johannes-Haupt pointing to defensive lapses and a lack of clinical edge in attack as the specific work-ons. Vice-captain Unam Tose struck the sharpest note, acknowledging the team fell short of what the crowd and the broader inspiration mission demanded — and framing next Saturday as an opportunity to make it right.
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Bok Women back themselves to reverse Ireland result in Cape Town rematch
The Bok Women's coaching staff believe their 40-27 WXV loss to Ireland at Athlone Stadium was self-inflicted — red-zone errors, defensive lapses and poor clinical edge rather than being outplayed — and are backing the squad to reverse it in the Cape Town rematch on 31 October.
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