The Bulls Daisies welcome Free State Women in an anticipated “attritional rugby clash” in the capital whilst the match between DHL Western Province and Sanlam Boland Dames highlights another intriguing round of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division, with this coastal derby a straight shoot-out for second spot on the log.
The winner of the match at City Park will move into second place on the log, where the Bulls Daisies are still sitting pretty at the top. The defending champions are hosting Free State Women in Pretoria this weekend and are clear favourites in round nine of the competition.
The Daisies coach, Hayden Groepes, tweaked his side for their Loftus B encounter with Free State Women, with Zeeze Maguga getting a first start at outside centre and Sizophila Solontsi returning to the squad after her stint with the Springbok Women’s Sevens in Madrid.
Groepes says the match will be attritional and will require the Daisies to be street smart.
“The last time we played this side, they proved to be real competitors who we couldn’t really shake off until the very last minute of the game. So our ladies will have to be street smart in their approach and they will ahve to trust in the system we have in place because we believe it is good enough to get us over the line,”
“We are prepared for that ugly fight but the advantage of home soil and support should be on our side and the experience of our returning players like Sizophila, Anathi and Asithandile on the bench, should help us a great deal.”
Groepes added: “For us this week, the focus was on how each individual contributes to the great cause of the team and the way the ladies have stood up to answer the question gives me confidence that we will be able to give everyone on the stands, an entertaining game of rugby as we chase all available points.”
In a significant move, Free State coach, Darren Colby, moved Anacadia Minnaar from flyhalf to scrumhalf and Bernice Strydom to flyhalf as he tries to put some spark back into his attack.
The home side will be overwhelming favourites, especially after the huge defeat the visitors suffered against Dames last week.
elsewhere…
In another dual for coastal bragging rights, Border Women awaits EP Queens in East London. The visitors are desperate for a first win but seems unlikely to change their fortunes and move from the bottom of the log. In the remaining match of the round, Golden Lions Women will host Sharks Women at Alberton Rugby Club.
The Cape clash has all the elements of a cliff-hanger. Both teams won six out of eight matches so far and have 31 log points. The Dames have a slightly better points differential and much will depend on the re-introduction of regular Springbok Women No 8, Aseza Hele, back into the Dames jersey.
Hele returned from a stint with Harlequins Women in England and is named to start at inside centre where her strong ball carries could be telling for the visitors.
The home side have some serious pace in their backline to counter that and it will most likely be the impact of the bench that will determine the winner in this highly anticipated clash.
Eastern Cape bragging rights will be at stake again in East London, where Border Ladies will host the EP Queens at Baysville High School.
The home side won their earlier encounter with ease and given the defensive issues the Queens seem to have, one can expect the Border backs to have a productive afternoon. They have been boosted by the availability of Springbok Women’s Sevens centre, Asisipho Plaatjies, who will start off the bench.
The Golden Lions Women are in desperate need of another win if they want to keep their title hopes alive, but the Sharks Women loom large on the horizon. The visitors have Mary Zulu back at flyhalf, and she, alongside experienced Tayla Kinsey should carry the Durbanites to secure another win, as they did in the previous clash between the two, won 29-17 by the home team in Durban.
BULLS DAISIES vs FREE STATE WOMEN STARTING XV: 1. Sanelisiwe Charlie, 2. Doreen Mkhabela, 3. Xolelwa Diliza, 4. Ziyanda Ngohlekana, 5. Vainah Ubisi, 6. Lusanda Dumke (c), 7. Sinelitha Noxeke, 8. Faith Tshauke, 9. Unam Tose, 10. Naima Hlatshwayo, 11. Relebohile Motaung, 12. Jakkie Cilliers, 13. Sesihle Maguga, 14. Patience Mokone, 15. Zintle Nonkasana
BULLS DAISIES IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Karabo Lebotsa, 17. Yonela Ngxingolo, 18. Asithandile Ntoyanto, 19. Anathi Qolo, 20. Sizophila Solontsi, 21. Rumandi Potgieter, 22. Lynn Subke, 23. Mahlatsi Nkumishe
BULLS DAISIES MANAGEMENT: Hayden Groepes – Head Coach, Aschin Klein – Assistant Coach, Thando Manana – Manager, Dr. Sbu Ntuli – Team Doctor, Karabo Morokane & Lenel Allison – Physiotherapist(s), Tayla Chidrawi – Strength & Conditioning, Luyolo Tandani – Logistics Manager, Swazi Bisset – Partnerships Manager, Akusenani Khumalo – Team Manager
Match details:
Bulls Daisies vs Free State Women
Date: Saturday, 15 June 2024
Venue: Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Aneka Fick
