South Africa’s provincial women’s teams will make their mark in domestic rugby starting on Saturday as the annual Interprovincial tournament begins following months of preparation.
The tournament will be hosted over seven weekends over the next two-and-a-half months, with the final of both the A and B Divisions scheduled for 21 September.
The Down Touch Griffons take on the Free State in the opening A Division match in Welkom in the first of six matches country-wide.
The other match-ups in the A Division include 2012 runners up, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, taking on Border in East London, the MTN Golden Lions meeting KwaZulu-Natal in Randfontein and SWD lining up against the EP Kings in Riversdale.
Defending champions, Western Province, meanwhile, have a bye.
Bulls vs Border Class
Given the Blue Bulls’ impressive structures and effective attack and defence, they will enter their clash against Border as favourites. But the home team proved last season that they could deliver fine performances under pressure. The set-piece battle, in particular, should be decisive, while both teams proved last season that they could score tries from anywhere on the park.
Lions Brace for KZN
The Lions, meanwhile, will have to deliver a solid defensive effort to contain KwaZulu-Natal and prevent a repeat of last year’s match-up in which they suffered a disappointing 57-20 defeat. So effective was the Durban team’s attack they scored a total of 30 tries in their four pool matches and completed a full house of bonus point victories – a strength they will be determined to build on this season.
Limpopo Blue Bulls in Pole for B Division
In the B Division on Saturday the Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls take on the Pumas at the Seshego Stadium and the GWK Griquas meet the Leopards in Springbok. The Valke, meanwhile, have a bye.
The clash in Seshego should be particularly tight as the Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls topped the log last season following victories in all their pool matches and emerged as the top try scorers in the division with 31 tries. The Pumas’ defence, however, has proved one of their main strengths, which should set the scene for an exciting clash.
Round 1 Fixtures of the Women’s Interprovincial Rugby Tournament, on 6 July, 2013: A Division: 13h00: Down Touch Griffons vs Free State (North West Stadium, Welkom) 15h15: SWD vs EP Kings (Riverville Sports Stadium, Riversdale) 15h00: Border vs Vodacom Blue Bulls (BCM Stadium, East London) 15h00: MTN Golden Lions vs KwaZulu-Natal (Randfontein Rugby Club, Randfontein) B Division: 15h00: Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Pumas (Seshego Stadium, Seshego Township) 15h00: GWK Griquas vs Leopards (Nababeep Sports Grounds, Springbok)
(With editing by gsport)
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