Familiar faces in Premier Division play-offs

The same four teams that contested the semifinals of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division in 2023 will be back at it this weekend. The Bulls Daisies and DHL Western Province again finished top of the log, but will swop opponents this time around, with the Daisies welcoming Border Ladies in Pretoria and the Capetonians hosting neighbours Sanlam Boland Dames at DHL Stadium.

Last year the Daisies beat Boland and WP toppled Border, with the Daisies going on to clinch the final as well.

The Daisies outplayed Border twice this year in the league phase of the tournament, winning 57-12 in the opening round in East London and 47-0 in Pretoria in their second meeting and based on those results, must start as clear favourites for a three-peat of results.

The defending champions had their lapses this year, but with 10 Springbok Women internationals in their starting team and three more on the bench just look too strong and experienced for their Eastern Cape opponents.

Border have been boosted in recent weeks with the presence of sevens internationals Asi Plaatjies and Eloise Webb and will certainly pose a threat at the back. The midfield match-up of Plaatjies and Aphiwe Ngwevu against Chumisa Qawe and Jakkie Cilliers will be worth the entry fee alone.

The Cape derby will be spicy. Boland won the opening match in Wellington 35-15 after two late tries, while WP edged the Dames 27-25 on June 15 at City Park.

There is clearly not much between the sides, and much will depend on the best use of opportunities when they arise. Boland’s pack of forwards has been a constant source of front foot ball to their backs who scored heaps of tries from structured play.

The home side’s attack is more counter-intuitive and coach Stanley Raubenheimer picked a very attacking bench for this crucial game.

Few teams revel in unstructured play as much as the home side and if they have their way, Boland’s fitness will have to carry them home.

MATCH DETAILS:

Bulls Daisies v Border Ladies

Saturday, 3 August 2024

Venue: Loftus Versfeld

Kick-off: 12h30

Referee: Siyanda Pikoli.

TV: SuperSport Rugby Channel

DHL Western Province

Saturday, 3 August 2024

Venue: DHL Stadium

Kick-off: 14h00

Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout

TV: SuperSport Rugby Channel (delayed)

Experience could determine First Division finalists

The experience of playing knock-out rugby could determine the two finalists in the First Division matchups. The SWD Eagirls have featured in the play-offs consistently and they were finalists last year, so will have the edge over Pumas Women at D’Almeida Sport Stadium in Mossel Bay.

The Leopards also made the final two years ago and the semis last year and that could count in their favour when the pressures are highest against Limpopo Blue Bulls Women at Olen Park in Potchefstroom.

It will be a tight affair in Potchefstroom no doubt, with the Leopards perhaps wearing the favourites tag because they play at home.

The two teams met in round one, with the Leopards winning 27-22 in Polokwane. Both teams scored three tries then, but former Springbok Women's player Verana van Heerden's boot proved the difference.

The Leopards will help their cause massively if they manage to keep the ball away from Limpopo winger Jibrine Dube. The speedster has scored seven tries in six matches and if she is allowed space by the home defenders, could add to that tally for sure.

SWD will be clear favourites in Mossel Bay. They have dominated the tournament this year, beating all comers and scoring 305 points while conceding only 65. Their toughest game was against Pumas in round five, where they could only win 17-12 away from home, so coach Elize Arendse will just point to that result to motivate her troops.

That result will also spur on the Pumas who have nothing to lose and will take confidence from that close result.

MATCH DETAILS:

Leopards v Limpopo Blue Bulls Women

Saturday, 3 August 2024

Venue: Olen Park, Potchefstroom

Kick-off: 12h00

Referee: Aneka Fick

SWD Eagirls v Pumas Women

Saturday 3 August 2024

Venue: D’Almeida Sport Stadium, Mossel Bay

Kick-off: 13h00

Referee: Yohane Halgryn