The Bulls Daisies and SWD Eagirls not only finished top of their respective competitions this year and earned the right to host the finals of the Women’s Premier and First Divisions, but both teams also delivered exceptional performances during the season, making them firm favourites to be crowned champions this weekend.
The Daisies have upped the standards of the women’s game considerably when they tuned professional last year, and their results are a clear roadmap to success for others to follow suit.
Apart from one defeat earlier this year, the team from Pretoria have won every match in the last two seasons, but who else to throw a spanner in the works than DHL Western Province, the only team to have beaten the Bulls and the side they will face at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 10 August 2024 in a repeat of last year’s final.
The Capetonians snapped the Daisies’ 19-game winning streak in May when they outplayed them 22-14 in Cape Town, scoring four tries to two in the process.
More important for the home side though, would be the return match, when the Daises were rampant in their revenge, winning 59-21 three weeks ago in Pretoria, scoring nine tries to three. In fact, DHL WP seem to have problems playing in Pretoria as they lost last year’s final 69-8 and 43-5 in their league match at the same venue.
DHL Western Province coach Stanley Raubenheimer will no doubt have a plan to charge up his troops as they will be up against a very well-drilled side stacked with national players. Amongst them will be Jakkie Cilliers, who is on a record scoring spree this season.
The Springbok Women outside centre has already scored 172 points this season, which includes 61 conversions and 10 tries, but she is only one of a handful of players in devastating form for the Daisies.
Expect the unexpected from DHL WP, who have some of the best broken-field runners in the competition, with Voice Ndou, the leading try-scorer (16 tries), a particular threat to the Daisies out wide.
First Division Title Stakes
In the Women’s First Division, the SWD Eagirls overcame all challenges and won all six their league matches as well as their semi-final and will be looking for eight on the trot when they host the Leopards Women in the final at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday, 9 August 2024.
One of those wins was a 31-14 victory against the Leopards at the same venue in round two of the league phase. The two sides also met in the final of the competition in 2022, when the Eagirls won 36-14 in Potchefstroom.
SWD lost last year’s final against the Free State Women, but looking at their current form, they could reclaim the trophy on Friday.
The Eagirls have by far been the most attacking team in the competition, scoring 50 tries in their six matches. Three SWD players are also the leading try-scorers in the tournament, with wings Shannon Lee Windvogel and Chante Jonck who dotted down 10 times each, and utility back Shannon Pieterse, who scored eight tries.
Keeping that backline in check will be key for the Leopards if they want to claim the title. The Potch team scored 31 tries in their six matches, with No 8 Teddy Gatyana dotting down six times, but it will rather be their defensive effort that will be needed to win this one for them.
The Leopards have some experienced campaigners, with former Springbok Women back Verana van Heerden providing massive input from fullback and Vianca Boer very industrious on attack, but stopping the gifted ball runners from the Southern Cape will be a massive challenge.
SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division Final Fixture on Saturday, 10 August, 2024
19h15 Bulls Daisies v DHL Western Province (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Referee: Aneka Fick
TV: SuperSport Action (channel 210)
SA Rugby First Division Final on Friday, 9 August, 2024
15h00 SWD Eagirls v Leopards Women (Outeniqua Park, George)
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Will they defend their crowns this weekend? The Bulls Daisies and SWD Eagirls not only finished top of their respective competitions and earned the right to host the finals of the Women’s Premier and First Divisions, but both teams also delivered exceptional performances in 2024. Original Photos: SA Rugby
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