The SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division will reach the halfway stage this weekend in what again promises to be a try festival with matches being played in Alberton, East London, Durban and Nelson Mandela Bay.
All four matches will deliver the first meeting for the year between the teams, with the Gauteng derby between the Bulls Daisies and Golden Lions Women in particular set to be a spicey encounter.
For the Lions, it will be a matter of fighting fire with fire, especially up front, and if they manage to contain the Daisies pack, they will have a chance to sway their fortunes in a disappointing season that yielded only one win so far.
The defending champions suffered a rare defeat in Cape Town last weekend and will be smarting. They moved Jakkie Cilliers to inside centre and the tournament’s leading try-scorer Unathi Mali to the outside in a formidable midfield pairing, with former national sevens player, Marlize de Bruin, starting at fullback. The decision to start with 18-year-old Naima Hlatshwayo at flyhalf in her first start as pivot is an interesting one.
From a national perspective the return to action of Yonela Ngxingolo is also significant as the international prop works her way back from a knee injury sustained in last year’s WXV 2 tournament.
The first match of the day will no doubt set the tone for the weekend, with the Sharks Women keen to peg down the Sanlam Boland Dames.
Both packs of forwards enjoyed dominance last weekend and will be looking to do the same again, but the real difference could be in the tactical kicking department.
The home side’s Springbok Women halfback pairing of Tayla Kinsey and Mary Zulu have no peers in that regard in the provincial game, but if they misfire, the counter-attacking abilities of Chuma Qawe, Nomawethu Mabenge and Maceala Samboya can rip them apart.
The Free State Women are still without the services of Sne Mdletshe, but they have selected a very capable backline for their away trip to East London in a match that will test the defensive resolve of the hosts.
Spearheaded by Anacadia Minnaar at flyhalf and Johnerecia Booysen at fullback, they will be full of running, but the Border Ladies have some striking power of their own among their backs. They have scored 26 tries in six matches thus far – a clear indication of their attacking abilities.
The DHL Western Province side will travel to Nelson Mandela Bay as huge favourites. They toppled the Daisies last weekend, and with the EP Queens clearly struggling and without a win so far this year, the Cape side will be confident of another win.
The visiting pack will be able to give their potent backs good attacking ball and it could become a long afternoon for the Queens, who already conceded 325 points in the season.
First Round Results of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division on 13 April, 2024
Second Round Results on 20 April, 2024
Third Round Results on 27 April, 2024
Fourth Round Results on 20 April, 2024
Fifth Round Results on Saturday, 11 May, 2024
Sixth Round Results on Saturday, 27 May, 2024
Round Seven Fixtures of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division on Saturday, 1 June, 2024
Sharks Women v Sanlam Boland Dames
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Kick-off: 11h05
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
TV: SuperSport Rugby Channel
Border Women v Free State Women
Venue: Baysville High School, East London
Kick-off: 13h30
Referee: Bulela Qwane
Golden Lions Women v Bulls Daisies
Venue: Alberton Rugby Club
Kick-off: 14h00
Referee: Cameron Dyers
Livestream: SA Rugby You Tube Page
EP Queens v DHL Western Province
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay
Kick-off: 14h00
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: Nolusindiso Booi is pictured in action for WP Women. The coastal ladies handed defending champs Bulls Daisies their first defeat in two years, and will be looking to make further progress up the log away to the Eastern Province Queens in Nelson Mandelay Bay on Saturday, 1 June, 2024. File Photo: SA Rugby
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