There might not be a semi-final round in this year’s shortened version of the Women’s Premier Division, but this weekend’s matches in the fifth round can rightly be regarded as knock-outs, as all the teams still in the running for the two places in the final are up against each other.
The sixth-placed Border Ladies have the tough task of travelling to Pretoria to take on the rampant table-topping Bulls Daisies; third-placed DHL Western Province take on fifth-placed Sharks Women in Durban; and the Sanlam Boland Dames, currently second on the log, are in action in Bloemfontein to face the fourth-placed Free State Women.
In the other match-up, either EP Queens or Golden Lions Women will be looking to secure a first win of the season as the competition resumes after a bye weekend and teams will come in well-rested and prepared.
The Daisies again named a very strong team for their televised match against Border. Libbie Janse van Rensburg captains a side with 10 Springbok Women in the starting team and five more on the bench.
One of those, Lerato Makua, makes a most welcome return to this level after many months on the sidelines. Regular Bok Women loosehead prop Sanelisiwe Charlie starts at tighthead, while there is also a return of the Qawe twins, Chumisa and Chuma, who missed the previous round due to a family bereavement.
Border will miss tighthead Nombuyekezo Mdliki, who is nursing a hip strain, but as usual, the East London side will deliver an all-round team effort. The midfield clash between the Daisies pairing of Chumisa Qawe and Jakkie Cilliers and the Border duo of Aphiwe Ngwevu and Eloise Webb will be as thrilling as the one dished up later in the afternoon’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash.
The match will be handled by experienced Test referee Precious Pazani, who will have a run-out before doing duty in the Women’s Six Nations in a couple of weeks. The Zimbabwean will become the first African referee from outside of South Africa to officiate in the Six Nations.
DHL Western Province boast a strong pack, including current national captain, Nolusindiso Booi, and will have everything to play for in Durban. They cannot afford to miss out on any league points with two rounds remaining.
It will be a big day for young inside centre, Shaundre Francke, who will run out at Hollywoodbets Kings Park for her WP debut, but she has the advantage of a very experienced Kirsten Conrad at flyhalf, to ease the nerves.
Province will be without their regular scrumhalf Alicia Willemse though, as she is in line to make her debut for the Springbok Women’s Sevens team in the Challenger Series in Cape Town, but the Capetonians still have a very energetic bench that could turn the tide.
Sharks coach Jason Hector moved his captain, Tayla Kinsey, to flyhalf for this clash, with Snethemba Mzimela starting at scrumhalf. Mary Zulu will play off the bench.
The mathematics for this match is very clear for the Sharks Women: defeat will end their title hopes.
The clash at the CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein between the Free State Women and Sanlam Boland Dames should be a try-fest, as both teams have some of the best attacking backs in the country.
Thomas Chowles picked a very strong scrummaging pack and Aseza Hele will be handful from the base. The Dames are without Felicia Jacobs (sevens), but they have welcomed back Nompumelelo Mathe, who will play off the bench.
The Free Staters, in sixth place on the log, have their tails up with improved performances in recent outings, but the Dames are serious title contenders and will start as favourites.
The fixture between the EP Queens and Golden Lions Women has wooden spoon status this weekend. Neither side has yet to register a win, but the visitors will arrive in Gqeberha with some try bonus points picked up along the way.
Based on those, they should have the edge in this clash at Wolfson Stadium, with their attack, that yielded 13 tries this far, pivotal in their quest for a win. Wing Thobile Msizazwe scored six of those and the Queens will do well to contain her.
Match information:
Bulls Daisies vs Border Ladies
Date: Saturday 1 March
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
TV: SuperSport Variety 1
Sharks Women v DHL Western Province
Date: Saturday 1 March
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 12h00
Referee: Siya Mhana
EP Queens v Golden Lions Women
Date: Saturday 1 March
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 12h30
Referee: Luvuyo Maceba
Free State Women vs Sanlam Boland Dames
Date: Saturday 1 March
Venue: CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Stiaan Marx
Livestream: Springboks YouTube
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